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Science lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 30 minutes

Units of measurement

Working scientifically

CCSS NGSS.SEP 5England: KS2 Y3–Y4 Working scientifically

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Units of measurement.

  • 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: Choosing a measuring tool

Leads to: Reading scales and thermometers; Converting units

Materials: Simple equipment for a fair test, Results table template, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Choosing a measuring tool). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which tool would you use to measure how heavy a pet hamster is? (a stopwatch or timer / a thermometer / weighing scales / a ruler or tape measure) → weighing scalesPrompt: Is it a length, a temperature, a mass, a time or an amount of liquid?
  2. What could you measure with a thermometer? (how heavy a pet hamster is / how cold the water in a pond is / how long a worm is / how much milk is in a glass) → how cold the water in a pond isPrompt: What does this tool measure: length, temperature, mass, time or volume?
  3. Which tool would show that the water in a bowl is getting colder? (a measuring jug / a magnifying glass / a ruler / a thermometer) → a thermometerPrompt: Colder means the temperature is going down.

Hook · 3 min

  • Show a simple experiment with one thing changed and ask what makes it a fair test.
  • Share the objective: Units of measurement. 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: What do degrees Celsius (°C) measure?
  • Step 1: Degrees Celsius (°C) measure temperature.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: temperature
  • Answer: temperature
  • 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.
  1. What do metres (m) measure? (temperature / length / mass / time) → lengthPrompt: Think of something you would measure in this unit.
  2. Which unit is best for the length of an ant? (millimetres (mm) / metres (m) / litres (L) / kilometres (km)) → millimetres (mm)Prompt: An ant is tiny.

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.
  1. Which unit is best for the mass of an apple? (kilograms (kg) / grams (g) / metres (m) / litres (L)) → grams (g)Prompt: An apple is light. Is it measured in a small or a big unit of mass?
  2. A runner's time for a race is written as 14.2. Which unit makes sense? (kilograms (kg) / seconds (s) / metres (m) / hours (h)) → seconds (s)Prompt: A short race is over quickly.

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: Choosing a measuring tool.
  • Use concrete materials: simple equipment for a fair test.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Reading scales and thermometers; Converting units.
  • 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-2.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Units of measurement

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Which unit is best for the distance between two towns?

    • A. millimetres (mm)
    • B. kilometres (km)
    • C. grams (g)
    • D. centimetres (cm)

  2. Question 2

    A runner's time for a race is written as 14.2. Which unit makes sense?

    • A. hours (h)
    • B. seconds (s)
    • C. kilograms (kg)
    • D. metres (m)

  3. Question 3

    What do litres (L) measure?

    • A. mass
    • B. volume
    • C. length
    • D. time

  4. Question 4

    Which unit is best for a spoonful of medicine?

    • A. litres (L)
    • B. kilometres (km)
    • C. degrees Celsius (°C)
    • D. millilitres (mL)

  5. Question 5

    The temperature on a warm summer day is 25. Which unit is it?

    • A. centimetres (cm)
    • B. grams (g)
    • C. degrees Celsius (°C)
    • D. litres (L)

  6. Question 6

    What do seconds (s) measure?

    • A. time
    • B. mass
    • C. temperature
    • D. length

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Answer key: Units of measurement

  1. 1. B. kilometres (km)

  2. 2. B. seconds (s)

  3. 3. B. volume

  4. 4. D. millilitres (mL)

  5. 5. C. degrees Celsius (°C)

  6. 6. A. time