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Math lesson plan · 1st grade (Year 2 in England) · 45 minutes

Measure with same-size units and compare unit sizes

Measurement

CCSS 1.MD.A.2CCSS 2.MD.A.2England: Y1 Measurement

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Measure with same-size units and compare unit sizes.

  • 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: Measure length with units

Leads to: Spot measuring mistakes: gaps and overlaps

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 (Measure length with units). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Ines's paper chain is 7 clips long. Luis's is 6 clips long. How many clips longer is Ines's chain? → 1Prompt: Find the difference between the two lengths.
  2. Diego's paper chain is 10 clips long. Zara's is 6 clips long. How many clips longer is Diego's chain? → 4Prompt: Find the difference between the two lengths.
  3. Priya's paper chain is 11 clips long. Tariq's is 2 clips long. How many clips longer is Priya's chain? → 9Prompt: Find the difference between the two lengths.

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: Measure with same-size units and compare unit sizes. 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: A grown-up measures a table and gets 7 hand-spans. Sam's hand is bigger. Will Sam count more or fewer hand-spans?
  • Step 1: Bigger hand-spans, so fewer of them.
  • Step 2: Fewer
  • Answer: Fewer
  • 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.
  1. A grown-up measures a table and gets 8 hand-spans. Ines's hand is smaller. Will Ines count more or fewer hand-spans? (More / Fewer / The same) → MorePrompt: The table does not change.
  2. Noah measured a book with paper clips and got 7. Sam measured the same book with cubes and got 12. Which unit is longer? (The paper clip / The cube) → The paper clipPrompt: The book is the same length both times.

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.
  1. Zoe measured a book with paper clips and got 4. Grace measured the same book with cubes and got 9. Which unit is longer? (The paper clip / The cube) → The paper clipPrompt: The book is the same length both times.
  2. A grown-up measures a table and gets 9 hand-spans. Kofi's hand is smaller. Will Kofi count more or fewer hand-spans? (More / Fewer / The same) → MorePrompt: The table does not change.

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: Measure length with units.
  • 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

  • Move on to: Spot measuring mistakes: gaps and overlaps.
  • 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

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Measure with same-size units and compare unit sizes

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    The pencil lies along a row of cubes, starting at 0. How many cubes long is it?

    12356789101112131404

    Answer

  2. Question 2

    A grown-up measures a table and gets 11 hand-spans. Kai's hand is smaller. Will Kai count more or fewer hand-spans?

    • A. More
    • B. Fewer
    • C. The same
  3. Question 3

    Fatima measured a book with paper clips and got 6. Sofia measured the same book with cubes and got 11. Which unit is longer?

    • A. The paper clip
    • B. The cube
  4. Question 4

    A grown-up measures a table and gets 7 hand-spans. Luis's hand is bigger. Will Luis count more or fewer hand-spans?

    • A. More
    • B. Fewer
    • C. The same
  5. Question 5

    Ben measured a book with paper clips and got 6. Jamal measured the same book with cubes and got 9. Which unit is longer?

    • A. The paper clip
    • B. The cube
  6. Question 6

    The leaf lies along a row of cubes, starting at 0. How many cubes long is it?

    12345789101112131406

    Answer

  7. Question 7

    A grown-up measures a table and gets 5 hand-spans. Hana's hand is bigger. Will Hana count more or fewer hand-spans?

    • A. More
    • B. Fewer
    • C. The same
  8. Question 8

    Arjun measured a book with paper clips and got 5. Isla measured the same book with cubes and got 7. Which unit is longer?

    • A. The paper clip
    • B. The cube

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Answer key: Measure with same-size units and compare unit sizes

  1. 1. 4

  2. 2. A. More

  3. 3. A. The paper clip

  4. 4. B. Fewer

  5. 5. A. The paper clip

  6. 6. 6

  7. 7. B. Fewer

  8. 8. A. The paper clip