How Does That Work? Lesson Plan Information | Lesson Plan Activities | Printable version (including handouts) (PDF)

Standard: Use Math to Solve Problems and Communicate Outcomes Students will be able to translate a word situation into an algebraic expression and then simplify it.

Classroom Information

GED Descriptors:      math Roles:      Family, Worker, Community Member Program Type(s)      ABE, GED, Family Literacy, Workforce Education, Urban, Rural, Corrections NRS Learner levels (ABE/GED)       3, 4, 5, 6 Time frame:      1.0 hours Technology Integration Think of a number Think-Aloud Teaching Strategy

Keywords

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Standard: Use Math to Solve Problems and Communicate

Component of Performance How activity addresses component Understand, interpret, and work with pictures, numbers, and symbolic information. Students practice computation when working the steps of the problem. Apply knowledge of mathematical concepts and procedures to figure out how to answer a question, solve a problem, make a prediction, or carry out a task that has a mathematical dimension Students make predictions on why a string of operations yields a particular answer. Teacher will model the problem-solving steps by using a think-aloud strategy, demonstrating explicit instructional techniques. Define and select data to be used in solving the problem Students select the appropriate number or array of numbers based on the criteria from the problem. Determine the degree of precision required by the situation Students recognize the necessity of performing the math operations correctly in order to get the "right" answer. Solve problem using appropriate quantitative procedures and verify the results are reasonable Students select a meaningful number and perform the four basic operations to arrive at a particular answer. Communicate results using a variety of mathematical representations, including graphs, charts, tables, and algebraic models Students translate the math operations into an equation and explain why the answer comes out as it does.

Purposeful, Transparent, Building Expertise

Purposeful and Transparent The activities all look at the math of how "think of a number" problems work. Contextual The lesson relates the study of algebra to a situation many students have faced: how a "pick a number" problem found in an e-mail works. Building Expertise The level of the worksheets varies, so students have an opportunity to increase their skill in rewriting word problems algebraically.

Lesson Designer Paula Mullet OLRC Math Consultant prmullet@att.net

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