Math lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 30 minutes
Read and write numbers to 1 000 000 in words
Number sense
CCSS 4.NBT.A.2England: Y5 Number and place value
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Read and write numbers to 1 000 000 in words.
- 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: Read and write four-digit numbers in words; Place value names up to hundred thousands
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
Materials: Place value chart, Base-ten blocks or a number line, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Read and write four-digit numbers in words; Place value names up to hundred thousands). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Write in digits: one thousand eight hundred nine → 1809Prompt: The word 'thousand' tells you the first digit.
- In 623 158, which place is the digit 3 in? (ones / hundred thousands / thousands / tens) → thousandsPrompt: The places in a group of three are hundreds, tens, ones — for thousands too.
- How do you write 1530 in words? (one thousand five hundred thirty / one thousand six hundred thirty / one thousand five hundred forty / one thousand three hundred fifty) → one thousand five hundred thirtyPrompt: Read the thousands first, then the hundreds, then the last two digits.
Hook · 3 min
- Show a number in the news or a price tag and ask what each digit is worth.
- Share the objective: Read and write numbers to 1 000 000 in words. 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: Write in digits: four hundred thirty-two thousand seven hundred thirty-one
- Step 1: 432 thousand, then 731.
- Step 2: 432 731
- Answer: 432731
- 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.
- Write in digits: one hundred eighty-two thousand two hundred ninety-seven → 182297Prompt: Everything before 'thousand' is the thousands group.
- Which number is twelve thousand eighty-seven? (1287 / 12 870 / 12 087 / 20 700) → 12 087Prompt: How many thousands are there?
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.
- Write in digits: five hundred thirty-six thousand two hundred fifty → 536250Prompt: Everything before 'thousand' is the thousands group.
- Which number is nine hundred sixty-three thousand five? (963 050 / 963 500 / 96 305 / 963 005) → 963 005Prompt: How many thousands are there?
Watch out for
- Reading 1,045 as one thousand four hundred five: point to each place and say its value.
- Thinking a longer number is always bigger, even with decimals (0.45 vs 0.5).
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Read and write four-digit numbers in words.
- Use concrete materials: place value chart.
- 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/math/grade-4.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder