Reading thermometer scales showing temperatures above zero, including intermediate values between marked intervals.
Where your child meets this in real life: Checking the weather temperature, reading oven thermometers, or body temperature on a fever thermometer
SEAGReady breaks read positive temperatures into 2 steps, taught in order so each skill builds on the last.
Read temperatures on thermometers where the liquid level aligns exactly with a marked line
Read temperatures where the liquid level falls between marked intervals on the scale
Three free sample questions from our read positive temperatures course. Every question comes with a full explanation, and hints that guide without giving the answer away.
Ciara is checking the outdoor thermometer at her house in Belfast. The scale is marked in 5s. The liquid reaches the 3rd mark above zero. What temperature does it show?
Answer: A. 15°C
The scale is marked in 5s, so each mark is worth 5°C. Count by 5s to the 3rd mark: 5, 10, 15 Or calculate: 3 x 5 = 15°C The thermometer shows 15°C.
Stuck? Start here: First, work out how much each mark on the scale is worth.
Conor is checking the greenhouse thermometer. The scale is marked in 10s and the liquid is exactly halfway between 20 and 30. What temperature does it show?
Answer: A. 25°C
The liquid is between 20 and 30. The interval is 10 degrees (30 - 20 = 10). Halfway means half of 10 = 5. Add to the lower mark: 20 + 5 = 25°C
Stuck? Start here: Find the two marks the liquid is between: 20 and 30.
Oisin is looking at the classroom thermometer. The scale is marked in 2s and the liquid reaches the 7th mark above zero. What temperature does it show?
Answer: C. 14°C
The scale is marked in 2s, so each mark is worth 2°C. Count by 2s to the 7th mark: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 Or calculate: 7 x 2 = 14°C The thermometer shows 14°C.
Stuck? Start here: What is the scale interval? (How much is each mark worth?)
This is the exact interactive worked example your child sees in SEAGReady. Step through it and watch the method build up.
Aoife is checking the temperature outside her house in Belfast using a wall thermometer. The scale is marked in 5s.
What temperature does the thermometer show if the liquid reaches the 4th mark above zero?
4 x 5 = ?
Step 1 of 4
Aoife is checking the temperature outside her house in Belfast using a wall thermometer. The scale is marked in 5s.
What temperature does the thermometer show if the liquid reaches the 4th mark above zero?
The thermometer shows 20 degrees C.
The key insight: Find the gap size first, then skip-count by that amount!
Watch out: Reading the 4th mark as 4 degrees C. Each mark is worth 5, not 1. You must count by the scale interval.
These are the misconceptions we see most often in read positive temperatures, including the ones our practice questions are specifically designed to catch.
SEAGReady finds the exact step where your child gets stuck, teaches it with worked examples like the one above, and brings it back for review so it sticks.