Associative Property Contig

Associative Property Contig

A Third-Fourth Grade Lesson

Submitted by Kathy Hill

The Mathematics: Three or more numbers can be grouped and added or multiplied in any order.

The task: Play associative property contig. First player rolls three dice and either adds them or multiplies them. He writes the equation down and places an X on the game board. Second player takes a turn. Object of the game is to get 4 in a row. If a player rolls and can not make an X, he loses his turn.

Materials: Game board, colored pencils and 3 dice for each pair of students.

The Lesson:

Before the task (introducing)

1. Number Talk

--Put 4 x 2 on the board. Ask students to solve mentally. Lead a class discussion on strategies for solving this equation.

Questions that can be used:

·  Who would like to share their answer?

·  How did you figure that out?

·  Is that what you meant?

·  Why did you do that?

·  Because…?

·  How are these strategies alike?

·  Does this strategy always work?

--Repeat discussion using 2 x 2 x 2

--Repeat discussion using 2 x 3 x 5

During discussion make sure to use vocabulary words: factor, product, associative property, parentheses

(For tips on leading a class discussion, see Classroom Discussion: Using Math Talk to Help Students Learn Grades 1–6 by Suzanne H. Chapin, Catherine O’Connor, Nancy Canavan Anderson.)

2. Instructions for the game:

-- Discuss cooperation (“Today, you are going to play a game. What does cooperation look like when playing a game? What does cooperation sound like when playing a game?”

-- Display game board and play sample game with class.

During the task

Tiered Questioning:

Novice –

“How can you move the numbers around to make the problem simpler?”

“Do you get the same answer?”

Average –

“What is the sum of the three numbers?”

“What is the product of the three numbers?”

“Which is a better move the sum or the product?”

Advanced –

“Which numbers on the playing board are the easiest to roll and which are the hardest to roll?”

After the task (summarizing)

Whole Class Discussion – sharing of ideas

1. Report on cooperation. Scale of 1-10?

2. Strategies for easy sums and products?

Strategies for winning?

My Equations: Partner’s Equations:

______

______

______

______

______

______

______

______

______

______

______

______

______

______