Domain: Geometry Standard Code: 1.G.1&2 Teacher Name: First Grade

Adapted from: Smith, Margaret Schwan, Victoria Bill, and Elizabeth K. Hughes. “Thinking Through a Lesson Protocol: Successfully Implementing High-Level Tasks.”

Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School 14 (October 2008): 132-138.

PART 1: SELECTING AND SETTING UP A MATHEMATICAL TASK
What are your mathematical goals for the lesson? (i.e., what do you want
students to know and understand about mathematics as a result of this lesson?) / Distinguish between defining attributes (e.g., triangles are closed and three-sided).
Compose two-dimensional shapes (rectangles, squares, trapezoids, triangles, half-circles, and quarter-circles) to create a composite shape.
·  What are your expectations for students as they work on and complete this task?
·  What resources or tools will students have to use in their work that will give them entry into, and help them reason through, the task?
·  How will the students work—
independently, in small groups, or in pairs—to explore this task?
·  How will students record and report their work? / Students will use two dimensional shapes to compose new shapes.
Materials Needed:
Pre-cut shapes
Recording sheet (Task Shape Cards, Shape Recording Sheet – on wiki)
Pencil
Glue
Large paper for finished product
Crayons to add details
Students will create new shapes individually, then with a partner, and finally as a table. Students will record the shapes used to create each composite shape. The final product of the group will be glued, recorded, and presented to the class.
How will you introduce students to the activity so as to provide access to all
students while maintaining the cognitive demands of the task? / Launch:
I start this task by reading the story, “Triangles Aren’t Bad”, script located at
http://ofcn.org/cyber.serv/academy/ace/soc/cecsst/cecsst083.html . It is a story about shapes that don’t get along with any other shape that does not have the same exact attributes that they do. Until one day when they realize that together they can make fun new shapes.
PART 2: SUPPORTING STUDENTS’ EXPLORATION OF THE TASK
As students work independently or in small groups, what questions will you ask to—
· help a group get started or make progress on the task?
· focus students’ thinking on the
key mathematical ideas in the task?
· assess students’ understanding of
key mathematical ideas, problem- solving strategies, or the representations?
· advance students’ understanding
of the mathematical ideas? / Explore:
Individual
Students will select a card to determine which shapes they will get to use to create and record new shapes.
“You will select a card from the bag it will tell you the shapes that you will get to use to create a new shape. Count and record the different shapes you used. Then create and record two more shapes.”
Partner
Students will choose someone at their table that has different shapes with them and create and record new shapes.
“You now need to select a partner that has DIFFERENT shapes then you. Together create and record 3 new shapes. You are responsible to record on your own recording sheet.”
Group
Students will combine all shapes together to create a final new shape. They will record and prepare it for presenting.
“As a group your table is now to use at least 1of all the shapes to create a new shape and record it. Then glue and paste it to the large paper. You may use crayons to add details. You will then be asked to explain your work. Each member of the groups will need to help explain.”
How will you ensure that students remain engaged in the task?
· What assistance will you give or what questions will you ask
student (or group) who becomes
quickly frustrated and requests more direction and guidance is
solving the task?
· What will you do if a student (or group) finishes the task almost
immediately? How will you
extend the task so as to provide additional challenge? / What is the name of your new shape?
What shapes did you use to make it?
Can you make any other new shapes?
Is there another way to create the same shape?
Does it have to be conventional shape?
PART 3: SHARING AND DISCUSSING THE TASK
How will you orchestrate the class discussion so that you accomplish your mathematical goals?
· Which solution paths do you want to have shared during the
class discussion? In what order will the solutions be presented? Why?
· What specific questions will you ask so that students will—
1. make sense of the
mathematical ideas that you want them to learn?
2. expand on, debate, and question the solutions being shared?
3. make connections among the different strategies that are presented?
4. look for patterns?
5. begin to form generalizations?
What will you see or hear that lets you know that all students in the class
understand the mathematical ideas that
you intended for them to learn? / Discuss:
Explain your new shape and tell us the names of the shapes used and why you used them.
What other shapes could you have used to create the same thing?
What shapes were the easiest to use to create something?
Can you tell us the attributes of the new shape?
Can this new shape be used to create another shape?
Did any other group make this same shape in a different way? Explain why you chose your way?