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Science lesson plan · 1st grade (Year 2 in England) · 30 minutes

Choosing a measuring tool

Working scientifically

CCSS NGSS.SEP 3England: KS1 Working scientifically

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Choosing a measuring tool.

  • 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: Observing with our senses

Leads to: Units of measurement; Planning a fair test

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 (Observing with our senses). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which sense would you use to notice a bird singing? (sight (eyes) / hearing (ears) / smell (nose) / touch (skin)) → hearing (ears)Prompt: Which part of your body would notice it?
  2. Which of these would you notice using hearing (ears)? (the shape of a cloud / smoke from a bonfire / whether water is warm or cold / rain tapping on the window) → rain tapping on the windowPrompt: Imagine doing each one. Which body part would you use?
  3. Sam looks at the sky each morning and writes down if it is sunny, cloudy or rainy. What is Sam doing? (measuring mass / building a model / guessing / observing and recording) → observing and recordingPrompt: Sam is looking and then writing down what he sees.

Hook · 3 min

  • Show a simple experiment with one thing changed and ask what makes it a fair test.
  • Share the objective: Choosing a measuring tool. 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: Which tool would you use to measure how tall a sunflower has grown?
  • Step 1: A ruler or tape measure measures length (how long, wide or tall).
  • Step 2: So the answer is: a ruler or tape measure
  • Answer: a ruler or tape measure
  • 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. Which tool would you use to measure how much juice is in a carton? (weighing scales / a ruler or tape measure / a stopwatch or timer / a measuring jug or cylinder) → a measuring jug or cylinderPrompt: Is it a length, a temperature, a mass, a time or an amount of liquid?
  2. What could you measure with a measuring jug or cylinder? (how heavy a pet hamster is / how hot a cup of tea is / how much rainwater was collected / the mass of a bag of flour) → how much rainwater was collectedPrompt: What does this tool measure: length, temperature, mass, time or volume?

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. What could you measure with a measuring jug or cylinder? (the mass of a pumpkin / how long a toy car takes to roll down a ramp / the width of a leaf / how much water a plant is given) → how much water a plant is givenPrompt: What does this tool measure: length, temperature, mass, time or volume?
  2. Kofi wants to find out which ball bounces highest. Which tool helps most? (weighing scales / a measuring jug / a thermometer / a metre stick (long ruler)) → a metre stick (long ruler)Prompt: Bounce height is a length.

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: Observing with our senses.
  • 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: Units of measurement; Planning a fair test.
  • 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-1.

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

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Choosing a measuring tool

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    What could you measure with a measuring jug or cylinder?

    • A. how heavy an apple is
    • B. the mass of a bag of flour
    • C. how much milk is in a glass
    • D. how tall a sunflower has grown

  2. Question 2

    Which tool would you use to measure how far a paper plane flew?

    • A. weighing scales
    • B. a thermometer
    • C. a stopwatch or timer
    • D. a ruler or tape measure

  3. Question 3

    Which tool would show that the water in a bowl is getting colder?

    • A. a ruler
    • B. a thermometer
    • C. a magnifying glass
    • D. a measuring jug

  4. Question 4

    What could you measure with weighing scales?

    • A. how long it takes to run 50 metres
    • B. how cold the water in a pond is
    • C. the mass of a bag of flour
    • D. how much milk is in a glass

  5. Question 5

    Which tool would you use to measure how long an ice cube takes to melt?

    • A. weighing scales
    • B. a measuring jug or cylinder
    • C. a stopwatch or timer
    • D. a ruler or tape measure

  6. Question 6

    Kofi wants to find out which ball bounces highest. Which tool helps most?

    • A. weighing scales
    • B. a metre stick (long ruler)
    • C. a measuring jug
    • D. a thermometer

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Answer key: Choosing a measuring tool

  1. 1. C. how much milk is in a glass

  2. 2. D. a ruler or tape measure

  3. 3. B. a thermometer

  4. 4. C. the mass of a bag of flour

  5. 5. C. a stopwatch or timer

  6. 6. B. a metre stick (long ruler)