Math



Math

3rd & 4th Grade

Stella Begay & Sonia Rojo

Introduction:

Students will listen the story entitled, “A Three Hat Day.” After listening to the story, the students will become involved in a problem solving math lesson. Children will discover that the solution can be found mathematically and will work out a strategy that will find all the possibilities. This is a story Math Investigations.

Standards Data Analysis/Probability:

Use counting strategies to determine all the possible outcomes of a particular event (e.g., the number of ways students can line up to have their picture taken).

Find all possible outcome sets involving: Two sets of objects (e.g., shirts and pants).

Outcomes & Objectives:

1. The students will be able to draw, record, and explain how many different ways R.R. Poole could wear four different hats with 80% accuracy.

2. The students will be able to interpret data given to them (papers that took different approaches/reasoning to solve problem) with 80% accuracy.

3. When provided with data, students data will be able to predict what comes next with 100% accuracy..

Implementation:

1. Read and discuss story with children.

2. Ask children which hat R.R. Pottle put on first? You can show the cover illustration from the book.

3. Present problem; "Suppose R.R. Pottle wanted to cheer himself up on another day with the same three hats, but he decided to put on the hats in a different order. The problem for you to solve is to figure out how many ways R.R. Pottle could wear those same three hats if each day he wanted to wear them in a different order."

4. Have them work in partners, discussing strategies for solving the problem. Also discuss the use of cubes, pictures, or symbols (letters) to represent the hats.

5. As children complete their solutions, challenge them to figure out how many different ways R.R. Poole could wear four hats. They could use a top hat or sombrero as the fourth hat.

6. You should always walk around and listen as teams discuss strategies. You should assist those teams that are having a difficult time getting started.

Assessment:

You will use children's drawings with explanations as an assessment.

You may also want to hold "mini conference" with teams for verbal confirmation.

Extensions:

1. You may use the story, “The Goat In The Rug,” by Charles L. Blood & Martin Link. Ask the children to use three or four colors for their rug. How many different combinations would there be.

2. You may use the story Ben's New Clothes. Ask the children to find out all the possible combinations that can be made with the new clothing.

3. For children with learning disabilities, you may want to work on teams of four. You may also just want to limit the activity to just the three hats and three colors on their rug.

Reflection:

Working with the math program Math Investigations, children have difficulties explaining their answers. You need to simplify their answers in the beginning, but always try to get them to explain more than they did in the previous lesson. Children have different ways of explaining and coming up with their answers. Always take the time to have the children explain their strategies to the class. Children might have difficulty explaining their strategy. Some of them say, "I just did it." At first it is difficult for the children to see the strategies, you will have to walk them through and assist them.

Resources / Materials:

Pencils

Papers

A Three Hat Day, Laura Geringer, Harper Trophy, 1985.

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