Math lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 60 minutes
Compare and order numbers up to 1 000 000
Number sense
CCSS 4.NBT.A.2England: Y5 Number and place value
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Compare and order numbers up to 1 000 000.
- 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: Order four-digit numbers; Place value names up to hundred thousands
Leads to: Compare and order numbers to ten million
Materials: Place value chart, Base-ten blocks or a number line, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 6 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Order four-digit numbers; Place value names up to hundred thousands). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- In 547 219, which place is the digit 7 in? (thousands / ones / ten thousands / tens) → thousandsPrompt: The places in a group of three are hundreds, tens, ones — for thousands too.
- In 481 035, which place is the digit 1 in? (ones / thousands / hundreds / tens) → thousandsPrompt: The places in a group of three are hundreds, tens, ones — for thousands too.
- In 908 347, which place is the digit 4 in? (hundred thousands / ten thousands / tens / ones) → tensPrompt: The places in a group of three are hundreds, tens, ones — for thousands too.
Hook · 6 min
- Show a number in the news or a price tag and ask what each digit is worth.
- Share the objective: Compare and order numbers up to 1 000 000. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 12 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Choose the sign: 554 713 __ 624 713
- Step 1: 554 713 < 624 713
- Answer: <
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 12 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Choose the sign: 814 401 __ 814 471 (< / > / =) → <Prompt: Does one number have more digits?
- Populations: Northbridge 703 637, Eastvale 555 633, Westford 119 876. Which town has the most people? (Northbridge / Eastvale / Westford) → NorthbridgePrompt: Compare the number of digits first.
You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Choose the sign: 991 724 __ 991 724 (< / > / =) → =Prompt: Does one number have more digits?
- Populations: Northbridge 978 591, Eastvale 637 530, Westford 680 849. Which town has the most people? (Northbridge / Eastvale / Westford) → NorthbridgePrompt: Compare the number of digits first.
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: Order 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: Compare and order numbers to ten million.
- 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