Grade 4 Mathematics, Quarter 1, Unit 1.

Problem Solving Involving Multi-digit Numbers

Overview
Number of Instructional Days: Content to Be Learned
Solve multistep whole number addition/ subtraction problems. Apply the perimeter formulas of rectangles in real-world and mathematical situations. Represent problems using equations where a letter stands for an unknown quantity. Mentally compute and estimate answers to assess reasonableness. Use the standard algorithm to add and subtract multi-digit whole numbers up to 1,000,000.

10

(1 day = 45-60 minutes)

Mathematical Practices to Be Integrated

1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them. Explain the meaning of a problem and look for entry points to its solution. Monitor and evaluate progress and change course if necessary. Check their answers to problems using a different method. Ask Does this make sense? 2. 4. 7. Reason abstractly and quantitatively. Make sense of quantities and their relationships in problem situations. Create a coherent representation of the problem at hand. Attend to the meaning of quantities. Model with mathematics. Apply the mathematics they know to solve problems arising in everyday life. Routinely interpret their mathematical results in the context of the situation. Reflect on whether results make sense. Look for and make use of structure. Look closely to discern a pattern or structure

Essential Questions
Why is it important to know the standard algorithm for addition and subtraction? How can you use what you know about numbers to decide on an efficient strategy for adding/subtracting? How would you determine if an answer is reasonable? How is your strategy for solving perimeter connected to a formula?

Southern Rho de Island Regional Collaborative with pro cess support from T he Charles A. Dana Center at the University o f Texas at Austin Revised 2013-2014

Written Curriculum
Common Core State Standards for Mathe matical Content Measurement and Data 4.MD

Solve problems involving measurement and conversion of measurements from a larger unit to a smaller unit. 4.MD.3 Apply the area and perimeter formulas for rectangles in real world and mathematical problems. For example, find the width of a rectangular room given the area of the flooring and the length, by viewing the area formula as a multiplication equation with an unknown factor.

Operations and Algebraic Thinking

Use the four operations with whole numbers to solve problems. 4.OA.3

4.OA

Solve multistep word problems posed with whole numbers and having whole-number answers using the four operations, including problems in which remainders must be interpreted. 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.

Number and Operations in Base Ten2

2

4.NBT

Grade 4 expectations in this domain are limited to whole numbers less than or equal to 1,000,000.

Use place value understanding and properties of operations to perform multi-digit arithmetic. 4.NBT.4 Fluently add and subtract multi-digit whole numbers using the standard algorithm.

Common Core Standards for Mathe matical Practice

1 Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.

Mathematically proficient students start by explaining to themselves the meaning of a problem and looking for entry points to its solution. They analyze givens, constraints, relationships, and goals. They make conjectures about the form and meaning of the solution and plan a solution pathway rather than simply jumping into a solution attempt. They consider analogous problems, and try special cases and simpler forms of the original problem in order to gain insight into its solution. They monitor and evaluate their progress and change course if necessary. Older students might, depending on the context of the problem, transform algebraic expressions or change the viewing window on their graphing calculator to get the information they need. Mathematically proficient students can explain correspondences between equations, verbal descriptions, tables, and graphs or draw diagrams of important features and relationships, graph data, and search for regularity or trends. Younger students might rely on using concrete objects or pictures to help conceptualize and solve a problem. Mathematically proficient students check their answers to problems using a different method, and they continually ask themselves, Does this make sense? They can understand the approaches of others to solving complex problems and identify correspondences between different approaches.

Southern Rho de Island Regional Collaborative with pro cess support from T he Charles A. Dana Center at the University o f Texas at Austin Revised 2013-2014

Reason abstractly and quantitatively.

Mathematically proficient students make sense of quantities and their relationships in problem situations. They bring two complementary abilities to bear on problems involving quantitative relationships: the ability to decontextualizeto abstract a given situation and represent it symbolically and manipulate the representing symbols as if they have a life of their own, without necessarily attending to their referents and the ability to contextualize, to pause as needed during the manipulation process in order to probe into the referents for the symbols involved. Quantitative reasoning entails habits of creating a coherent representation of the problem at hand; considering the units involved; attending to the meaning of quantities, not just how to compute them; and knowing and flexibly using different properties of operations and objects. 4 Model with mathematics.

Mathematically proficient students can apply the mathematics they know to solve problems arising in everyday life, society, and the workplace. In early grades, this might be as simple as writing an addition equation to describe a situation. In middle grades, a student might apply proportional reasoning to plan a school event or analyze a problem in the community. By high school, a student might use geometry to solve a design problem or use a function to describe how one quantity of interest depends on another. Mathematically proficient students who can apply what they know are comfortable making assumptions and approximations to simplify a complicated situation, realizing that these may need revision later. They are able to identify important quantities in a practical situation and map their relationships using such tools as diagrams, two-way tables, graphs, flowcharts and formulas. They can analyze those relationships mathematically to draw conclusions. They routinely interpret their mathematical results in the context of the situation and reflect on whether the results make sense, possibly improving the model if it has not served its purpose. 7 Look for and make use of structure.

Mathematically proficient students look closely to discern a pattern or structure. Young students, for example, might notice that three and seven more is the same amount as seven and three more, or they may sort a collection of shapes according to how many sides the shapes have. Later, students will see 7 8 equals the well remembered 7 5 + 7 3, in preparation for learning about the distributive property. In the expression x2 + 9x + 14, older students can see the 14 as 2 7 and the 9 as 2 + 7. They recognize the significance of an existing line in a geometric figure and can use the strategy of drawing an auxiliary line for solving problems. They also can step back for an overview and shift perspective. They can see complicated things, such as some algebraic expressions, as single objects or as being composed of several objects. For example, they can see 5 3(x y)2 as 5 minus a positive number times a square and use that to realize that its value cannot be more than 5 for any real numbers x and y.

Clarifying the Standards

Prior Learning In third grade, students solved problems involving perimeter of polygons, given known and unknown side lengths. They started using a variable to represent an unknown quantity. Students fluently added and subtracted within 1,000 using strategies and a range of algorithms. They solved one- and two-step problems. Current Learning Through the use of multistep word problems with whole numbers, students apply perimeter formulas and addition/subtraction algorithms. This is the first unit where students are introduced to the standard
Southern Rho de Island Regional Collaborative with pro cess support from T he Charles A. Dana Center at the University o f Texas at Austin Revised 2013-2014

algorithm for addition/subtraction. It is important to connect the standard algorithm to previously learned strategies and choose the most efficient method based on the problem. Students solve multistep word problems using whole numbers and letters for unknown quantities that result in whole numbers. The concept of perimeter is mastered. Students are fluent using place value strategies including the standard algorithm in addition and subtraction by the end of fourth grade. Therefore, it is essential to continue to practice this skill using whole-digit numbers throughout the year. Future Learning In fifth grade, students extend their place value knowledge from whole numbers to decimals and fractions. They will also continue to solve multistep problems with whole numbers and decimals.

Additional Findings
According to A Research Companion to Principles and Standards for School Mathematics, current approaches in mathematics focus on understanding, problem solving, and applying knowledge. By teaching with manipulatives and models, we build an understanding of the standard algorithms. In such an approach, conventional algorithms might be the end point of the instructional sequence, but more often a sufficient aim for teachers is to develop semi-informal algorithms.(p. 114) The book also states, one is tempted to teach students these products of the work of the mathematicians of the past in ready-made form, especially if the goal is a more or less routine proficiency in mathematical procedures Teaching student algorithms that they do not understand, however, has limited potential at best and, more important, leads to isolated skills that do not contribute to students general mathematical knowledge. (p. 120)

Southern Rho de Island Regional Collaborative with pro cess support from T he Charles A. Dana Center at the University o f Texas at Austin Revised 2013-2014