Science lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 30 minutes
Use map scale and compass directions
Earth and rocks
CCSS NGSS.4-ESS2-2England: KS2 Geography links
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Use map scale and compass directions.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Patterns on maps: mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
Materials: Rock samples, Hand lenses, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Patterns on maps: mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- On a world map, where are most earthquakes and volcanoes found? (in long belts along the edges of Earth's plates / only near the North Pole / scattered evenly everywhere / only in the middle of continents) → in long belts along the edges of Earth's platesPrompt: Earth's outer layer is broken into huge moving pieces.
- True or false? Mountain ranges often form where plates push together. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Where do plates meet, and what forms there?
- How did this feature form: the Mariana Trench? (formed where plates push together / formed where plates pull apart) → formed where plates push togetherPrompt: Is it a high mountain range or deep trench, or a crack and ridge where new rock appears?
Hook · 3 min
- Pass round different rocks and ask how each one might have formed.
- Share the objective: Use map scale and compass directions. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 7 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: On a map, 1 cm stands for 5 km. A volcano and a town are 6 cm apart on the map. How far apart are they in real life?
- Step 1: 6 × 5 = 30
- Step 2: So the answer is: 30 km
- Answer: 30 km
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 6 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- On a map, 1 cm stands for 5 km. Two mountain peaks are 6 cm apart on the map. How far apart are they in real life? → 30 kmPrompt: Each centimetre on the map is the same real distance.
- A hiker is facing east and makes a quarter turn anticlockwise (counterclockwise). Which direction is she facing now? (west / north / south / east) → northPrompt: Clockwise order: north, east, south, west.
You do: independent practice · 7 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 3 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- What does the key (legend) on a map tell you? (the weather / the time of day / what each symbol and colour means / who drew the map) → what each symbol and colour meansPrompt: How do you know a blue line is a river?
- On a map, 1 cm stands for 10 km. A river mouth and a village are 2 cm apart on the map. How far apart are they in real life? → 20 kmPrompt: Each centimetre on the map is the same real distance.
Watch out for
- Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
- Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Patterns on maps: mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes.
- Use concrete materials: rock samples.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-4.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder