Lesson Plan - Square Numbers - Grades 3-4

Jennifer Pisano - Lesson Plans for Color Tiles and Pattern Blocks
Math
Anticipatory Set:
Complete/Review Do Now and homework

Learning Expectations:
* learn the characteristics of square and triangular numbers
* recognize patterns *make predictions based on patterns

Activities:
*show a square with one Pattern Block - use orange blocks or color tiles to make the next bigger square. Set up a table and have record what they have done. Now show the green triangle and model how to build the next bigger triangle with green blocks. Point out that in building bigger triangles, one new row is added to a side of the previous triangle, leaving spaces between blocks.
~What patterns can you find in the numbers of Pattern Blocks that can be used to make squares and triangles?• Using the orange blocks, work with your partner to build increasingly larger squares.• Record, each time, both the number of blocks you added to build the next bigger square, and the total number of blocks in the new square.• Record the numbers through the eighth square, but build squares only until you discover the pattern that will give you all the numbers you need.• Now use the green blocks to build increasingly bigger triangles. Build new triangles by adding blocks to one side of the previous triangle. All blocks should be positioned the same way, and there should be spaces between all the blocks• Record, each time, through the eighth triangle, but build only until you discover the pattern.• Be ready to discuss the patterns your tables reveal.

Assessments:
* teacher observations, student-centered discussion, patterns

Materials:
* pattern blocks, grid paper, color tiles

Tech Infusion:
Promethean board - flipchart, laptops, activotes for follow-up

Accomodations/Modifications:
* teacher designed groups
* differentiated assignments/activities (centers to reach all levels)
* use of manipulatives/graphic organizers
* extension activities/alternative assignments
* seating near positive role model
* encouraging independence/student initiative

• Homework: Math - write about the patterns that were discovered in the blocks
• Standards: MA.4.4.2.4 A.5, MA.4.4.3.4 A.1.a, MA.4.4.3.4 A.1.c



Sample Table for square - make a similar table for triangle numbers

Figure # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
# blocks 1 4 9 16
# you added 0 3 5 7

Virtual Manipulative # 7 - Fractions - Parts of a Whole

This manipulative is found in grades 3-5 Numbers and Operations and is a great way to introduce fractions as parts of a whole. It allows students to select the number of pieces/denominator and then shade pieces and see the fraction. This is good for students with little or no fraction experience and also as a review for other students who are beginning a fractions unit.

Virtual Manipulatives #6 - Fractions - Naming

This manipulative found in Grades 3-5 Numbers and Operations is good for students who are just learning to name fractions as parts of a whole. It allows studnets to see different shapes split into equal groups and name the numerators and denominators. I would use this for my students who have little or no background experience with naming fractions as an introduction and also with my other students as a review.

Pentominoes

Here is another interactive experience to share with your students. This activity is listed under grades 3-4 but I am sure that middle school students would enjoy it as well!

Problem Solving with Pentominoes

Function Machine

Here is the link for the function machine game grades that I showed in class last Monday.

Grades 3-4

Grades 5-6

Enjoy!

Virtual Manipulatives 5 - Spinner

The manipulative I chose to work with was the Spinner - found in Grades 3-5 Data Analysis and Probability. I chose this particular manipulative to use in one of my math centers related to graphing and probability. Students are able to work with spinners that have different colored sections. This is a perfect resource for differentiation as the students who are having difficulty with probability can work with smaller spinners/fewer colors, while the students who need enrichment or extension activities can use spinners with more colors and sections.

Color Tiles Lesson Plan 2 - Be a Logician!

Lesson Plan – J. Pisano
Be a Logician! Color Tiles Grades 3-4

Anticipatory Set: How could you guess the order of objects if you couldn't see them?

Learning Expectations:
*formulate hypotheses in order to satisfy conditions
*develop deductive reasoning skills

Activities:
* Be a logician! Use color tiles to play a game in which students apply logical thinking in order to guess the sequence of colors of hidden tiles. Make a row of three Color Tiles in this order, from left to right, and keep it hidden. Tell children that you have hidden a row of three tiles, each of a different color. Challenge children to guess the colors of the tiles and their order—first, second, and third. Explain that after each guess you will write a clue on the chalkboard. For each color guessed correctly, you will draw a circle. For each position guessed correctly, you will draw a dot inside the circle. Call for one volunteer’s guess, record it on the flipchart. Draw the appropriate clues, “What do we know from this?" Keep on calling for guesses and recording clues until the correct color and order of the tiles have been guessed.
* Play Be a Logician! Here are the rules.
1. This is a game for 4 or more players. The object is to guess the colors of 3 Color Tiles and their order, from left to right.
2. Players decide who will be the 2 Leaders and who will be the 2 Logicians.
3. The Leaders build a row of 3 Color Tiles, each tile a different color. They keep the tiles hidden from the Logicians. (rotate groups to use the laptops to play the game) NLVM – Color Tiles
4. The Logicians make guesses by naming 3 colors of tiles in order.
5. After each guess, the Leaders give a clue about how close the guess was. The clue must have 2 parts:
~ It must tell how many colors in the guess are correct.
~ It must tell how many color tiles in the guess are in the correct position.
For example, suppose the secret row of tiles was blue-green-yellow and the Logicians guessed red-green-blue. The Leaders would give this clue: “Two of the colors are correct, and 1 tile is in the correct position.”
6. The Logicians record each guess and clue.
7. The game ends when Logicians guess the correct colors and order.

• Play several games of Be a Logician! Make sure that everyone in the group has a chance to be a Leader and a Logician.
• Be ready to talk about good guesses and bad guesses.

Discussion questions - What was the hardest part of playing this game? What was the easiest? Which clue(s) helped you to decide which three colors were used? Which clue(s) helped you to decide the positions for the three colors?

Extending the Activity
1. Ask children to list all possible solutions (permutations of four colors) in a game of Be a Logician! in which the four colors of tiles are used in four positions.
2. Have children play Be a Logician! again, this time with three Color Tiles, two of one color and one of another color.

Assessments: teacher observations, game play and follow up discussion

Materials: communicators, color tiles, laptops\
Tech Infusion: Promethean board – flipchart, laptops – Virtual Manipulatives website – Color Tiles gr. 3-5

Accomodations/Modifications:
* teacher designed groups
* differentiated assignments/activities (centers to reach all levels)
* extended time-classwork/assessments(when needed)
* restructured homework assignments for both above level and below level students
* use of manipulatives/graphic organizers
* extension activities/alternative assignments
* encouraging independence/student initiative
* includes a rich variety of resources, media ideas, methods and tasks
* proximity to teacher
* personalized monitoring tools (checklists, goal sheets, thumbs up/down level understanding monitors)

Homework: short-constructed response review
Standards: MA.4.4.5 A.1, MA.4.4.5 A.2.b, MA.4.4.5 A.5, MA.4.4.5 B.1.b, MA.4.4.5 B.2, MA.4.4.5 B.3, MA.4.4.5 D.2, MA.4.4.5 D.3, MA.4.4.5 D.4, MA.4.4.5 F.1