Math lesson plan · 1st grade (Year 2 in England) · 45 minutes
Compare two lengths using a third object
Measurement
CCSS 1.MD.A.1England: Y1 Measurement
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Compare two lengths using a third object.
- 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: Order three things by length
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
Materials: Rulers, scales and measuring jugs, Clock faces, Conversion chart, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Order three things by length). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Tariq's pencil is longer than Elena's. Elena's pencil is longer than Hana's. Whose pencil is the longest? (Tariq / Elena / Hana) → TariqPrompt: Draw three lines to show the pencils.
- Mei's pencil is longer than Sam's. Sam's pencil is longer than Aisha's. Whose pencil is the longest? (Mei / Sam / Aisha) → MeiPrompt: Draw three lines to show the pencils.
- Kwame's pencil is longer than Zoe's. Zoe's pencil is longer than Amara's. Whose pencil is the shortest? (Kwame / Zoe / Amara) → AmaraPrompt: Draw three lines to show the pencils.
Hook · 5 min
- Ask the class to estimate the length of the room or the weight of a bag before measuring it.
- Share the objective: Compare two lengths using a third object. 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.
- Example: Hana's ribbon is shorter than Sofia's. Sofia's ribbon is shorter than Ana's. Whose ribbon is the shortest?
- Step 1: Shortest to longest: Hana, Sofia, Ana.
- Step 2: Hana
- Answer: Hana
- 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.
- Lucia's ribbon is shorter than Omar's. Omar's ribbon is shorter than Amara's. Whose ribbon is the longest? (Lucia / Omar / Amara) → AmaraPrompt: Omar's ribbon is longer than one and shorter than the other.
- A string is longer than the rug but shorter than the door. Which is longer, the rug or the door? (The rug / The door) → The doorPrompt: The string is a measuring tool here.
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 8 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.
- Diego's ribbon is shorter than Zara's. Zara's ribbon is shorter than Ravi's. Whose ribbon is the shortest? (Diego / Zara / Ravi) → DiegoPrompt: Zara's ribbon is longer than one and shorter than the other.
- A string is longer than the rug but shorter than the table. Which is longer, the rug or the table? (The rug / The table) → The tablePrompt: The string is a measuring tool here.
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: Order three things by length.
- 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
- 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-1.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder