Mass and capacity - Measure mass - Planning

In the initial stages of a Year 3 lesson plan on measuring mass, children are introduced to the key concepts of weight and scales. The lesson's resources include worksheets, a presentation, and practical tools like chalk or masking tape for marking out measurements. Key vocabulary such as kilograms, grams, scales, weigh, mass, and intervals are emphasised, with additional materials like vocabulary cards and definitions available for reinforcement. The lesson begins with a recap of previous learning and a starter activity where children answer questions to refresh their understanding. The core of the lesson involves teaching the pupils how to accurately read different types of scales, including those with missing intervals, and to measure mass in either kilograms or grams. This includes hands-on practice with balance scales and estimating the mass of objects before weighing them, as well as identifying increments on a scale to determine the weight of items.

The lesson progresses with a variety of activities that encourage children to apply their knowledge. They engage in practical tasks, such as measuring the mass of objects using balance scales and deciding whether to use gram or kilogram weights. This is followed by exercises where children read scales to find the mass of items, paying close attention to half-increments and missing intervals. They are also challenged with reasoning tasks that involve comparing statements about the mass of objects and calculating weights based on given information. The children work through differentiated worksheets to consolidate their learning, focusing on identifying the mass of objects both shown directly on scales and using a straight number line representation. Throughout the lesson, key questions prompt students to think critically about when to use kilograms or grams and how to interpret scale intervals. The lesson concludes with a reflection activity where children consider what they have learned, the skills they've used, and what they found challenging, ensuring they remember the key takeaways about measuring mass.