Math lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 45 minutes
Read and write four-digit numbers in words
Number sense
CCSS 4.NBT.A.2England: Y4 Number and place value
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Read and write four-digit numbers 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: Value of a digit in four-digit numbers
Leads to: Read and write numbers to 1 000 000 in words
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 (Value of a digit in four-digit numbers). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- In 1537, which place is the digit 5 in? (ones / tens / hundreds / thousands) → hundredsPrompt: Name the places from the right: ones, tens, hundreds, thousands.
- What is the value of the digit 7 in 3708? → 700Prompt: Which place is the digit in?
- Which number has the digit 3 in the thousands place? (3654 / 6632 / 7273 / 2356) → 3654Prompt: The thousands place is 3 places from the right end.
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 four-digit numbers 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: three thousand eighty-six
- Step 1: 3086
- Answer: 3086
- 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: six thousand eight hundred sixty-two → 6862Prompt: The word 'thousand' tells you the first digit.
- How do you write 5083 in words? (five thousand eighty-three / five thousand eight hundred three / five thousand ninety-three / five thousand one hundred eighty-three) → five thousand eighty-threePrompt: Read the thousands first, then the hundreds, then the last two digits.
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: four thousand three hundred eighty → 4380Prompt: The word 'thousand' tells you the first digit.
- How do you write 5866 in words? (five thousand nine hundred sixty-six / five thousand six hundred eighty-six / five thousand eight hundred seventy-six / five thousand eight hundred sixty-six) → five thousand eight hundred sixty-sixPrompt: Read the thousands first, then the hundreds, then the last two digits.
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: Value of a digit in four-digit numbers.
- 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
- Move on to: Read and write numbers to 1 000 000 in words.
- 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-3.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder