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Science lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 45 minutes

Reading scales and thermometers

Working scientifically

CCSS NGSS.SEP 5England: KS2 Y3–Y4 Working scientificallyEngland: KS2 Y4 States of matter

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Reading scales and thermometers.

  • 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: Units of measurement

Leads to: Reading bar charts of results

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 · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Units of measurement). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. What do litres (L) measure? (temperature / length / time / volume) → volumePrompt: Think of something you would measure in this unit.
  2. 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?
  3. The temperature on a warm summer day is 25. Which unit is it? (grams (g) / degrees Celsius (°C) / litres (L) / centimetres (cm)) → degrees Celsius (°C)Prompt: Which unit measures how hot something is?

Hook · 5 min

  • Show a simple experiment with one thing changed and ask what makes it a fair test.
  • Share the objective: Reading scales and thermometers. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Model one question from the student sheet, thinking aloud.
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

You do: independent practice · 10 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 5 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

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: Units of measurement.
  • 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 bar charts of results.
  • 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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Reading scales and thermometers

Name

Date

Score/ 5

  1. Question 1

    On a frosty morning the thermometer shows this reading. What is the temperature, in °C?

    −15−10−50510−5

    Answer°C

  2. Question 2

    The arrow shows the water level on a measuring jug marked in millilitres. Each small mark is 25 mL. How much water is there, in mL?

    05010015020025050

    AnswermL

  3. Question 3

    The arrow shows the reading on a thermometer scale. What temperature does it show, in °C?

    051015202530354024

    Answer°C

  4. Question 4

    The arrow shows the water level on a measuring jug marked in millilitres. Each small mark is 10 mL. How much water is there, in mL?

    02040608010070

    AnswermL

  5. Question 5

    The arrow shows the water level on a measuring jug marked in millilitres. Each small mark is 20 mL. How much water is there, in mL?

    04080120160200120

    AnswermL

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Answer key: Reading scales and thermometers

  1. 1. -5 °C

  2. 2. 50 mL

  3. 3. 24 °C

  4. 4. 70 mL

  5. 5. 120 mL