Measurement is an integral part of Mathematical Literacy (FET) and Natural Sciences (GET). It is strange how learners sometimes struggle with this relatively simple skill. It is the best to teach it in some concrete way otherwise it remains foreign to the learners.

As I looked around for an online resource, I came across an exceptionally well designed FREE resource called www.teachingmeasures.co.uk . You can buy it if you wish, but there is an evaluation version which works just as well. The only difference is that there is a "FOR EVALUATION ONLY" watermark across the resources. If you can afford to buy it, I would say that your £99 (R1366) would be well spent. If you cannot afford it, I don't see any reason why you should not use the evaluation version. In any case it would be sensible to evaluate it first before you buy it.

It has three modules: Length, Mass and Capacity. Each of the modules has numerous activities that will enable your learners to master the skill of measuring. It has an interactive component with supporting printable worksheets. The idea is that teachers can project the interactive component onto a Whiteboard or a Smartboard and use it to explain the concepts. They can then issue the learners with copies of worksheets to practise what they have just learnt. The worksheets are also very smart - you can generate a variety of worksheets on each activity by changing a number of parameters. If you use the free version you will have to bear with the "FOR EVALUATION ONLY" watermark across the worksheets.

I am very impressed with the simple and effective layout of the software. The user interface is simple and easy to use and yet has powerful features. Once the software has loaded it is very responsive, even with a limited bandwidth connection. You will need to be connected when you use the evaluation version. I have not yet tried it out, but you could probably load the software and then do the activity offline if you do not have Internet connectivity in your classroom.

There are a variety of ways in which you can implement the software in the classroom. The best way would be using a data projector and providing your learners with printouts of the worksheets. If you don't have a data projector but have a computer centre with computers connected to the Internet, you can allow the learners to play around with the software before doing the activity on paper with the provided worksheets. If you have neither of those possibilities you could still print out the worksheets for your learners and just have a paper based activity. I recommend that you try it out. You have nothing to lose, it is free! It will bring in a fun element into the teaching and learning of measurement and units.

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