Free Year 1 comparing length worksheets
6 free printable Year 1 comparing length worksheets for Australian classrooms, comparing and measuring length with informal units. Every answer key is computed in code from the exact questions on the page, so the answers are never wrong. Pick a set below to print or save as a PDF, or make your own. There is no login, and Pro unlocks the printable answer key and removes the watermark.
What the Australian Curriculum asks for in Year 1 comparing length
The Version 9.0 Mathematics content descriptions mapped to this topic, in plain English. Open one for the full breakdown, a teaching guide and every matching worksheet.
- AC9M1M01 · Compare and order by attributesCompare objects and events directly and indirectly, and order them by length, mass, capacity and duration, explaining their reasoning.
- AC9M1M02 · Measure length with informal unitsMeasure the length of shapes and objects with informal units, learning that the units must be the same size and placed end to end.
Content descriptions are paraphrased in our own words from the Australian Curriculum Version 9.0, © ACARA, licensed CC BY 4.0.
What is comparing length?
Before rulers, children compare lengths directly (lining objects up) and measure with informal units like blocks or paperclips laid end to end, then compare the counts.
How to teach it
Compare objects directly (line them up at one end) and by measuring with informal units, blocks or paperclips placed end to end with no gaps, then compare the counts.
In an Australian classroom
Compare lengths with informal units first, then metres and centimetres. Metric conversion is all powers of ten, which is the whole reason the metric system is easier to teach than the imperial one.
Worked example
Common mistake
Not starting both objects from the same line, and leaving gaps or overlaps between informal units so the count is off.
What's inside
- The leaf is 6 paperclips long and the pencil is 10 paperclips long. How many more paperclips is the pencil?
- The stick is 9 counters long and the leaf is 5 counters long. How many more counters is the stick?
- The sock is 7 cubes long and the pencil is 2 cubes long. How many more cubes is the sock?
- The spoon is 8 counters long. The brush is 5 counters long. Which is shorter?
- The key is 8 blocks long. The stick is 10 blocks long. Which is longer?
- The spoon is 3 blocks long. The leaf is 10 blocks long. Which is shorter?
Sample questions. Each printable set below has fresh numbers; its printable answer key is available with Pro.
Year 1 comparing length worksheet sets
All comparing length worksheets →Sets A-F are the same worksheet with different questions - print any (or all) for fresh practice.
Frequently asked questions
Are these Year 1 comparing length worksheets free?
Yes. Every worksheet on ChalkBee is free to view and print or save as a PDF, with no login required, and the answer key is free too. Pro removes the watermark and adds differentiated sets, worksheet packs and unlimited custom generation.
Do the worksheets have answer keys?
Yes, free, on every sheet. The answers are computed in code from the exact questions on the page, and the key prints on a page of its own so the student sheet stays clean.
Which Australian Curriculum codes does this cover?
These comparing length worksheets sit alongside the Version 9.0 Mathematics content descriptions AC9M1M01 and AC9M1M02 for Year 1. Each code links to a page with a plain-English summary you can paste into a planning document.
How was the Year 1 level chosen?
The worksheets use Australian year-level naming and Australian English spelling, matched to an age-equivalent level in the library. There are 6 printable sets on this page, with dollars and cents for money and metric units for measurement.
How do I print or download them?
Open any set, then use your browser's print option to print it or to save it as a PDF. The pages are laid out to print cleanly on standard letter or A4 paper.