Math lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 45 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 · 5 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: four thousand seven hundred ninety-nine → 4799Prompt: The word 'thousand' tells you the first digit.
- In 184 590, which place is the digit 1 in? (hundreds / ten thousands / hundred thousands / thousands) → hundred thousandsPrompt: The places in a group of three are hundreds, tens, ones — for thousands too.
- How do you write 4733 in words? (four thousand seven hundred forty-three / four thousand eight hundred thirty-three / four thousand three hundred seventy-three / four thousand seven hundred thirty-three) → four thousand seven hundred thirty-threePrompt: Read the thousands first, then the hundreds, then the last two digits.
Hook · 5 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 · 10 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 · 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.
- Write in digits: four hundred ninety-eight thousand five hundred seventy-one → 498571Prompt: Everything before 'thousand' is the thousands group.
- Which number is nine hundred seventy-one thousand sixty-three? (971 630 / 971 063 / 97 163 / 977 300) → 971 063Prompt: How many thousands are there?
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.
- Write in digits: two hundred eight thousand five hundred seventy-five → 208575Prompt: Everything before 'thousand' is the thousands group.
- Which number is one hundred fifty-two thousand eighty-nine? (152 890 / 152 089 / 160 900 / 15 289) → 152 089Prompt: 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