Math lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 60 minutes
Money problems with several steps
Measurement
CCSS 4.MD.A.2England: Y5 Measurement
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Money problems with several steps.
- 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: Add money and give change; Money as decimals: pounds and pence, dollars and cents
Leads to: Compare prices to find the better buy
Materials: Rulers, scales and measuring jugs, Clock faces, Conversion chart, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 6 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Add money and give change; Money as decimals: pounds and pence, dollars and cents). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Grace buys a toy for $4.45 and pays with $5. How much change is given? (Answer in cents.) → 55Prompt: Count up from the price to the next whole amount.
- Write 285¢ using a decimal point, in dollars. → 2.85Prompt: 100 pence (or cents) make 1 whole unit.
- A sandwich costs $4.35 and a drink costs $8.60. What is the total cost? → 12.95Prompt: Add the whole units, then the pence or cents.
Hook · 6 min
- Ask the class to estimate the length of the room or the weight of a bag before measuring it.
- Share the objective: Money problems with several steps. 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: Ava buys 3 notebooks at $5.10 each and a ruler for $1.30. Ava pays with $20. How much change does Ava get?
- Step 1: 3 × $5.10 = $15.30
- Step 2: $15.30 + $1.30 = $16.60
- Step 3: $20 − $16.60 = $3.40
- Answer: 3.4
- 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.
- Mateo buys 2 notebooks at $2.50 each and a ruler for $1. Mateo pays with $10. How much change does Mateo get? → 4Prompt: Find the total cost first.
- Sam saves $2 every week to buy a scooter costing $20. How many weeks will it take? → 10Prompt: How many lots of the weekly saving make the price?
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.
- Arjun saves $3.50 every week to buy a scooter costing $24.50. How many weeks will it take? → 7Prompt: How many lots of the weekly saving make the price?
- Hana buys 3 notebooks at $4.30 each and a ruler for $1.30. Hana pays with $20. How much change does Hana get? → 5.8Prompt: Find the total cost first.
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: Add money and give change.
- 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: Compare prices to find the better buy.
- 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