Math lesson plan · Kindergarten (Reception and Year 1 in England) · 30 minutes
Order three things by length
Measurement
CCSS K.MD.A.2CCSS 1.MD.A.1England: Reception MeasuresEngland: Y1 Measurement
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Order three things by length.
- 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: Longer or shorter: everyday things
Leads to: Compare two lengths using a third object
Materials: Rulers, scales and measuring jugs, Clock faces, Conversion chart, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Longer or shorter: everyday things). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which is longer: a ruler or a paper clip? (A ruler / A paper clip) → A rulerPrompt: Picture the two things side by side.
- Kwame's paper strip is 12 cubes long and Lucia's is 5 cubes long. Whose strip is longer? (Kwame / Lucia) → KwamePrompt: Both strips are measured with the same cubes.
- Which is longer: a car or a train? (A car / A train) → A trainPrompt: Picture the two things side by side.
Hook · 3 min
- Ask the class to estimate the length of the room or the weight of a bag before measuring it.
- Share the objective: Order three things by length. 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: Grace's pencil is longer than Zoe's. Zoe's pencil is longer than Leo's. Whose pencil is the longest?
- Step 1: Longest to shortest: Grace, Zoe, Leo.
- Step 2: Grace
- Answer: Grace
- 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.
- Mei's pencil is longer than Hana's. Hana's pencil is longer than Ana's. Whose pencil is the shortest? (Mei / Hana / Ana) → AnaPrompt: Draw three lines to show the pencils.
- Elena's pencil is longer than Priya's. Priya's pencil is longer than Sofia's. Whose pencil is the shortest? (Elena / Priya / Sofia) → SofiaPrompt: Draw three lines to show the pencils.
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.
- Sam's pencil is longer than Ana's. Ana's pencil is longer than Diego's. Whose pencil is the shortest? (Sam / Ana / Diego) → DiegoPrompt: Draw three lines to show the pencils.
- Jamal's pencil is longer than Ava's. Ava's pencil is longer than Luis's. Whose pencil is the shortest? (Jamal / Ava / Luis) → LuisPrompt: Draw three lines to show the pencils.
Watch out for
- Measuring from the end of the ruler instead of zero.
- Converting units the wrong way (multiplying instead of dividing).
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Longer or shorter: everyday things.
- Use concrete materials: rulers, scales and measuring jugs.
- 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: Compare two lengths using a third object.
- 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/math/kindergarten.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder