Pre-K-2
Students explore sets of 19 and 20. They count up to 20, construct and decompose sets up to 20, and record the decomposition.
3-5
This lesson allows students to apply what they have learned in previous lessons by designing their own art. Students use Kandinsky’s style of art and their own creativity to make paintings that reflect their understanding of geometry.
Pre-K-2
In this lesson, students have an opportunity to explore the foundations of equivalence, an important step in their development of algebraic thinking as they see how quantities relate. Students explore equivalence by comparing weights of different collections of objects.
Pre-K-2
In this lesson, students are encouraged to discover all of the combinations for a given situation. Students apply problem-solving skills (including elimination and collection of organized data) to draw their conclusions. The use of higher-level thinking skills (synthesis, analysis, and evaluations) is the overall goal.
Pre-K-2, 3-5
Students often view linear measurement as a procedure in which a number is simply read off a ruler. The goal of this lesson is to have students gain experience in linear measurement by using a variety of measuring instruments to measure the heights of classmates, to discover the error inherent in measurement, and to search for patterns in data that are represented on a table. In this lesson, students compare results of measuring the same height using different methods, and discuss measurement error. They measure the heights of classmates and the heights of older students in their school, and construct a table of height and age data. The lesson is also designed to serve as a springboard for a second lesson in which students relate measurement to algebra and data analysis concepts.
Pre-K-2, 3-5
A key goal for instruction on algebra at the elementary level is to analyze change, and to understand how change in one variable can relate to change in a second variable. The goal of this lesson is for students to explore how changes in students’ ages relate to changes in their heights.
Pre-K-2
Students are introduced to the concepts of greater than, less than and equal to
by observing quantities and making comparisons. Using various
instructional materials such as modeling clay, buttons, beans, and
cotton balls, students create amounts to compare using the open-mouthed
fish. Depending which fish is chosen, the fish cut-out (with its mouth
open) represents either greater than or less than. For equivalent amounts, a clam cut-out represents equal to.
This introductory lesson can be assessed through visual observation
and verbal questioning. A group size of 3 – 6 students per group is
optimal.
Pre-K-2
Students build upon their understanding of
greater than,
less than, and
equal to
by observing quantities and making comparisons using various
instructional materials. The fish cut-out, with its mouth open,
represents the greater than or less than symbol; the clam cut-out
represents the equal to symbol. Using fish lips as a transition point,
students will apply their understanding of
greater,
less, and
equal to the standard symbols (>, <, =) as you introduce symbolic notation at a developmentally appropriate level.
Pre-K-2
This lesson focuses on the observation of properties and the classification of objects to build ideas about variables. Students compare objects to identify similarities and differences. In addition, students are introduced to Venn Diagrams.
Pre-K-2
In this lesson, the teacher models how to organize data and use the vocabulary associated with collecting, organizing, and displaying data. Students learn the difference between rows and columns, how to label and select a title for graphs, and what comparative terms to use to describe relationships between and among the various sets of buttons.
