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Number and Operations

Virtual Pattern Blocks

3-5
Students use virtual pattern blocks to problem solve and reason with fractions. They investigate relationships between parts and wholes using another representation of a region model, virtual fractions. Students use conversation to explain their understandings in order to extend and clarify their mathematical content knowledge.
Number and Operations

Pattern Block Fractions

3-5
This lesson builds on the previous two lessons by focusing on the identification of fractional parts of a region and by recording them in standard form. Students continue to develop communication skills by working together to express their understanding of fraction relationships and to record fractions in written form.
Number and Operations

Expanding Our Pattern Block Fraction Repertoire

3-5
In this lesson, the students expand the number of fractions they can represent with pattern blocks by increasing the whole. Instead of representing the whole with one yellow hexagon, the students explore fractional relationships when two, three, and four yellow hexagons constitute the whole.
Number and Operations

Exploring the Value of the Whole

3-5
This lesson focuses on the relationship between parts and the whole. These relationships were developed earlier and require the students to consider the size or value of the same fraction when different "wholes" are compared (i.e., the value of x is relative to the whole; x of a small pie is not equivalent to x of a large pie). This lesson promotes problem solving and reasoning as the students compare similar fractions with different "wholes." Students develop communication skills as they work in pairs and share their understanding about the relationship between the value of a fraction and the whole.
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Geometry

Rectangles and Parallelograms

3-5
Students use dynamic software to examine the properties of rectangles and parallelograms, and identify what distinguishes a rectangle from a more general parallelogram. Using spatial relationships, they will examine the properties of two-and three-dimensional shapes. This Internet Mathematics Excursion is based on an E-example from the NCTM Principles and Standards for School Mathematics.
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Data Analysis and Probability

Planning a Class Field Trip

3-5
This lesson focuses students’ attention on the variables used in planning trips. It captures students’ interest, provides a review of the primary unit objectives, and assesses students’ prior knowledge. This experience enables students to consider the variables that must be accounted for in planning a class field trip.
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Data Analysis and Probability

Presenting the Plan for a Class Trip

3-5
During this segment, student groups present the plans they developed in the previous lesson. This provides the teacher an opportunity to review students’ attainment of the primary unit objectives and to assess students’ current knowledge and skill level. This experience focuses students’ attention on the mathematics needed in planning a short trip. It builds towards the application of these understandings and skills in the remaining segments of the unit.
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Data Analysis and Probability

Planning a Class Trip to a Local Attraction

3-5
This lesson builds on the previous lessons and encourages the students to work in groups and apply their knowledge about a trip in a new context. In this lesson, students plan a trip to a local attraction such as a museum, a site of historical or scientific significance, or business. They research times the attraction is open, its distance from the school and prepare a schedule which is displayed to inform as they solve an open-ended problem involving distance and time. This experience focuses students’ attention on the mathematics needed in planning a trip and allows them to apply these understandings and skills in a
group-selected context.
 
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Data Analysis and Probability

Planning a Trip to the State Capitol

3-5
During this lesson, student groups will plan a trip to the state capitol (either overnight or a day trip, depending upon location.) Using the skills they developed in the previous lessons, students determine not only elapsed time and distance, but extend their problem solving to figuring meals and lodging costs. As students tackle this more complex task, teachers have opportunity to observe students’ growing competence. These include which variables students attend to, if students can find distances from a map, if students can find elapsed time, or if students can use elapsed time to plan a schedule.
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Data Analysis and Probability

Planning a Trip to Disneyland or Disney World

3-5

Using the Web site, student groups collect data to plan a trip to Disneyland or Disney World. [You may wish to substitute some other destination of high interest for your students.] In lesson 6 students plan the trip using data collected in this lesson. Depending upon your location, this may be an overnight trip or a day trip. Using skills they developed in the previous lessons, students determine not only elapsed time and distance, but extend their problem solving to figuring meals, lodging, and air travel.

As students tackle this more complex task, teachers have opportunity to observe students’ growing competence with methods and tools for computation, estimation, problem posing and solving, interpretation of graphical representations, measuring with standard units, and responding to investigations that require the comparison of data sets. This lesson is designed to take approximately 45 minutes but time will vary according to the needs and abilities of your students.