December 1, 2015

Grade: 5
10:05

Activity: Expressions Intro Time: 9:05Goals/Key Questions

Goals:
Students will learn about mathematical expressions and practice
them using a series of centers to be completed in groups
Objective (Program of Studies):

Pre-Lesson Considerations
Lesson overview of main ideas to be learned and pre-learning
required:
Students will learn what expressions are and what they look
like and then they will practice in centers
Materials Needed/pre-setup required/ logistical considerations
needed (seating arrangement):
Categories of questions
Worksheets
Matching game
Ipads
Counters
Pattern blocks
Computer
http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/mejhm/index.html?
l=0&ID1=AB.MATH.JR.PATT&ID2=AB.MATH.JR.PATT.PATT&l
esson=html/video_interactives/patterns/patternsInteracti
ve.html

Content:

December 1, 2015
Include what the teacher is doing (key questions, logistics, key
concepts that will be addressed, methods of formative assessment) as
well as what the students are doing.
Transition
At 9:00, students should be preparing for math.
Considerati
Get smartboard lesson set up and ready to go
ons
Ask students to get the whiteboards
9:05 students seated and ready

Introductio
n

(How will you

engage the
students?
Connections to
previous
learning?)

Time:

Activity 1:
Time:

Activity 2:

Activity 3:

Transition
Considerati
ons
Conclusion
(How will you

Ask students if they have ever seen letters in math

before
What do they remember?
How is it used?
Tell them we are going to begin using letters in
math using expressions.
Define expressions as a way that a pattern rule can
be expressed using a letter, an operation, and a
number.

Show the students the first example on the smartboard

and walk them through how it is written.
Essentially, previous element has been replaced with a
letter, also called a variable.
Explain many different variables can be used
Show students the subsequent 3 examples and have
them work on writing the expression
Invite them to turn and talk with a partner to tell them
how they got the answer they did
Ensure each student is taking a turn talking
Ask students to check in using their thumbs
Explain we will be working in centers to practice
representing pattern rules as expressions
Explain how the centers work: attached doc.
Overview of instructions, write on the board:
1) With your desk partner, complete cat. 1 questions (A,
B, C)
Take sticky when you go to center, return once completed
Complete all cat. 1 to move to cat.2 and so on.
It will probably take some time for students to get
organized.hopefully this goes smoothly. Maybe tell
them they have 60 seconds to get working and those
who are on task gain a base?
At 9:55 invite students to be seated
Depending on time, they can either clean up before

December 1, 2015
know if
students
learned what
you hoped?
Connections to
next lesson)

recess, or when the bell goes

Ask with thumbs if they feel comfortable
Explain we will be moving to use expressions in
equations next class.

Time:

Assessment:
Whiteboards
Turn and talk
Mira at the teacher center
Worksheet centers
Thumbs check in
Accommodations/Modifications:
If students dont seem to get it, explain the centers,
allow those who are comfortable to proceed, and those
who are not ready come to the front to continue doing
examples
Extension and extra time activity:
If students finish all activities, they are to play the noodle
game. They may also go back to category 2 question
(pattern block center)
Reflection on how the lesson went: