Author Archives: Maria Burns Ortiz

Understanding averages using skunks

📖STANDARDS

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.SP.B.5 Summarize numerical data sets in relation to their context, such as by:

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.SP.B.5.A Reporting the number of observations.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.SP.B.5.B Describing the nature of the attribute under investigation, including how it was measured and its units of measurement.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.SP.B.5.C Giving quantitative measures of center (median and/or mean) and variability (interquartile range and/or mean absolute deviation), as well as describing any overall pattern and any striking deviations from the overall pattern with reference to the context in which the data were gathered.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.7 Integrate visual information (e.g., in charts, graphs, photographs, videos, or maps) with other information in print and digital texts.

⏰LESSON TIME

30 minutes

📃SUMMARY

In this lesson plan, students will learn how to find the mean and calculate the average and practice finding the average in a game environment. They will learn about skunks and skunk farming through primary source material. Then analyzing historical data, students will calculate the average.

📲TECHNOLOGY REQUIRED

Device with web-browser (Chromebook, laptop or desktop computer)

📚LESSON

Introduce the Assignment

Students can read the assignment, Going on a Skunk Hunt , on their own or teachers can read it to the class and ask any questions (5 minutes)

Through the next three activities – video, reading and assessment – students will gather clues to unlock the “secret password” for the Skunk Hunt and get to play a short online game. Individual links to the video, reading and assessment components are included below for your reference, but are all included in the Skunk Hunt activity as well for ease of student access.

The answer to the Skunk Hunt/secret password is: 3harvestnewyork1911

VIDEO

Watch this animated video explaining how to find the average. The video includes an example problem walking through the process, introduces the formula to find the average and also includes vocabulary to explain that mean and average the same thing. (2:00)

READING

Read this short post, Skunks for Fur and Farming , about the intersection of skunks and agriculture, incorporating information from primary sources and historical data. (5-10 minutes)

ASSESSMENT

In this assessment activity, Playing the Skunk Market ,students will use a table with historical data to solve two to four problems asking students to find the average. Two problems require solving for the average and two problems require solving for the average or estimating the average. (10-15 minutes)

ANSWER KEY AVAILABLE HERE.

RELATED: This lesson plan corresponds with the math standards covered in and refers to content included in Forgotten Trail. Forgotten Trail is recommended as a supplemental resource for this activity. The image at the top of this post is from that game. You can view your students’ progress on mastering these standards by viewing your teacher reports. You can access the Forgotten Trail reports here.

PERIMETER OF RECTANGLES, SQUARES AND TRIANGLES

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📖Standard

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.MD.D.8 Solve real world and mathematical problems involving perimeters of polygons, including finding the perimeter given the side lengths, finding an unknown side length, and exhibiting rectangles with the same perimeter and different areas or with the same area and different perimeters.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.4.MD.A.3 Apply the area and perimeter formulas for rectangles in real world and mathematical problems.

⏰ LESSON TIME

30 minutes without gameplay, 45 minutes with gameplay

📃 SUMMARY

In this lesson plan, students will learn how to compute perimeter, apply those skills in game-based practice problems and solve perimeter problems using an interactive web-based activity with virtual manipulatives.

📲 TECHNOLOGY REQUIRED

Device with web-browser (Chromebook, laptop or desktop computer); or iOS (iPhone/iPad) with access to Google apps.

📚 Lesson Plan

1. Video: How to Find the Perimeter and Polygons

Watch this animated video that explains how to find the perimeter of different polygons, including rectangles, triangles and squares. (3:00)

2. INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITY WITH ASSESSMENT: Interactive perimeter problems activity

This digital activity walks students through calculating the perimeter of different shapes including a rectangle, a square and a circle in a narrative-driven context around the farm and integrates virtual manipulatives. Students are provided in-activity instruction as they are presented with and explained the formulas to use when they need to use them. Additionally, with in-activity scaffolding, students can “get a hint” on each problem.

You may elect to read and work through it during class time, giving students time to complete the problems or assign it as an individual assignment.

If your students have not used virtual manipulatives with Google slides previously, here is a 30-second introduction.

Estimated time to complete: 20-25 minutes

3. GAME: Making Camp Premium or Spirit Lake

Have students play Making Camp Premium games for 15-20 minutes (remainder of the lesson time) specifically including these icons.

Perimeter is also covered in the second half of Spirit Lake: The Game.

Assessment

In addition to the virtual manipulative activity above, remember that you can always see your students’ performance on the problems in Making Camp Premium and Spirit Lake by accessing the reports page. You will need to enter the password you received during training.

State Standards

Minnesota Math Standard 3.3.2.2 – Find the perimeter of a polygon by adding the lengths of the sides.

Minnesota Math Standard 3.3.2.3 – Measure distances around objects.

Related Lesson

“PERIMETER OF RECTANGLES, SQUARES AND TRIANGLES (Bilingual English & Spanish)” – The Bilingual version of the lesson plan above with English and Spanish resources.

Estimation & Rounding

📖 STANDARDS

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.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.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.NBT.A.1 Use place value understanding to round whole numbers to the nearest 10 or 100.

⏰ LESSON TIME

30 minutes

📃 SUMMARY

In this lesson plan, students will learn about estimation as a problem solving strategy and practice rounding to the nearest 10 and 100. Including 0. The lesson will reinforce rounding up for numbers 5 and greater. Through gameplay and an interactive assessment activity that includes multi-step problem solving, students will practice rounding with an emphasis toward developing mastery.

📲 TECHNOLOGY REQUIRED

Device with web-browser (Chromebook, laptop or desktop computer); or iOS (iPhone/iPad) with access to Google apps.

📚 Lesson Plan

Watch the video– Problem Solving: Estimate (optional if playing Making Camp)

This animated movie explains how estimation and rounding can be used to solve problems that don’t require exact calculations, including multi-step word problems with an example. It also explains how rounding can be used to make numbers easier to work with and includes an example with rounding to the nearest hundreds. (3:44)

2. GAME: Making Camp Premium

Have students play Making Camp for 15-20 minutes, including this icon activity on estimation.

This activity will also reinforce visual estimation skills.

ASSESSMENT

A Day at the State Fair: Estimation is Everywhere

If your students have not previously used virtual manipulatives you may want to watch this short video.

This interactive, narrative-driven activity walks students through 6 in-context uses (multi-step word problems) of estimation and rounding to the nearest tens or hundreds, including rounding both up and down, to 0 and 100, and rounding up from 5.

You may elect to read and work through it during class time, giving students time to complete the problems or assign it as an individual assignment. Estimated time to complete: 10-15 minutes.

Also, remember that you can always see your students’ performance on the problems in Making Camp Premium by accessing the reports page. You will need to enter the password you received during training.

State Standards

Minnesota Math Standard 5.1.1.4 – Solve real-world and mathematical problems requiring addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of multi-digit whole numbers. Use various strategies, including the inverse relationships between operations, the use of technology, and the context of the problem to assess the reasonableness of results.

Minnesota Math Standard 2.1.1.4 – Round numbers up to the nearest 10 and 100 and round numbers down to the nearest 10 and 100.

Multiplying to find perimeter of polygons

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📖 STANDARDS

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.4.MD.A.3 Apply the area and perimeter formulas for rectangles in real world and mathematical problems.

⏰ LESSON TIME

45 minutes

📃 SUMMARY

In this lesson, students will learn how to compute perimeter of different polygons using multiplication and apply those skills in game-based practice problems. They will then learn about different Indigenous traditional dwellings. The lesson ends with students contributing to and solving problems that integrate the reading on dwellings and perimeter in an online assessment.

📲 TECHNOLOGY REQUIRED

Device with web-browser (Chromebook, laptop or desktop computer); or iOS (iPhone/iPad) with Google Drive apps.

📚 Lesson

1. Play GAME: Making Camp Premium

For 15 minutes, have students play the game Making Camp Premium.

Instruct them to specifically play the mini-game with this icon

If they need a refresher in how to compute perimeter, they should click this icon to watch a video

ALTERNATIVE: Perimeter is also covered in the second half of Spirit Lake: The Game, which is currently available for Windows and Mac computers.

2.READ: Home, Sweet Home: Tipis, Hogans, Wigwams and More

Read this short post about traditional dwellings of Native American tribes from different parts of the United States. It can be read aloud as a group or individually. (Estimated time: 7-10 minutes)

3. Discuss how to Compute Perimeter

This Google slides presentation reviews the definition of a polygon and perimeter and provides the formulas for finding the perimeter of a rectangle, square and triangle with examples for each. You can review it together in class or online, copy to Google classroom to assign to students or print out to send home for students without Internet access. (Estimated time: 5-10 minutes)

4. Testing understanding : Perimeter in Action

This activity draws from the “Home, Sweet Home” reading and lessons on perimeter to have students apply their understanding of how to compute the perimeter of rectangles, triangles and hexagons using multiplication. Get the Google slides presentation here. Students contribute numbers to create multiple problem options.

(Estimated time: 10 minutes)

ASSESSMENT

You can view your students’ progress on mastering these standards by viewing your teacher reports. Both Making Camp Premium and Spirit Lake Report links can be found on this reports page. You should have received a password during the Growing Math training. If you need the password, email growingmath@7generationgames.com from your school email account and we’ll get the password to you right away.

State Standards

Minnesota Math Standard 3.3.2.2 – Find the perimeter of a polygon by adding the lengths of the sides.

Minnesota Math Standard 4.3.2.4 – Find the areas of geometric figures and real-world objects that can be divided into rectangular shapes. Use square units to label area measurements.