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Science lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 45 minutes

Units of measurement

Working scientifically

CCSS NGSS.SEP 5England: KS2 Y3–Y4 Working scientifically

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Units of measurement.

  • 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: Choosing a measuring tool

Leads to: Reading scales and thermometers; Converting units

Materials: Simple equipment for a fair test, Results table template, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Choosing a measuring tool). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which tool would you use to measure how warm the classroom is? (a stopwatch or timer / a measuring jug or cylinder / weighing scales / a thermometer) → a thermometerPrompt: Is it a length, a temperature, a mass, a time or an amount of liquid?
  2. What could you measure with a measuring jug or cylinder? (how warm the classroom is / how long a candle burns / how much rainwater was collected / how heavy an apple is) → how much rainwater was collectedPrompt: What does this tool measure: length, temperature, mass, time or volume?
  3. Which is the best tool to find out how long it takes a snail to cross a table? (a ruler / a stopwatch / a thermometer / a rain gauge) → a stopwatchPrompt: "How long it takes" is about time.

Hook · 5 min

  • Show a simple experiment with one thing changed and ask what makes it a fair test.
  • Share the objective: Units of measurement. 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: What do degrees Celsius (°C) measure?
  • Step 1: Degrees Celsius (°C) measure temperature.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: temperature
  • Answer: temperature
  • 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. What do degrees Celsius (°C) measure? (volume / time / mass / temperature) → temperaturePrompt: Think of something you would measure in this unit.
  2. Which unit is best for the length of an ant? (millimetres (mm) / litres (L) / metres (m) / kilometres (km)) → millimetres (mm)Prompt: An ant is tiny.

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. Which unit is best for the length of an ant? (kilometres (km) / metres (m) / litres (L) / millimetres (mm)) → millimetres (mm)Prompt: An ant is tiny.
  2. A bottle of water holds 500 ___. (kilograms (kg) / millilitres (mL) / litres (L) / metres (m)) → millilitres (mL)Prompt: 500 litres would fill a small paddling pool.

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Choosing a measuring tool.
  • Use concrete materials: simple equipment for a fair test.
  • 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: Reading scales and thermometers; Converting units.
  • 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/science/grade-2.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Units of measurement

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    What do litres (L) measure?

    • A. mass
    • B. volume
    • C. temperature
    • D. length

  2. Question 2

    A runner's time for a race is written as 14.2. Which unit makes sense?

    • A. kilograms (kg)
    • B. metres (m)
    • C. seconds (s)
    • D. hours (h)

  3. Question 3

    Which unit is best for the water in a bath?

    • A. litres (L)
    • B. centimetres (cm)
    • C. millilitres (mL)
    • D. kilograms (kg)

  4. Question 4

    What do kilometres (km) measure?

    • A. volume
    • B. length
    • C. temperature
    • D. mass

  5. Question 5

    The temperature on a warm summer day is 25. Which unit is it?

    • A. litres (L)
    • B. centimetres (cm)
    • C. degrees Celsius (°C)
    • D. grams (g)

  6. Question 6

    Which unit is best for the length of an ant?

    • A. kilometres (km)
    • B. litres (L)
    • C. metres (m)
    • D. millimetres (mm)

  7. Question 7

    A classroom door is about 2 ___ tall.

    • A. kilometres (km)
    • B. millimetres (mm)
    • C. centimetres (cm)
    • D. metres (m)

  8. Question 8

    What do millimetres (mm) measure?

    • A. volume
    • B. mass
    • C. time
    • D. length

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Answer key: Units of measurement

  1. 1. B. volume

  2. 2. C. seconds (s)

  3. 3. A. litres (L)

  4. 4. B. length

  5. 5. C. degrees Celsius (°C)

  6. 6. D. millimetres (mm)

  7. 7. D. metres (m)

  8. 8. D. length