T4T Mathematicians Learn from Mistakes (Lesson 5 of 6)

Created Jan. 24, 2024 by DAWNE COKER

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Download: c1-md3-Mathematicians-Learn-from-Mistakes-lesson5.docx


Lesson Excerpt:

Directions:

  1. Review characteristics of mathematicians based on prior lessons.

  2. Introduce the term mistake.

·         Say: A mistake means to be wrong, or do something the wrong way.  Every day, people make mistakes.

·         Give an example of a mistake:  Yesterday, I went to the store.  I kept pushing the door, but it wouldn’t move.  Then, I realized the sign said “pull”.

·         Encourage students to silently think of mistakes they may have made.

  1. Explain that mistakes are learning opportunities.

·         Say: People may be upset or embarrassed when they make mistakes.  However, mathematicians see mistakes as chances to learn.  Mathematicians often make many mistakes before they get the right answer.  From each mistake, they learn what they can try differently the next time.  After some tries, they usually get the problem right. 

·         Watch The Power of ‘Yet’ with Zoe and Elmo from Sesame Street.  

·         Partners turn and talk about observations from the video.

·         Emphasize that Zoe makes a mistake and learns from it.  By trying different things, she solves her problem.

·         Say: Just like Zoe, mathematicians should not be upset or embarrassed when they make mistakes.  We can look at our mistakes, think about what went wrong, and learn from them.

  1. Play “Guess My Rule” using the class’ mistakes as learning opportunities.

·         Have students sit in a circle on the carpet.

·         Distribute one attribute block to each student.

Place a circle of string on the carpet.  Tell students they will try to guess a secret rule.  Shapes matching this rule will be put inside the circle.  All other shapes go outside the circle.  Students take turns guessing whether their shapes belong inside or outside the circle.  After each guess, the student will be told if it is right or wrong.  The class will learn from these mistakes as they try to place additional shapes.  Once several shapes are placed, the class will guess the secret rule. 

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