Grade 4: Temperature Differences and Changes Week 2

Here’s a Grade Four Mathematics lesson plan focusing on the objectives “Tell the difference between two temperatures both above zero” and “Tell the temperature which is a given number of degrees warmer or cooler than a given temperature,” based on Jamaica’s National Standard Curriculum, using the 5Es, and differentiated activities for tiers 1, 2, and 3.

Grade 4 Mathematics Lesson Plan

Topic: Temperature Differences and Changes
Duration: 60 minutes
Objectives: Students should be able to:

1. Tell the difference between two temperatures, both above zero.
2. Tell the temperature which is a given number of degrees warmer or cooler than a given temperature.

Key Vocabulary:

Temperature, Degrees Celsius (°C), Difference, Warmer, Cooler

Teaching Resources/Materials

Classroom thermometer, Chart paper/whiteboard and markers, Temperature flashcards (various real-life temperatures, such as room temperature, boiling point, body temperature), Number line (for visualizing temperature changes), Worksheets for temperature comparison and calculation, Digital thermometers (optional)

Lesson Content Summary

Temperature Difference: To find the difference between two temperatures above zero, subtract the lower temperature from the higher one.

Example: The difference between 35°C and 28°C is 7°C.

Warmer/Cooler:

To find a temperature that is warmer, add the given number of degrees to the current temperature.

Example: If it’s 25°C and becomes 5°C warmer, the new temperature is 30°C.

To find a temperature that is cooler, subtract the given number of degrees from the current temperature.

Example: If it’s 25°C and becomes 5°C cooler, the new temperature is 20°C.

Teaching/Learning Procedure:

Engage:

Begin with a scenario: “It’s 25°C outside now, but tomorrow it will be 5°C warmer. What will the temperature be tomorrow?” Ask students to share their answers and predictions.

Students will respond with their predictions, trying to estimate the warmer temperature.

Purpose: To engage students in thinking about how temperatures change and to connect to their prior knowledge of temperature.

Explore:

Present a thermometer and demonstrate how to measure the classroom temperature. Then, show two temperatures (e.g., 30°C and 20°C) and ask students to figure out the difference between them. Use a number line to visualize the difference.

Students will explore temperature changes by calculating the difference between two given temperatures and sharing their answers.

Purpose: To introduce students to comparing temperatures and calculating the difference between two values.

Explain:

Explain that when we compare temperatures, we calculate the difference between two temperatures by subtracting the smaller one from the larger one.

Introduce examples such as: “The temperature is 30°C today and 25°C yesterday. What is the difference? How many degrees warmer is today?” (Answer: 5°C warmer).

Explain that if we want to find the temperature that is a given number of degrees warmer or cooler, we add for warmer and subtract for cooler.

Student’s Activity: Students will write down key examples and practice simple calculations using both warmer and cooler temperature scenarios.

Purpose: To solidify the concept of calculating temperature differences and understanding warmer and cooler temperatures.

Elaborate:

Hand out activity sheets where students are given two temperatures and must calculate the difference (e.g., “Find the difference between 35°C and 28°C”).

For warmer/cooler calculations, provide scenarios such as: “The temperature is 15°C now, what will it be if it becomes 8°C warmer? What will it be if it is 5°C cooler?”

Students will complete the worksheets, calculating differences and predicting warmer/cooler temperatures.

Purpose: To give students hands-on practice in applying the concept of temperature differences and changes.

Evaluate:

Ask students to come to the board and solve problems such as:

• “What is the difference between 40°C and 30°C?”
• “If it is 20°C now, what will the temperature be if it becomes 10°C warmer?”

Student’s Activity: Students will solve the problems and explain their reasoning. Teacher will assess their ability to correctly find differences and adjust temperatures.

Purpose: To evaluate students’ understanding of temperature differences and warmer/cooler calculations.

Differentiated Instruction

Tier 1: Below Grade Level (Struggling Learners)

Provide simple examples with small numbers (e.g., “What is the difference between 10°C and 5°C?”). Use visual aids like a number line to show the changes.

Materials: Larger number lines and flashcards with easier temperature differences (e.g., 10°C vs 5°C).

Support: Teacher-led small group sessions, where students work through problems together with hands-on support.

Tier 2: On Grade Level (Average Learners)

Students will solve problems using a variety of temperatures, both familiar (e.g., room temperature vs outdoor temperature) and unfamiliar (e.g., body temperature vs freezer temperature).

Materials: Standard worksheets with a range of temperature differences and warmer/cooler problems.

Support: Partner work and teacher feedback during problem-solving exercises.

Tier 3: Above Grade Level (Advanced Learners)

Challenge students with more complex problems involving multi-step temperature changes (e.g., “The temperature is 20°C now, it will become 5°C warmer and then drop by 7°C. What will the final temperature be?”).

Materials: Advanced worksheets with multi-step temperature problems and real-world scenarios.

Support: Encourage independent exploration and allow students to create their own temperature problems for others to solve.

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to accurately calculate the difference between two temperatures and determine a temperature after a given number of degrees warmer or cooler.