Introduction

Say: “Put 4 red counters in the frame. Who can tell me how many empty spaces there will be?”Give each student or pair of students a five frame and 5 each of the red and the blue counters.Say: “Use your five frames to make as many different combinations of red and blue counters as you can.The rule is that the reds must be next to each other and the blues must be next to each other. You can’thave a mixture such as red, blue, red, red, blue.”Independent Work: Students work independently to place the various combinations of counters onthe five frame. Circulate around the classroom to ensure students are able to do the task. Ensure thatstudents have ready access to manipulatives and other supports, such as math word walls, examplesof similar problems students have worked on previously, and so on.Reflecting and ConnectingInstructional Grouping: Whole class or small groupDiscuss students’ results with the red and blue combinations.Have students make different combinations on the overhead projector.Draw up a chart that shows all the combinations.74 A Guide to Effective Instruction in Mathematics, Kindergarten to Grade 6 – Volume One