Objectives CCSS Math: Measurement & Data 3.MD.A.1: Tell and write time to the nearest minute and measure time intervals in minutes. Solve word problems involving addition and subtraction of time intervals in minutes, e.g., by representing the problem on a number line diagram. 4.MD.A.2: Use the four operations to solve word problems involving distances, intervals of time, liquid volumes, masses of objects, and money, including problems involving simple fractions or decimals, and problems that require expressing measurements given in a larger unit in terms of a smaller unit. Represent measurement quantities using diagrams such as number line diagrams that feature a measurement scale. Materials Needed Lakeshore Magnetic Teaching Clock Lakeshore Student Clocks - Set of 12 “Elapsed Time Word Problems” activity page Elapsed time worksheet Introduction Ask a student what time school starts. Write this time on the board under the heading “Start Time.” Then ask another student what time school ends. Write this time next to the start time under the heading “End Time.” Ask, “From the time school starts to the time it ends, how much time elapses, or passes?” (Invite students to respond and explain their reasoning and calculations.) Hold up the teaching clock and demonstrate how to set the clock at the start time and count the hours and minutes until the end time. (Hint: Move the hour hand first and have students count the hours aloud with you. Then move the minute hand and have them count the minutes.) Explain to students that you are going to teach them some strategies to help them calculate elapsed time.
Objectives Language Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase. Use context (e.g., definitions, examples, or restatements in text) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase. Materials Needed Whiteboard and dry-erase marker (or chalkboard and chalk) Word Detective Activity reproducible Introduction In a low voice, say to students, “If you can hear me, please raise your snooble.” Students will likely giggle or give you a quizzical look, but simply repeat the instruction until one or two students begin raising their hands. Acknowledge their correct responses with a smile or nod. Once other students begin to catch on, confirm that the nonsense word “snooble” meant hand. Ask a volunteer to explain how she guessed the correct meaning of the nonsense word.
Objectives Students will listen to a story about pumpkins and learn more about them. Students will learn and understand measurement vocabulary words. Students will estimate—and then measure—the weight, height, circumference, radius and diameter of a pumpkin. Materials Needed Pumpkins by Ken Robbins Small- to medium-sized pumpkins (one for each small group of three to four students and one medium pumpkin for the class) Pumpkins should vary in size as much as possible. Scale Sharp knife (for teacher or adult use only) Rulers String or yarn Pencils Pumpkin Measurement Record Sheet Introduction Read aloud Pumpkins by Ken Robbins. Hold up a medium-sized pumpkin and ask students to estimate, or guess, how much the pumpkin weighs. (Students’ estimates will probably vary widely.) Explain to students that having a starting point of knowledge before estimating will help estimates be more accurate. For example, if students know how much the pumpkin in your hands weighs, this knowledge will help them estimate the weight of smaller or larger pumpkins. Weigh your pumpkin on a scale and tell students the weight. Explain that you’ll be using this measurement in the next activity.
Objectives CCSS Math: Operations & Algebraic Thinking 3.OA.D.8: Solve two-step word problems using the four operations. Represent these problems using equations with a letter standing for the unknown quantity. Assess the reasonableness of answers using mental computation and estimation strategies including rounding. 4.OA.A.3: Solve multistep word problems posed with whole numbers and having whole-number answers using the four operations, including problems in which remainders must be interpreted. Represent these problems using equations with a letter standing for the unknown quantity. Assess the reasonableness of answers using mental computation and estimation strategies including rounding. Materials Needed Cardboard box or posterboard, cut into an outline of a bus (optional) Whiteboard or chart paper Tim’s Yard Work flyer Neighborhood Jobs reproducible Neighborhood Jobs Answer Key Preparation Print out a copy of the Tim’s Yard Work flyer and the Neighborhood Jobs reproducible for each student in your class. (You can also display the flyer on a document camera.) Introduction Instruct students to listen very carefully to the following story problem: Mr. Smith is driving a bus. At first, the bus has no passengers. At the first stop, 10 passengers get onto the bus. At the second stop, 2 passengers get off the bus. Then 4 passengers board the bus. At the third stop, half the passengers get off the bus. Pause for a few seconds. Then ask, “Now...what is the name of the bus driver?” Most students will likely react with surprise at this question, but a few will remember that you stated who was driving the bus at the beginning of the story problem. Affirm that the name of the bus driver is Mr. Smith. Ask students to raise their hands if they were calculating the number of passengers getting on and off the bus. Explain that, although this story problem was a riddle with a surprising twist at the end, those with their hands raised were actually calculating a multistep math problem that involved addition, subtraction and even division. Point out that this exercise is also a good example of why it is helpful to read the whole problem first in order to find out what information is needed to answer the question.
