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

Compare two lengths using a third object

Measurement

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

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Compare two lengths using a third object.

  • 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 three things by length

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 (Order three things by length). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Leo's pencil is longer than Chloe's. Chloe's pencil is longer than Sam's. Whose pencil is the shortest? (Leo / Chloe / Sam) → SamPrompt: Draw three lines to show the pencils.
  2. Hiro's pencil is longer than Hana's. Hana's pencil is longer than Maya's. Whose pencil is the longest? (Hiro / Hana / Maya) → HiroPrompt: Draw three lines to show the pencils.
  3. Felix's pencil is longer than Sofia's. Sofia's pencil is longer than Elena's. Whose pencil is the shortest? (Felix / Sofia / Elena) → ElenaPrompt: Draw three lines to show the pencils.

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: Compare two lengths using a third object. 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: Hana's ribbon is shorter than Sofia's. Sofia's ribbon is shorter than Ana's. Whose ribbon is the shortest?
  • Step 1: Shortest to longest: Hana, Sofia, Ana.
  • Step 2: Hana
  • Answer: Hana
  • 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. Omar's ribbon is shorter than Ana's. Ana's ribbon is shorter than Leo's. Whose ribbon is the longest? (Omar / Ana / Leo) → LeoPrompt: Ana's ribbon is longer than one and shorter than the other.
  2. A string is longer than the bookcase but shorter than the door. Which is longer, the bookcase or the door? (The bookcase / The door) → The doorPrompt: The string is a measuring tool here.

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. Ines's ribbon is shorter than Ana's. Ana's ribbon is shorter than Mateo's. Whose ribbon is the shortest? (Ines / Ana / Mateo) → InesPrompt: Ana's ribbon is longer than one and shorter than the other.
  2. A string is longer than the bookcase but shorter than the rug. Which is longer, the bookcase or the rug? (The bookcase / The rug) → The rugPrompt: The string is a measuring tool here.

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: Order three things by length.
  • 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-1.

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

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Compare two lengths using a third object

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    A string is longer than the table but shorter than the bookcase. Which is longer, the table or the bookcase?

    • A. The table
    • B. The bookcase

  2. Question 2

    Isla's ribbon is shorter than Arjun's. Arjun's ribbon is shorter than Jamal's. Whose ribbon is the shortest?

    • A. Isla
    • B. Arjun
    • C. Jamal

  3. Question 3

    A string is longer than the bookcase but shorter than the rug. Which is longer, the bookcase or the rug?

    • A. The bookcase
    • B. The rug

  4. Question 4

    Omar's ribbon is shorter than Diego's. Diego's ribbon is shorter than Mei's. Whose ribbon is the shortest?

    • A. Omar
    • B. Diego
    • C. Mei

  5. Question 5

    A string is longer than the rug but shorter than the door. Which is longer, the rug or the door?

    • A. The rug
    • B. The door

  6. Question 6

    Felix's ribbon is shorter than Maya's. Maya's ribbon is shorter than Liam's. Whose ribbon is the longest?

    • A. Felix
    • B. Maya
    • C. Liam

  7. Question 7

    A string is longer than the bookcase but shorter than the door. Which is longer, the bookcase or the door?

    • A. The bookcase
    • B. The door

  8. Question 8

    Hiro's ribbon is shorter than Tariq's. Tariq's ribbon is shorter than Isla's. Whose ribbon is the shortest?

    • A. Hiro
    • B. Tariq
    • C. Isla

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Answer key: Compare two lengths using a third object

  1. 1. B. The bookcase

  2. 2. A. Isla

  3. 3. B. The rug

  4. 4. A. Omar

  5. 5. B. The door

  6. 6. C. Liam

  7. 7. B. The door

  8. 8. A. Hiro