NCERT Maths Mela, Class 3, textbook pages 128–138
How to teach Class 3 Maths Chapter 10, Fun at Class Party!, at home
Measuring length, metre and centimetre, taught with things you already have at home: a 10-minute activity, a game for the week, a 5-day plan and the mistakes to watch for.
NCERT Class 3 Maths Chapter 10 Fun at Class Party!: what it teaches
Measuring with handspans and strings gives different answers for different people, so your child moves to standard units: the metre and the centimetre. They estimate first, then measure with a ruler or a metre-long rope.
Why it matters later. Using metres and centimetres correctly is needed for perimeter, maps and scale later.
See it: this chapter in pictures
You need
- a 30 cm ruler
- a measuring tape or metre rod
- a rope or string
- a marker
Tonight’s 10 minutes
- Both of you measure the table in handspans. Why are the answers different?
- Make a metre rope: mark 1 metre on a string using a tape, and tie a knot.
- Guess which things in the house are longer than a metre, then check with the rope.
- Measure a pencil, a book and a spoon in centimetres with the ruler.
Words to use
- metre
- centimetre
- ruler
- estimate
- longer
- shorter
- about
Watch for
- Starting the ruler from 1 instead of 0. Line the object up with the 0 mark, not the edge of the ruler.
- Mixing metres and centimetres. Metre for rooms and doors, centimetres for pencils and books.
What it sounds like at home
A short example of the conversation. Your words will differ; the questions are what matter.
YouIs the door more than a metre tall?
Your childYes, much more.
YouAbout how many metres?
Your child2?
YouLet’s check with the rope.
Your childA bit more than 2!
A game for this week: Metre hunt
- Make a metre rope.
- Each player finds 3 things they think are longer than a metre and 3 shorter.
- Check each with the rope.
- One point for each right guess.
A 5-day plan, 10 minutes a day
- Day 1Handspans give different answers.
- Day 2Make a metre rope.
- Day 3Metre hunt around the house.
- Day 4Centimetres with a ruler.
- Day 5Estimate then measure.
Everyday moments to practise
- Measuring cloth at a tailor.
- Height marks on a wall.
- Length of a bed.
- Ruler work in the notebook.
Quick check
Ask these at the end of the week. Tap to see the answer.
Which unit for measuring a room: metre or centimetre?
Metre.
A new pencil is about how long?
About 15 to 20 cm.
Why do handspans give different answers?
Hands are different sizes.
Ready for the next chapter when your child…
- Knows why standard units are needed.
- Measures with a ruler from 0.
- Chooses metres or centimetres sensibly.
Activities, wording and illustrations are Mathify Kids’ own, following the topics of NCERT’s Maths Mela (Class 3). See the full Class 3 parent guide for every chapter.
Questions parents ask
When are centimetres and metres introduced?
In Class 3, Chapter 10 Fun at Class Party!
How long is a metre?
About the height of a Class 3 child to their shoulder; check with a tape.
Why start at 0 on the ruler?
The 0 mark is where length begins; starting at 1 adds a centimetre.