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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 long a worm is? (a measuring jug or cylinder / a thermometer / a ruler or tape measure / weighing scales) → a ruler or tape measurePrompt: Is it a length, a temperature, a mass, a time or an amount of liquid?
  2. What could you measure with a ruler or tape measure? (how heavy a pet hamster is / how much milk is in a glass / how warm the classroom is / the width of a leaf) → the width of a leafPrompt: What does this tool measure: length, temperature, mass, time or volume?
  3. Zara wants to know if her bean plant grows taller each day. What should she use? (a stopwatch / a ruler / a thermometer / weighing scales) → a rulerPrompt: She wants to know how tall it is.

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 seconds (s) measure? (time / mass / temperature / length) → timePrompt: Think of something you would measure in this unit.
  2. Which unit is best for the mass of an apple? (litres (L) / grams (g) / metres (m) / kilograms (kg)) → grams (g)Prompt: An apple is light. Is it measured in a small or a big unit of mass?

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. A runner's time for a race is written as 14.2. Which unit makes sense? (seconds (s) / hours (h) / metres (m) / kilograms (kg)) → seconds (s)Prompt: A short race is over quickly.
  2. Which unit is best for the mass of a dog? (kilograms (kg) / seconds (s) / millilitres (mL) / grams (g)) → kilograms (kg)Prompt: A dog is quite heavy.

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

    What do kilometres (km) measure?

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

  2. Question 2

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

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

  3. Question 3

    Which unit is best for the distance between two towns?

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

  4. Question 4

    What do grams (g) measure?

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

  5. Question 5

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

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

  6. Question 6

    Which unit is best for the water in a bath?

    • A. litres (L)
    • B. centimetres (cm)
    • C. kilograms (kg)
    • D. millilitres (mL)

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Answer key: Units of measurement

  1. 1. C. length

  2. 2. A. degrees Celsius (°C)

  3. 3. A. kilometres (km)

  4. 4. B. mass

  5. 5. A. seconds (s)

  6. 6. A. litres (L)