Houston Baptist University

Department of Education and Behavioral Sciences

Lesson Plan Format (with 5-Es)
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Subject: Science
Grade Level: 2nd
Time Estimate: 40
Unit: Earth & Space
Topic: Measuring temperature
Goal(s): TLW discover how to measure temperature using basic science tools (thermometer)
Objective(s):
TLW:

TEKS: 112.13 2C
112.13 8A

Discuss with partner: What is temperature? What are some ways to talk about
temperature? (cold, hot, freezing) Share with class
Discuss as class how we measure temperature
With partner identify and explain the purpose of thermometer and share with class
As class, measure temperature by reading thermometer poster created by teacher
With desk group mates, move through five-six stations set up (by teacher) around class
at each group of desks and measure the temperature using a thermometer at that
station

Materials/Resources/Technology needs: thermometer poster, science journals, five

thermometers, (for stations) heat lamp, iced water, teacher desk (room temp), cup of coffee,
small bowl left on window sill ( to see if the sun coming through a window will raise the
temperature of water in bowl)
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Instructional Procedures

Focusing Event (ENGAGE): Discuss with students previous weather lesson (how weather
affects what we wear and our activities).
Teaching/ Learning Procedures:
EXPLORE: With elbow partner, discuss and answer questions: What is temperature?
What are some ways we talk about temperature?
EXPLAIN: As class, share findings. Teacher explains we use temperature to describe
how hot or cold something is and a thermometer is the tool we use to measure
temperature in degree Fahrenheit and degree Celsius. Emphasize that as something
(the liquid in the thermometer) heats up it will expand and as something cools it will
contract or become smaller. Teacher will explain each part of thermometer and show

what each notch means (increments of one, five, and ten). Students will copy
thermometer poster into journals with labels and vocab.
ELABORATE:
1. On each group of desks, there will be a temperature station. Students are (with desk
group mates) to cycle through all five-six stations and read the temperature on the
thermometer at that station and record in right side of science journal
2. In science journal on the left side draw 1 picture of how they think the liquid in the
thermometer acts as it heats up and 1 picture of what they think the liquid in the
thermometer acts as it cools down. One sentence for each picture describing what is
happening
3. Students will daily, record afternoon temperatures (during class) into designated
page in science journals. These data will then be used to create a table and bar
graph

Formative Check (ongoing or specific should be embedded above in any/all of Explore, Explain,
Elaborate above as part of your on-going EVALUATION): monitor student group/partner work for
acceptable cooperative work behaviors (respectful of others, hands to themselves),
ensure all students are engaged and participating during classroom discussion. Ensure
student is recording daily (in class) temperature readings.
Reteach (alternative used as needed should be embedded above in any/all of Explore, Explain,
Elaborate as needed by your students): what temperature is and how we measure temperature
(thermometer)
Closure: Emphasize vocab words expand and contract (because these are terms which will be
used when eventually covering the states of matter and thermal energy).

Assessment/Summative Evaluation:
Diagram of poster thermometer with labels and vocab and results from station rotation
thermometer readings to assess understanding of how to read a thermometer.
Descriptive pictures with sentences only as participation assessment to determine if student
understands the concept of expansion and contraction dependent upon warm or cool
temperatures.
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Modifications/Notes:
For mobility impaired, either:
1. Allow more space between grouped desks and decrease number of stations
2. Instead of stations, produce classroom sheets and allow time for group work