Lesson 4

This warm-up prompts students to carefully analyze and compare features of four equations. In making comparisons, students have a reason to use language precisely (MP6). The activity also enables the teacher to hear the terminologies students know and how they talk about characteristics of equations.

• Groups of 2
• Display image.
• “Pick one that doesn’t belong. Be ready to share why it doesn’t belong.”
• 1 minute: quiet think time

• “Discuss your thinking with your partner.”
• 2-3 minutes: partner discussion
• Share and record responses.

• Display \(6 = 4 + 2\) and \(4 + 2 = 6\).
• “What is the same about these equations? What is different?” (They have the same numbers. The numbers are in a different order. One is blue and one is black. They both show that 4 plus 2 is 6.)

The purpose of this activity is for students to match equations to pattern block puzzles that show two groups of objects (MP2). Students make sense of equations with both the addends written first and the total written first.

• Create a shape with 1 red trapezoid pattern block and 4 green triangle pattern blocks to display in the activity synthesis.

• Groups of 2
• Display the list of equations from the student book.
• “Let’s read each equation together.”
• Read each equation using both “is” and “equals.” For example, “8 is 4 plus 4. 8 equals 4 plus 4.”
• Invite students to chorally repeat each equation in unison 1-2 times.

• “Draw a line from each equation to the shape that it matches.”
• 2 minutes: independent work time
• 3 minutes: partner work time

• Display the image of the shape made out of 6 blue rhombuses and 1 yellow hexagon:
• “Which equation did you match to this shape? Why?” (\(7 = 6 + 1\) or \(6 + 1 = 7\). There are 6 blue rhombus pattern blocks and 1 yellow hexagon pattern block. There are 7 pattern blocks together.)
• “We can write 7 first because there are 7 pattern blocks altogether or we can write 6 plus 1 first because there are 6 blue rhombus pattern blocks and 1 yellow hexagon pattern block. Both equations tell us that there are 7 pattern blocks, with 6 blue rhombuses and 1 yellow hexagon.”
• Create and display a shape with 1 red trapezoid pattern block and 4 green triangle pattern blocks.
• “Tell your partner an equation that you could write to match this shape.” (\(4 + 1 = 5\), \(1 + 4 = 5\), \(5 = 4 + 1\), or \(5 = 1 + 4\))
• Share and record responses.

The purpose of this activity is for students to put together pattern blocks to represent equations (MP2). In order to draw the shapes they created with pattern blocks, students may draw the shapes or trace each shape. Using different colored crayons (red for the red trapezoids, blue for the blue rhombuses) may help students differentiate between the shapes. Students are not expected to draw precise or accurate shapes.

• Groups of 2
• Give students access to pattern blocks.
• “Put together pattern blocks to make a shape that matches each equation. Trace or draw each shape that you make.”

• 4 minutes: independent work time
• 3 minutes: partner work time

• Invite 2 students to share the shapes that they created for \(7 = 2 + 5\).
• As each student shares, ask:
  • “Where do you see 7 in their shape?”
  • “Where do you see 2 in their shape?”
  • “Where do you see 5 in their shape?”
  • “Which number tells us how many pattern blocks there are altogether?”

The purpose of this activity is for students to choose from activities that offer practice with number and shape concepts.

Students choose from any stage of previously introduced centers.

• Pattern Blocks
• Geoblocks
• Grab and Count
• Find the Pair

• Gather materials from: 
  • Pattern Blocks, Stages 1-7
  • Geoblocks, Stages 1 and 2
  • Grab and Count, Stage 1
  • Find the Pair, Stages 1 and 2

• “Today we are going to choose from centers we have already learned.”
• Display the center choices in the student book.
• “Think about what you would like to do first.”
• 30 seconds: quiet think time

• Invite students to work at the center of their choice. 
• 10 minutes: center work time
• “Choose what you would like to do next.”
• 10 minutes: center work time

• Display a scattered pile of 7 pattern blocks.
• “Mai grabbed these pattern blocks. What is an estimate that’s too high?” “Too low?” “About right?” (20 is too high. 3 is too low. 10 is just right.)