MATHS LESSON PLAN 1

Student Name: Dale Kang

Lesson Duration: 50min

Subject: Mathematics

Year Level: 9

Class Size: 25

Resources and Materials: Laptops, Scales, Chocolate Bars

Topic: Comparing Mass
Learning Outcomes/Aims: Students are to understand the concept of mass, use scaled instruments to measure and compare
masses(ACMMG084), and be able to visualize the difference in mass between objects.
Activities
Introduction
What is mass? Revision on the concept of mass. Units used are grams, kilograms, tonnes.

Time Frame
5 min

4kg is heavier than 3kg, by 1kg. However can we compare masses if we dont have the exact figure measured?
Body
Formative Assessment: Engaging the Students

15 min

Exploring the Magic Scale

There are 8 yellow bars and one is made of gold. The gold bar is heavier than the others but you cannot tell by
looking. You have a scale. The function of the scale is to be able to tell which side of the scale is heavier.
Standard Task: Can you find the gold by using the scale only 3 times?
Challenging Task: Can you find the gold by using the scale only 2 times? If not, why?

10 min

Very Challenging Task: Can you find the gold by using the scale only once? If not, why? How many yellow bars
need to be removed to enable us to find the gold by using the scale once?
Bring scales and chocolate bars for this activity.

15 min

Explain why putting 3 yellow bars on each side of the scale will allow the completion of the challenging task.
Elaborate why the very challenging task can only be done if there are a total of 3 yellow bars, and if given 4
chances we can figure out the gold bar out of 27 yellow bars.
Use of ICT: http://www.mathplayground.com/balance_scales.html
Play this game on the laptop. We do not know the exact mass of the objects, yet we can figure out which one is
the heaviest.
Evaluate your own performance in the game. Which questions were hard and why? Do you understand why you
got them wrong?
Conclusion
Explain how comparisons are made, what a benchmark is, and why it is important to compare to a benchmark.

5 min