Lesson Plan: Number, Money, and Measure - Frogs

Subject: Mathematics Topic: Number, Money, and Measure Level: Second Level (Scottish Curriculum) Desired Outcome: I can carry out practical tasks and investigations involving timed events and can explain which unit of time would be most appropriate to use.

Introduction: - Begin the lesson by engaging the students in a discussion about frogs. Ask them questions such as “What do you know about frogs?” and “Where do frogs live?” to activate their prior knowledge and create interest in the topic.

Activity 1: Frog Jumping Contest Objective: To measure and compare the distances jumped by different frogs.

• Divide the students into small groups and provide each group with a toy frog and a measuring tape.
• Explain that they will be conducting a frog jumping contest to see which frog can jump the farthest.
• Instruct the students to take turns measuring and recording the distance jumped by their frog using the measuring tape.
• After each student has had a turn, have the groups compare the distances jumped by their frogs and discuss which frog jumped the farthest.
• Ask the students to explain their reasoning for choosing the frog that jumped the farthest.

Activity 2: Time to Catch the Flies Objective: To estimate and measure time using appropriate units.

• Explain to the students that frogs are known for catching flies with their long tongues.
• Tell them that they will be timing how long it takes for a frog to catch a certain number of flies.
• Set up a small obstacle course with a few “flies” (e.g., small paper cutouts) placed at different distances.
• Assign each student a turn to time how long it takes for their frog to catch a specific number of flies (e.g., 5 flies).
• Provide the students with a stopwatch or a timer to measure the time accurately.
• After each student has completed their turn, have a class discussion about the different times recorded.
• Ask the students to explain which unit of time (seconds, minutes) would be most appropriate to use when measuring the time it takes for a frog to catch flies.

Activity 3: Frog Money Objective: To practice counting and adding money using frog-themed scenarios.

• Distribute play money (coins and notes) to each student.
• Present the students with different frog-themed scenarios that involve buying or selling items.
• For example, “A frog wants to buy a lily pad for 50p. How much money does the frog need?”
• Instruct the students to count the money and determine if the frog has enough to make the purchase.
• Encourage the students to explain their thinking and reasoning when solving the problems.
• Provide additional scenarios of varying difficulty to challenge the students’ understanding of money.

Conclusion: - Recap the key concepts covered in the lesson, including measuring distances, estimating and measuring time, and counting and adding money. - Ask the students to reflect on what they have learned about frogs and how it relates to the mathematical concepts discussed. - Provide an opportunity for students to ask any questions or seek clarification on any concepts covered in the lesson.