Weight and volume - Weight and mass problems - Planning

In the initial week of the Spring term, Year 1 students are introduced to the concept of weight and mass, with a focus on solving mass-related maths problems. The lesson utilises a variety of resources, including balance scales, objects, blocks, and worksheets, to engage the children in hands-on learning. They are encouraged to familiarise themselves with key terms such as 'mass', 'measuring', 'greater', 'heavier', 'lighter', 'balance', 'scale', and 'equals'. The lesson begins with a starter activity to review previous learning, followed by practical exercises where students use balance scales to measure and compare the mass of different objects, like animals or food items, and complete STEM sentences to articulate their understanding. The aim is to help children grasp how to determine the mass of an object and the difference in mass between two objects.

The lesson continues with further activities that challenge the children to analyse the mass of objects represented by cubes and cones on balance scales, and to calculate the mass of combinations of these objects. They explore how to deduce the mass of one object based on the known mass of another. In the concluding activity, students apply their reasoning skills to double the mass of an object, understanding that if one cylinder equals the mass of four cubes, two cylinders must equal eight cubes. Throughout the lesson, key questions prompt students to think about the mass of objects and the implications of comparing masses. The plenary encourages reflection on what has been learned, the skills used, and any difficulties encountered. The lesson supports different levels of achievement, from working towards understanding basic concepts to reaching greater depth by solving two-step balance problems and interpreting data from a table.