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Robo Math


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Keywords: MATH, Fourth Grade, Fractions, Division, Robots, Smartboards
Subject(s): Math
Grade 4
NETS-S Standard:
  • Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
  • Technology Operations and Concepts
View Full Text of Standards
School: PS 91 Albany School, Brooklyn, NY
Planned By: Robert Garitta
Original Author: Robert Garitta, Brooklyn
Lesson Plan

Materials: Smart Board, worksheets, and document for Smart Notebook.

Objective: Students use fractional parts of a whole, properties of shapes, congruency, and computation using fractions to divide several different shapes equally.

Motivation: The students are each in charge of a squad of 12 Robos. The Robo leader has given each student a set of energy crystals to power up their squad. Being a miserable treacherous creature the Robo leader has given the students a mismatched set of crystals. The students must figure out how to divide the crystals equally among their squad or their robots will fall to fighting.

In the course of the lesson children will use their pattern blocks as well manipulate images of the pattern blocks on the Smart Board to figure out what the smallest unit is they can divide the shapes into and then take those shapes and divide them equally among 12 energy crazy robos.

Vocabulary: fraction, division

Math (Technology) Principle: Students will persevere in problem solving

Math Standards Assessed:&#8232;4.NF.2 Compare two fractions with different numerators and different denominators, e.g., by creating common denominators or numerators, or by comparing to a benchmark fraction such as 1/2. Recognize that comparisons are valid only when the two fractions refer to the same whole. Record the results of comparisons with symbols >, =, or <, and justify the conclusions, e.g., by using a visual fraction model.
4.NF.3d Solve word problems involving addition and subtraction of fractions referring to the same whole and having like denominators, e.g., by using visual fraction models and equations to represent the problem.
4.NF.4c Solve word problems involving multiplication of a fraction by a whole number, e.g., by using visual fraction models and equations to represent the problem.
4.G.2 Classify two-dimensional figures based on the presence or absence of parallel or perpendicular lines, or the presence or absence of angles of a specified size. Recognize right triangles as a category, and identify right triangles.
Mini Lesson: Use the Smart Board to examine the shapes on the students’ work pages by overlaying them and using line segments to divide them.

Thinking questions:

Since we are dividing shapes what shape will be our basic unit to work with and why?

Dividing hexagons into fractions results in different kinds of shapes. Is this true for other polygons? Give an example proving or disproving it.

What features of the shapes make it easy to divide them? Why?

Small Group: Students will be given worksheet with the ‘crystals’ they must divide equally. they may come to the board to experiment, manipulating the shapes.

Differentiation: The more proficient students will be given another worksheet to to feed 18 Decepticons by using a set of mismatched crystals they devise for their friends to work out.

Summary: Let’s each shape’s value as a fraction of a whole hexagon and express its equivalent in other shapes.

Homework: The Decepticons each got two triangular crystals to power up. What if they were given three crystals? What is one way to make 18 crystals using the same shapes?

Rubric:
1- No response or incorrect

2- Student can break a hexagon or any other intermediate shape into sixths and compute the number of triangles that are required to create any set of shapes with prompting.

3- Student can break a hexagon or any other intermediate shape into sixths and compute the number of triangles that are required to create any set of shapes independently.
4- Student can compare hexagons and intermediate shapes and classify them as greater or lesser amounts.
Comments
Based on the NYC DoE Math Task for Fourth Grade. I changed the premise from dividing a farmer's fields equally to an activity involving the popular robots known as Transformers.
Materials: Whiteboards, Hard Drives, Elementary