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Lesson Excerpt:

Launch:

1. Introduce the word mathematician.

·         Say: Mathematicians solve problems.  During our daily math time, we will be mathematicians and solve problems with objects, shapes and numbers. 

·         Explain: Many times mathematicians work together to solve problems. 

·         Show pictures of people working together.  Ask: What do you notice in these pictures? What do you see that tells you the partners are doing a great job working together?

·         Watch Wonder Gove: Work Together as a Team.  Have students look for ways the students work together during the video. 

·         After video, say: Maria had trouble building a tower.  Talk to your partners about ways the friends work together to help Maria. Remember, when walk talk to our partners, we sit “knees to knees”.  Then, we decide who shares first.  I say something, then my partner says something.  We keep taking turns until the teacher gives a signal. (Model with a student if needed).

·         Have students share their ideas with the class.  As students share, generate a “Math partners…” chart (see right).  This chart may be displayed and added to throughout the school year.

2. Introduce today’s task.

·         Before introducing today’s math task, arrange students in pairs. Distribute blocks.  Allow 2-3 minutes of free exploration time.  

·         As students are busy exploring, build a block tower that is shorter than a cereal box.

·         Bring students back together (away from the blocks). 

·         Explain task.  Say: Today’s math task is partners will work together to build block towers, just like Maria did with her friends.

·         Say: Look at my tower I’ve made (place cereal box beside it).  How does my tower compare to this box (i.e., bigger/smaller/taller/shorter)?  Turn and talk with your partner.

·         Your challenge is to build towers taller than this cereal box.  As you work, be sure to remember the things mathematicians do when they work together.