Math lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 45 minutes
Choose millilitres or litres
Measurement
England: Y2 Measurement
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Choose millilitres or litres.
- 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: Which holds more? Comparing capacity
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 (Which holds more? Comparing capacity). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which holds less water: a mug or a bucket? (A mug / A bucket) → A mugPrompt: Picture the two things side by side.
- Kai fills a jug with 8 cups of water. Aisha fills another jug with 10 cups. Whose jug holds more? (Kai / Aisha) → AishaPrompt: They used the same cups.
- Which holds less water: a watering can or an egg cup? (A watering can / An egg cup) → An egg cupPrompt: Picture the two things side by side.
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: Choose millilitres or litres. 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: Would you measure how much a bathtub holds in millilitres or litres?
- Step 1: litres (l)
- Answer: litres (l)
- 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.
- Would you measure how much a bucket holds in millilitres or litres? (millilitres (ml) / litres (l)) → litres (l)Prompt: A millilitre is a tiny drop; a teaspoon holds about 5 ml.
- Hana pours 4 full 1-litre bottles into a bucket. How many litres of water are in the bucket? → 4Prompt: Each bottle holds 1 litre.
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.
- Would you measure how much a cup holds in millilitres or litres? (millilitres (ml) / litres (l)) → millilitres (ml)Prompt: A millilitre is a tiny drop; a teaspoon holds about 5 ml.
- Zoe pours 2 full 1-litre bottles into a bucket. How many litres of water are in the bucket? → 2Prompt: Each bottle holds 1 litre.
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: Which holds more? Comparing capacity.
- 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-2.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder