How hot is it?

Introduce your class to the equipment and units of measure used when measuring temperature. Encourage your class to use their previous knowledge of number lines and reading scales to accurately read the scales on traditional mercury thermometers, as well as exploring the different types of thermometer we can use to measure temperature in different situations.

This five-lesson scheme of work has (almost) all you need to teach your class about measuring and comparing temperature.

Warm or cold?

Begin the topic by drawing on your class’s prior knowledge of temperature and have them explore the vocabulary used to describe the temperature of different objects. Have the children compare temperatures and discuss their own experiences that they have had around temperature.

View Lesson 1

Using a thermometer

Investigate and explore the different equipment that we can use to measure temperature in different ways. Focus your class’s learning on the traditional mercury thermometer and practise reading scales in steps of one, two, five and ten.

View Lesson 2

Comparing temperatures

Challenge your class to revisit and use the comparison symbols and = to compare different temperatures that they are presented with. They must use their understanding of place value and reading thermometer scales in order to compare the two temperatures and use the comparison symbols accurately in their work

View Lesson 3

What’s the difference?

Challenge your class to find the differences between two different temperatures using their understanding of different mental and written subtraction methods. Encourage your class to see the scale on a thermometer as a number line that they can use to aid them in their calculations to find the difference between temperatures.

View Lesson 4

Problem solving and reasoning

Encourage your class to apply their learning about temperature and reading scales in different problems that they must reason with. They are challenged to develop their verbal reasoning skills when explaining their choices to the solutions to different problems as well as becoming familiar with what kind of climates have different temperatures.

View Lesson 5