Adventures in Mathopolis

Lesson Plans
The Great Polygon Caper
Chapter 1
Topic: Introduction to Polygons
Activity 1: The Polygon Tree
1. Have each student cut polygons from
construction paper (spring or autumn leaf
colors).
2. Form a tree trunk from twisted sheets of rown
paper and staple it to a ulletin oard or hang
from the ceiling.
!. "taple or hang student#s polygons from the tree.
Activity 2: Polygon Swap
$rite a paragraph% poem% story% or essay which
descries the world&wide (or personal) conse'uences
that would occur if one shape replaced another in the
world (i.e. circles switched with s'uares).
Chapter 2
Topic: Points, Lines, Planes
Activity: Play Dough Deinitions
1. (ive each student a lump of Play )ough. (*ake
your own or uy the +Party Pack, of Play )ough
for a minimal cost.)
2. -sk students to create the following (as
appropriate for your grade level).
a. - point (large lump of clay rolled into a all
or pinch off a piece to make the all.
. Pinch off pieces and roll them into alls to
make / points.
c. Line them up to make a line segment.
d. -dd arrows to each end to symoli0e a line.
e. "ave these pieces and smash more Play
)ough to make a plane.
f. Place three points on the plane to name it.
g. Place several points on the plane to illustrate
coplanar points.
h. Place several points on the plane to illustrate
collinear points.
i. Place several points on the plane to illustrate
noncollinear points.
1. Place several points to illustrate noncoplanar
points (students may need to use availale
props on and around their desk).
Chapter !
Topic: "a#ing Angles
Activity: Connect$the$Dots
-fter reviewing with students the different ways to
name angles% have them complete the following
pu00le (full&si0e version availale at
www.karenferrell.net). - more challenging pu00le is
also availale on page !2 of the ook.
Chapter %
Topic: "a#ing Polygons
Activity 1: The Polygon Song
("ung to the tune of +33 4ottles of 5oke on the
$all,)
Polygons have straight sides
5onnected end to end
-dd one more to the score
*ake polygons galore% galore
6riangles have three sides
5onnected end to end
-dd one more to the score
*ake polygons galore% galore
7uadrilaterals have four sides
5onnected end to end
-dd one more to the score
*ake polygons galore% galore
Line one of each verse changes to +Pentagons have
five sides%, then +He8agons have si8 sides%, etc.
Page 1
Adventures in Mathopolis
Lesson Plans
Chapter % &Cont'(
1. "ing the polygon song.
2. -s students sing% have the students form groups
according to the numer of sides of the polygon
in the current verse.
!. (ive each group a long piece of yarn. 9sing
each student as a point (verte8) of a polygon%
have them form the polygon in the current verse.
:. "ince groups won#t always come out even% hand
the student(s) who are left out of a group a cuddy
+;emainder ;ait, to hold until new groups are
formed.
Activity 2: Polygons in the )eal *orld
Have students locate and lael polygons in the real
world.
1. 5ut out pictures from maga0ines or newspapers
and make a poster or ulletin oard.
2. 9se painters# tape to outline polygons found in
the classroom.
!. 5hallenge students to draw a picture of people or
places y using only polygons.
Activity !: Polygon Centers
<nstead of numering activity centers located around
the room% name each center in the room after a
specific polygon.
Activity %: Polygon +ingo
Teacher Preparation:
1. Prepare a list of eight or nine shapes.
2. Prepare five slips of paper or inde8 cards with
each shape.
!. Lael one card for a given shape with an *% the
ne8t with an -% the ne8t with a 6% another with an
H% and the last with an =.
Student Preparation:
1. Have students divide their paper into si8 rows
and five columns.
2. <n the top row% have them fill in the letters *% -%
6% H% and =.
!. <n each of the spaces elow these letters% have
them draw in shapes learned (provide them with
the list of eight or nine to select from). 6he
same shape cannot e drawn twice in any
column.
:. $hen cards are complete% call out a letter and a
shape name. <f the student#s card has that shape
in the appropriate column% they mark the shape
out on their card.
>. Play continues until a student marks off five
shapes in a row either diagonally% hori0ontally% or
vertically.
Chapter ,
Topic: Triangles
Activities in the +oo-
6he "um of the *easures of the <nterior -ngles
(Pages ?? and ?@)
<sosceles 6riangles (Pages @1 through @!)
-nother <sosceles 6riangle Foldale (Pages @2
through @>)
Chapter .
Topic: /uadrilaterals
Activity 1: 0our on the 0loor
9sing painters# tape% have students create large
'uadrilaterals (s'uare% rectangle% trape0oid%
parallelogram% kite% rhomus) on the floor. -s each
suse'uent unit is studied% have students measure the
interior angles% add tape to mark their diagonals and
lines of symmetry% and calculate their areas and
perimeters.
Activity 2: Piece 1y Piece
1. Provide students with precut shapes% all with the
same height. 1 rectangle% 2 scalene triangles% and
2 isosceles triangles. (template availale at
www.karenferrellnet.)
2. From these shapes have students use.
a. 2 pieces to make a s'uare
. 2 pieces to make a rectangle
c. 2 pieces to make a parallelogram
d. ! pieces to make a parallelogram
e. ! pieces to make an isosceles trape0oid
f. pieces from several groups to make a
+monster, parallelogram
Activities in the +oo-
5onnecting )ots to Form 7uadrilaterals (Page 3:)
<nterior -ngles of 7uadrilaterals (Page 3:)
)iagonals (Pages 3? through 3@)
Chapter 2
Topic: Peri#eter
Activity: Perry3s 4eter
1. (ive teams of students a tiny car.
2. Have them +drive, around o1ects in the room
(desks% tales% chairs% the entire room).
!. -s they turn each corner% they must announce
how far they#ve traveled since the last corner.
:. -t the end of their trip% they announce their total
trip +mileage,.
Page 2
Adventures in Mathopolis
Lesson Plans
Perry3s 4eter 56tension. -ssign an amount to
charge per +mile, for the trip and have students
calculate the total cost of the trip.
Chapter 7
Topic: 0or#ulas
Activity: Su1stitutes
"tudents rainstorm lists of items where something
can e sustituted (used instead of) something else
(i.e. pencil and penA eraser and white out).
Chapter 8
Topic: S9uares
Activity: Cu1e :riga#i
"earch the internet (9&6ue) for instructions andBor
videos showing how to create a cue y folding
paper. 6here are at least three different cues that can
e created.
a cue from one sheet of paper
a cue from multiple sheets of paper
a modular cue
Chapter 1;
Topic: Area 0or#ulas
Activity 1: Piecing it Together
1. Provide students with precut shapes% all with the
same height. 1 rectangle% 2 scalene triangles% 2
isosceles triangles. (6emplate availale at
www.karenferrellnet.)
2. ;eview the following area formulas.
;ectangle C Length D $idth (lw)
"'uare C "ide D "ide (s
2
)
!. 6o +discover, other formulas% have students use
their precut shapes to form the following.
Parallelogram
a. 9se 2 triangles and 1 s'uare to form a
parallelogram.
. *ove 1 to make a rectangle
c. Length D $idth C 4ase D Height
d. Parallelogram C 4ase D Height (h)
Triangle
a. 9se 2 triangles to make a rectangle
. ;emove 1
c. 9se 2 triangles to make a parallelogram
d. ;emove 1
e. 4ase D Height 2 (hB2)
Activity 2: Concentration
1. Prepare sets of cards with the name of the shape
on one card and the formula for the shape on the
other card.
2. "huffle the cards and lay them out face down on
a tale or desk.
!. Have students or teams select two cards.
:. <f the selected pair of cards match% the team gets
a point and the pair of cards are removed from
the game.
>. <f the selected pair of cards don#t match% they are
turned face down again and the ne8t team gets a
turn.
56tension. -dd another set of cards with the shape#s
picture on it. <n order to make a match% a team
has to turn over the shape#s name% a picture of
the shape% and the shape#s formula.
Chapter 11
Topic: Pyra#ids and Pris#s
Activity 1: "oodle )oulette
*aterials. 6welve or more swimming noodles and a
timer
1. )ivide students up into teams.
2. "tart the timer as you call out the name of a
polygon.
!. 9sing the swimming noodles% the first pair of
team memers work to 'uickly construct the
polygon on the floor.
:. -s soon as the polygon is completed correctly%
call out another shape for the second team pair to
complete.
>. 5ontinue calling out shapes and switching pairs
until all team memers have constructed at least
one polygon.
?. "top the timer and record their time and the
numer of polygons they completed.
@. "witch teams and repeat for additional teams.
/. 6he team to construct the shapes the 'uickest
wins.
Alternate versions:
Have teams construct as many polygons as possile
in a set amount of time.
Have teams construct pyramids and prisms.
Activity 2: Cut and 0old
6emplates for cutting and folding pyramids and
prisms are availale at www.karenferrell.net.
Activity in the +oo-
5onstruction (Pages 1@> through 1@@)
Page !
Adventures in Mathopolis
Lesson Plans
Estimating and Measuring
Chapter 2
Topic: Place <alue
Activity: 4usical Digits
1. Print off musical chair game on usiness
cards. Print off place value names on
cardstock. 4usiness cards have the digits.
Lael chairs with place values. (6emplate
for game cards at www.cweiskopf.com.)
2. (ive each student a digit card or have them
draw one from a pile. "tart the music. $hen
the music stops they sit in a chair. 6hey then
must tell you what their digit means when it
is sitting in the place value. For e8ample. <f
the digit 2 is sitting in the tens place it
means 2 groups of 12.
*ath game can e adapted for many age levels
y adding or taking away place values.
Activities in the +oo-
How many numers can you makeE (page 1>)
Place value practice (page 1?)
Chapter !
Topic: =nits o 4easure#ent
Activity 1: Taller than A1raha# Lincoln
1. Help students research to determine how tall
-raham Lincoln was.
2. Place a piece of tape on the wall
representing Lincoln#s height.
!. Have students write their name on a strip of
tape and place it on the wall to represent
their heights.
:. -sk students to search and find o1ects
inside and outside that are taller than
Lincoln.
>. $rite each item on a strip of tape.
?. Place these strips of tape at the appropriate
height on the wall.
Activity 2: +ody +uilders
Have students measure the same o1ects in
thums% their own feet% and hands. 5reate a
chart to compare student answers. )iscuss why
units of measurements were standardi0ed.
"ample 5hart
6om Frika Paul
"heet of Paper (thums)
)esktop (hands)
;oom $idth (feet)
Activity in the +oo-
"miley Face *easurements (page!2)
Chapter %
Topic: The 4eter 0a#ily
Activity: The 4eter Shule
1. )raw each digit (0ero through one) on a
sheet of paper.
2. )raw a dot (representing a decimal) on
another sheet of paper.
!. $rite each of the following words on their
own sheet of paper. )ecimeter% 5entimeter%
and *illimeter on
:. -sk for five student volunteers.
>. (ive four students a digit card.
?. (ive the fifth student the decimal card.
@. Have them line up to form a numer with
the decimal standing at the right. 6his will
represent a measurement in *eters.
/. )raw one of the decimeter% centimeter% or
millimeter cards.
3. Have the decimal card holder move to
convert the meters to the indicated unit of
measure.
56tension. Let the decimal card holder start
anywhere they want within the numer formed
y the others. <f 0eros are needed% have
additional volunteers stand to +hold, the e8tra
places needed.
Activity in the +oo-
*etric 9nits of Length (pages :> and :?)
Chapter ,
Topic: 4iles and >ilo#eters
Activities in the +oo-
Page :
Adventures in Mathopolis
Lesson Plans
"tride ;ight (page >2)
*iles (page >>)
Gilometers (page >@)
Chapter .
Topic: *eight
Activity: *hat3s 4y *eight
*aterials. =1ects weighing from a few ounces
up to five pounds.
1. 4lindfold a student.
2. Have the student stand with his hands out to
his sides and palms up.
!. Have two other student volunteers place an
o1ect in each hand.
:. 6he lindfolded student then +tilts, like an
old&fashioned scale to indicate which o1ect
heBshe thinks weighs the most.
>. ;emove the lindfold.
?. Fstimate the weight of each o1ect (ounces
or pounds).
@. $eight each o1ect.
Activities in the +oo-
Hegetale "cavenger Hunt (Page ?:)
- Ioo 7ui0 (Page ?3)
- Ging&"i0ed ;iddle (Pages ?3 and @2)
Chapter 2
Topic: <olu#e
Activity 1: 4edically Spea-ing
5ollect an assortment of small syringes (without
needles) from a local doctor of veterinary clinic
ranging in si0e from 1 mm to !> mm. 5ompare
the si0es of the different syringes. )iscuss their
uses and why some hold more than others. Have
students fill the syringes with li'uid and then
s'uirt the contents into standard measuring cups.
How many milliliters did it take to fill a
teaspoon% talespoon% J cup% etc.
Activity 2: +a-e a Ca-e ro# Scratch
Chapter 7
Topic: Ti#e
Activities in the +oo-
6ime Pattern Pu00le (Pages 3/ through 33)
*onths *atching (Page 122)
Chapter 8
Topic: Te#perature
Activity: Day 1y Day
1. Place four thermometers in the room (in the
window% y the door% y the air conditioning
unit% eside a computer% etc.).
2. ;ead and record the temperature on each
thermometer for one week.
!. (raph the results.
:. )iscuss why they are the sameE )ifferentE
>. )iscuss which data would e the most
+useful,.
Activity in the +oo-
GF5 6emperature (111)
Chapter 11
Topic: )anges
Activity: ?o#e on the )anges
1. -sk for three student volunteers and have
them stand side y side.
2. Hand the center student a greater thanBless
than symol drawn on a large piece of paper.
!. Hand each of the other two students an
o1ect.
:. Have the center student turn his symol to
make a numer sentence that compares the
o1ects y.
a. Length (height)
. $eight
>. Have a fourth student volunteer read the
numer sentence aloud.
Extension:
1. Have five student volunteers.
2. 6hree have o1ects.
!. 6wo have greater thanBless than symol
cards.
:. Have the students arrange themselves to
form an accurate numer sentence.
Weight Example.
te8took K apple K pencil
Chapter 12
Topic: Truncating
Activity: +it o a +ite
1. -sk for three to ten student volunteers.
2. Have them stand shoulder to shoulder to
form a row.
Page >
Adventures in Mathopolis
Lesson Plans
!. =n the count of three% they each hold up 2 to
3 fingers to show their digit.
:. "tudents in the class read the digit aloud.
>. =n the count of three% call out +6runcate,
and then a place value.
Example. 6runcate thousands
?. 6he appropriate students (students to the
right of the called out place value down to
the ones place)% make fists (to show 0eros)
and then crouch to +hold their place,.
@. "tudents then read the new numer formed.
/. ;epeat with the same volunteers and then
switch volunteers.
Chapter 1!
Topic: )ounding and "ice "u#1ers
Activity 1: Tool1o6
Materials. - small o8 (recipe o8% inde8 card
o8) and a package of inde8 cards for each
student.
Activity. -s computational strategies are
learned% have students write each strategy on an
inde8 card and place it into their o8. <f desired%
create taed dividers for categories such as
addition% sutraction% multiplication% division%
money% etc.
Chapter 1,
Topic: "arrowing it Down
Activity: 4ental 4easure#ents
Have students do the following short activities.
1. $ithout looking at a ruler% hold their hands
apart to show the measurement of one foot.
2. 5lose their eyes and then raise their hand
after they think one minute has elapsed.
!. Fill a water ottle until it holds one cup of
fluid.
:. Pour one pound of sand (rice% eans% etc.)
into a container.
Chapter 1.
Topic: Sa#pling
Activity: Class Survey
1. Have each student come up with a 'uestion
for a survey.
2. Have each student 'uietly ask appro8imately
one&fourth of the students in the class their
'uestion and tally the results.
!. Have them multiply their results y four to
predict what the rest of the class would say.
:. $ithout revealing their results% have each
student then poll the rest of the class.
>. 5ompare the actual results to the sampled
results.
Extension. ;ecord the data in a spreadsheet and
then use the computer to create a graph of the
results.
Page ?
Adventures in Mathopolis
Lesson Plans
Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow: Fractions and Decimals
Chapter 2
Topic: Place <alue
Activity: 4usical Chairs
1. Print off musical chair game on usiness
cards. Print off place value names on
cardstock. 4usiness cards have the digits.
Lael chairs with place values. (6emplate
for game cards at www.cweiskopf.com)
2. (ive each student a digit card or have them
draw one from a pile. "tart the music. $hen
the music stops they sit in a chair. 6hey then
must tell you what their digit means when it
is sitting in the place value. For e8ample. <f
the digit 2 is sitting in the tens place it
means 2 groups of 12.
*ath game can e adapted for many age levels
y adding or taking away place values.
Chapter !
Topic: Introduction to 0ractions and Deci#als
Activity: 0raction Pictionary
1. Print off deck of Lfraction cards# (make any
fractions you would like) and small deck
of Lfour faces of fractions# cards. part of a
whole% part of a collection% another way to
write division% numer line. (-vailale at
www.cweiskopf.com under math games)
2. Place oth decks upside down. )ivide into
teams. "elect one person from each team to
e the first person who draws.
!. "elect a card from the deck Lfraction cards#
and one card from the Lfour faces of
fractions# deck.
:. $hatever four faces card they draw
determines the way in which they must
represent the fraction. -ll teams then
compete to e the first to guess the fraction
from the artwork drawn y their own team
mate.
NOTE. $hen representing the numer line%
they can put whole numers and popular
fractions on the numer line ut they cannot
write the actual value of their fraction.
Chapter %
Topic: Introduction to 0ractions
Activity: 0raction Twister
1. 9sing an old twister oard% use wa8 sticks or
tape to divide the pies into fractions.
2. 6hen play Find the )enominator y dividing
the group into : teams and having each team
stand in a line at the corners.
!. "pin the denominator spinner.
:. 6he person at the head of each line must
then run to a pie that is divided into the right
denominator. "ometimes there is more than
one. Fach person that is successful gets a
chip.
>. 6he team with the most chips in the end
wins. ("pinner availale at
www.cweiskopf.com)
Variation 1. 9se the fraction spinner. Find the
correct denominator and then put the right
amount of eans on the pie to make the
fraction with the correct numerator and
denominator. "uccess is rewarded with a chip.
Variation 2. Have the students sit around the
Fraction 6wister and use it to talk aout
fractions and e'uivalent fractions. -sk
'uestions like. 5an you make a fraction
e'uivalent to M on the twister oardE $hat do
you need to look forE
Activities in the +oo-
)ividing 5ake (Page !!)
"aying Fractions (Page !@)
*aking F'uivalent Fractions with Paper (Pages
!/ through !3)
Chapter ,
Topic: Types o 0ractions
Activity 1: Pi@@a Conversions ro# I#proper
0ractions to *hole "u#1ers
1. ;ead Page :3 aout converting improper
fractions to mi8ed numers. 5oncentrate on
that the denominator means divisions so that
digit will show how many divisions are in
each pi00a.
2. )emonstrate how it works with an e8ample.
!. (ive kids an improper fraction and
challenge them to convert it to a mi8ed
numer y drawing pi00as.
<t is est to introduce this approach efore they
know how to convert with division and
remainders.
Activity 2: Pi@@a Conversions ro# *hole
"u#1ers to I#proper 0ractions
Page @
Adventures in Mathopolis
Lesson Plans
1. ;ead Page >2 aout converting mi8ed
numers to improper fractions. Point out
that the denominator means divisions so that
digit will show you how many divisions are
in each pi00a.
2. )emonstrate how it works with an e8ample.
!. (ive kids a mi8ed numer and challenge
them to convert it to an improper fraction
through drawing pi00as.

Activities in the +oo-
Find the Proper Fractions (Page ::)
Find the <mproper Fractions (Page :?)
Find the *i8ed Numers (Page :/)
"olve the Fraction ;iddle (Page :/)
Chapter .
Topic: 59uivalent 0ractions
Activity 1: 59uivalent 0ractions on a "u#1er
line
1. *ake a numer line that goes from 2 to 2.
-dd the following fractions J% 1B!% M% 2B!%
O.
2. 6hen add e'uivalent fractions to each of the
aove laeled fractions. 2B/% 2B?% 2B:% :B?%
and ?B/. *ake the point that e'uivalent
fractions share the same point on the numer
line.
Activities in the +oo-
*aking F'uivalent Fractions with Paper (Pages
!/ through !3)
Chapter 2
Topic: Areatest Co##on 0actor and Least
Co##on 4ultiple
Activity: Secret Agent Solutions
1. <ntroduce the two secret agents of (5F
(Page >3 through ?2) and L5* (Pages @?
through @/) .
2. Put fraction prolems up on the oard (a mi8
of simplifying fractions% adding% and
sutractingPcan throw in multiplication to
get tricky) and ask kids which secret agent
they would call to solve this prolem.
Chapter 7
Topic: :rdering 0ractions
Activity 1: Capture the <illain
1. Print off )eck of Hillain 5ards and )eck of
"uperhero 5ards. (6emplate is availale at
www.cweiskopf.com .)
2. )eal out superhero cards. 6hree cards for
each player is good. Place villain cards face
down in the middle. F8tra superhero cards
are also facedown in the middle.
!. =ne villain card is turned over. -ll players
then select one of their cards that is larger
than the villain card and place it face down
in front of them.
:. $hen everyone has placed a card face down
in front of them% all cards are then turned
over. 6he player with the largest fraction%
that is greater than the villain card% captures
the villain.
>. Players then all draw one more superhero
card.
?. $homever captures the most villains y the
end of the game wins.
Activity 2: S9uee@e In the "u#1er Line
1. $ith a piece of masking tape make a
numer line on the floor. "tart with 2 and go
to 2 or ! leaving at least four feet etween
the 2 and 1. -lso make fractions cards.
2. 9sing tape% mark off and lael J% M% O% 1 J%
etc.
!. ;otate from one team to another. "tudent
No. 1 from each team draws a fraction card
(1B!% 2B!% 1B>% etc.) and then goes and stands
at the appropriate place on the numer line.
"tudent No. 1 gets one point for their team if
they are at the correct location. <f the other
team doesn#t think "tudent No. 1 is at the
right location they can challenge. "tudent
No. 1 gets 2 points if they are correct and
were challenged. 6he team that challenges
gets one point if "tudent No. 1 was at the
wrong location.
:. -s more people 1oin the numer line going
to the right location gets more and more
difficult.
Page /
Adventures in Mathopolis
Lesson Plans
Chapter 8
Topic: Adding and Su1tracting 0ractions
Activity 1: The )ight +all Par-
1. (et one all for each team and one lael for
each student. <f working with fractions
laels will e. 2 Q answer R 1% 1 Q answer R
2% 2 Q answer R !% etc. Fach memer of a
team has a different lael.
2. 6ell your students that the purpose of this
activity is to determine what is reasonale
not to try and calculate the actual answer.
!. F8plain that arriving at the right all park is
the first step of estimating. Sou will then
ring up one fraction addition or sutraction
prolem at a time. F8amples are . 2B> T JA
3B: T 1B3A ! M T 2B!A ! U 1 J
:. For each prolem their 1o is to pass the all
to the person in their group whose lael
reflects the right all park for the answer.
$hen that person gets the all% they need to
hold the all up over their head% and when
called on% they need to e8plain why they
arrived at that answer.
Activity 2: Tic-et :ut Add or Su1tract
0ractions
4efore the students leave the room they need to
write an addition or sutraction prolem that
e'uals a given numer. For e8ample you give the
student the whole numer one and they have to
write a fraction addition prolem for which the
answer will e one.
Chapter 1;
Topic: 4ultiplying 0ractions
Activity 1: 4ultiplication 4eaning
1. 9se page 11/ to e8plain the purpose of
multiplication. *ultiplication is turo
addition.
2. (ive them a multiplication prolem that
contains one whole numer and one fraction
and ask them to figure out the answer
without knowing the trick of multiplying
fractions. ? 8 M C M T M T M T M T M T M
Chapter 11
Topic: Dividing with 0ractions
Activity 1: Dividing Licorice
1. Have kids work in groups with each group
having si8 pieces of string and scissors. -sk
them to divide the si8 pieces of string into 2
groups. -sk how many groups they haveE
!. 6his is the division prolem of ? V 2 C !.
2. $hen you work with fractions% it#s the same.
6ake the same si8 pieces of string. -sk
them to divide the si8 pieces of string into
groups of M. 6his is the division prolem of
? V M C 12. Fach group will have a M a
piece of string and you will end up with 12
groups.
Chapter 12
Topic: Introduction to Deci#als
Activity: 4usical Chairs
Play musical chairs as descried in 5hapter 2
and add decimal places.
Chapter 12',
Topic: Deci#als and 4oney
Activity: =sing 4oney to 5sti#ate Deci#al
Calculations
1. F8plain concept of money and decimals
(Pages 1:@ and 1:/).
2. (ive students decimal sutraction and
addition prolems and have them work
together in groups to estimate the answer y
using coins. For e8ample 2.@/212 U 2.2:!2
is appro8imately three 'uarters or 2.@> U one
'uarter or .2> C .>2 or two 'uarters.
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Adventures in Mathopolis
Lesson Plans
Chapter 1!
Topic: Lining up Deci#als
Activity: 4usical Deci#als
Play musical chairs as descried in 5hapter 2
with two separate circles.
1. Lael two circles of musical chairs with
only decimal places. tenths% hundredths%
thousandths% etc. Fach circle will make one
numer.
2. Have two groups of kids and give each
group the same digits. Sou can write digits
names on inde8 cards.
!. "tart the music and instruct the kids to sit in
a laeled chair when the music turns off.
:. 6urn off music and have the two circles of
kids compare the two numers they have
made y starting with the largest place
value. (6he two people sitting in the tenths
place read off their digit and say what they
mean. For e8ample if five was sitting in
each tenth chair they would each say% +<
stand for > tenths.,)
>. 6he group as a whole needs to decide if at
this point they know which numer is igger
or if they need to go onto the ne8t digit.
;epeat step : and > until you know which
group created the iggest numer.
Chapter 1%
Topic: Adding and Su1tracting with Deci#als
Activity: 4ath Place <alue Concentration
1. Print off the template availale at
www.cweiskopf.com on usiness cards.
2. (ive the students two numers with or
without decimal points that they are
supposed to add or sutract. Have them
select the digits from the deck that are used
in the numers. <f a digit is used% for
e8ample% three times there must e three
instances of that digit. 6urn over the cards
and egin playing math concentration. -
match is made when digits are turned over&&
one from each numer&&that are in the same
place value.
3. 6he one with the most matches wins.
4. 6hen have them calculate the prolem.
Chapter 1,
Topic: 4ultiplying and Dividing with Deci#als
Activity: Do It, Dot It and Chec- It )elay
1. ;ead Pages 1/1 (starting with +-nd
speaking of turo speed%, through 1/:) to
understand the approach to multiplying
fractions. "tep through a couple of
prolems as e8amples.
2. )ivide the room into teams U 2 to : teams
depending on the si0e of the class and how
much downtime you want the kids to have.
!. 6he child at the front of each line will e at
the oard with a marker.
:. 6eacher will read off a prolem% for e8ample
: 8 2./. (9se only prolems that are ased
on simple multiplication facts.) "tudent No.
1 will write the prolem on the oard for
future reference for all the team memers.
>. Ne8t "tudent No. 1 will decide which
multiplication fact this prolem relates to
and write that prolem and answer on the
oard. For e8ample : 8 / C !2
?. 6hen "tudent No. 1 will walk to the ne8t
person in line ("tudent No. 2) and hand
them the marker.
@. "tudent No. 2#s 1o is to )ot <t. 6hey will
put the decimal in the correct place and then
hand the marker to "tudent No. !.
/. "tudent No. !#s 1o is to check the answer
y using estimation. 6hey can write for
e8ample : 8 2./ R : 8 1. <f they think the
answer is correct they will raise their hand
and wait for all teams to finish. <f they
estimate the answer is incorrect they will
circle the answer and hand the marker ack
to "tudent No. 1 and "tudent No. 1 and
"tudent No. 2 will have to complete the
process again.
3. 6wo points are given to the first team to
finish with the correct answer ut one point
is given to each team with the correct
answer.
Page 12
Adventures in Mathopolis
Lesson Plans
Chapter 1.
Topic: Converting 1etween 0ractions and
Deci#als
Activity 1: "u#1er line Conversions
1. *ake a numer line that goes from 2 to 2.
Place the following fractions on the numer
line. J% 1B!% M% 2B!% O.
2. Place the decimal e'uivalents of the
fractions on the same spot on the numer
line. *ake the point that fractions and
decimals are like two different ways to talk
aout the e8act same spot on the numer
line.
Activity 2: 0raction on the "u#1er Line
(o to www.cweiskopf.com under *ath Help
section and click on )ecimal Numer Line.
6ype in a fraction etween 2 and 2 and watch the
fraction e displayed automatically on the
numer line with its decimal value.

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