Introduction

Working on itInstructional Grouping: PairsExplain that students are to work with their partners to find the different possibilities, but that each studentis to use the crayons and paper to record the combinations. Pose questions that encourage studentsto reflect on and explain their strategies and solutions:• “How are you using the five frames to help you to find the different combinations?”• “If you have 0 cars at the babysitter’s house, how many cars do you have at home? How do you know?”• “What strategy are you using to find all possible combinations?”• “How are you recording the different combinations?”• “How will you know when you have all the different combinations?”Reflecting and ConnectingInstructional Grouping: Whole classAsk students to share different combinations. Record each combination on chart paper (by drawing a fiveframe and colouring circles according to the student’s explanation.)Ask: “Do we have all the combinations? How can we find out? How could the five frames help us to knowif we have all the different possibilities?”If a pair of students found the different combinations by using a systematic approach, ask them to explaintheir strategy. If no one used such an approach, guide students in finding the different possibilities in asystematic way. Ask: “Would it help if I started with the combination of 0 cars at the babysitter’s and all5 cars at home? What combination comes next?” Continue until all combinations (0 and 5, 1 and 4, 2 and3, 3 and 2, 4 and 1, 5 and 0) have been discussed.AssessmentThroughout the lesson, observe students to assess how well they:• use strategies to find all possible combinations;• explain their strategies and solutions;• recognize ways in which 5 can be decomposed into other numbers;• represent the different combinations with concrete materials and pictures.Home ConnectionSend an “Ask Me About” note to parents. For example: “Your child has been working on the combinationsthat make 5. Ask your child to demonstrate and tell you what he or she knows about the combinationsthat make 5.”56 A Guide to Effective Instruction in Mathematics, Kindergarten to Grade 6 – Volume One