LESSON PLAN 3.1.11 (60 min.)
SWBAT use measuring cups and measuring spoons.
SWBAT show what they know.
Materials:
 Measuring cups (ideally at least 4 sets)
 Measuring spoons (ideally at least 4 sets)
 4 containers of rice (to measure with cups)
 4 containers of flour (to measure with spoons)
Assessment (15 minutes):
Teacher administers assessment. Explains to class that this is an opportunity to show what they know,
and what they have learned since the beginning of Food and Ecology.
Mini-lesson:
Introduction to New Material 1:
Teacher says: Today is a very exciting day. We are going to learn to use measuring cups. Who knows
what measuring cups are used for? Class brainstorms reasons for using measuring cups.
Class labels pictures of measuring cups (1 C, ½ C, 1/3 C, ¼ C). As you label them, mark on the line
next to the cups to reinforce the idea of fractions affecting measurements of cups.
Teacher demonstrates using the measuring cup: spoon into the cup, level with the knife. Ask students
to come to front and demonstrate.
Guided Practice 1:
Place containers on the table. Ask students to try measuring using the measuring cups.
Complete checklist:
 Measure 1 cup of rice
 Measure ½ cup of rice
 Measure ¼ cup of rice
 Measure 1/3 cup of rice
____________________________
Introduction to New Material 2:
Class labels pictures of Tablespoons and teaspoons (1 T, 1 t, ½ tsp, ¼ tsp). Point out that we write the
T for Tablespoon and the t for teaspoon. Ask the students to guess why (use the fact that the T is
bigger than the t).
Teacher demonstrates using the measuring spoons: scoop the spoon into the rice, level with the knife.
Ask students to come to front and demonstrate.
Guided Practice 1:
Place containers on the table. Ask students to try measuring using the measuring cups.
Complete checklist:
 Measure 1 T of rice
 Measure 1 t of rice
 Measure ½ t of rice
 Measure ¼ t of rice
Independent Practice (10 min):
Use the measuring cups to answer the questions below with your teammates:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Use the ½ C to fill the 1 Cup. How many ½ Cups fit into the 1 Cup? ________________
Use the ¼ C to fill the 1 Cup. How many ½ Cups fit into the 1 Cup? ________________
Use the 1/3 C to fill the 1 Cup. How many 1/3 Cups fit into the 1 Cup? ________________
Use the teaspoon (t) to fill the Tablespoon (T). How many t fit into the T? ________________
Use the ½ t to fill the 1 t. How many ½ t fit into the t? ___________________
Use the ¼ t to fill the 1 t. How many ¼ t fit into the t? ___________________
Closing (5 min):
Go over the answers with the class. Point out that two ½ C fit into 1 C. Point out that 4 ¼ t fit into 1 t.
Ask the class what that may tell us about the symbols ½ and ¼ ?
_________________________
____________________________
Mini-Assessment
1. What are the six food groups that have learned (use the pictures above to help
you)?
 _________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________
2. What are three things that happen to food once you have put it into your body?
 _________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________
3. What is the word for the amount of food that the government thinks is right for one
person to eat?
a. A meal
b. A serving size
c. A plateful
d. A cup
4. Write a question that you are still wondering about what we have learned in Food
and Ecology:
_________________________________________________________________
____________________
__________________________
Food and ecology!
Work ______________ and be ______________.
Measuring ___________________:
Complete the checklist:
 Measure 1 cup of rice
 Measure ½ cup of rice
 Measure ¼ cup of rice
 Measure 1/3 cup of rice
Measuring ____________________:
Complete the checklist:
 Measure 1 T of rice
 Measure 1 t of rice
 Measure ½ t of rice
 Measure ¼ t of rice
Use the measuring cups and rice to answer the questions below with your
teammates:
1. Use the ½ C to fill the 1 Cup. How many ½ Cups fit into the 1 Cup?
________________
2. Use the ¼ C to fill the 1 Cup. How many ½ Cups fit into the 1 Cup?
________________
3. Use the 1/3 C to fill the 1 Cup. How many 1/3 Cups fit into the 1 Cup?
________________
4. Use the teaspoon (t) to fill the Tablespoon (T). How many t fit into the T?
________________
5. Use the ½ t to fill the 1 t. How many ½ t fit into the t? ___________________
6. Use the ¼ t to fill the 1 t. How many ¼ t fit into the t? ___________________
What was the hardest part of using the measuring cups and measuring spoons?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
What was the easiest measurement to use?
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