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Arizona STEM

Acceleration Project

Place Value Discovery Game and

Base Ten Block House Build

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Place Value Game and Base Ten Block House Build

A 4th grade STEM lesson

Rebecca Bunnell

9/23/2024

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Notes for Teachers

  • Use the printout in conjunction with the Slides so the students have step by step instructions.
  • The students will need to have good self management while they work and a signal to stop and listen between sections of the lesson.
  • Students work in pairs.
  • An emphasis on the target product (a base ten block building)
  • If the group chose two hundred they would fail the challenge and have to choose a larger number (which teaches number sense, and is part of the trial and error process of STEM)
  • Solution to be mapped out on graph paper
  • Facilitate student reflection by doing a gallery walk to guess the number of their classmates buildings.

List of Materials:

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Math Standards:

4.NBT.A.1 Apply concepts of place value, multiplication, and division to understand that in a multi-digit whole number, a digit in one place represents ten times what it represents in the place to its right.

4.NBT.A.2 Read and write multi-digit whole numbers using base-ten numerals, number names, and expanded form. Compare two multi-digit numbers based on meanings of the digits in each place, using >, =, and < symbols to record the results of comparisons.

Science and Engineering Practices

  • ask questions and define problems
  • develop and use models
  • plan and carry out investigations
  • analyze and interpret data
  • use mathematical and computational thinking
  • construct explanations and design solutions
  • obtain, evaluate and communicate information

4.W.7 Conduct short research projects that build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.

4.SL.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 4 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly

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Objective(s):

  • Students will listen actively and hone their communication skills to collaborate more effectively with their group to plan and execute their base ten build.

  • After listening to a story, students will brainstorm creative ways to exit a building.

  • Students will work with a partner to play a game building numbers on a place value mat.

  • After drafting a structure on the planning guide, students will build their structure using place value blocks and assess the number of their classmates’ buildings

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Agenda (60-90 minutes)

Listen to If I Built a House

Building Challenge Rules

Play a game to decide on a number

Experiment with building

Draw the building that met the challenge.

Assess other group’s buildings.

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If I Built a House

While you listen, list all the creative ways that you could exit a house!

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Building Challenge

Structure must have:

  • The same amount of blocks as your chosen number
  • At least 8 inches tall
  • A roof
  • A creative exit
  • Have at least two rooms

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Pair up and Play a Game

Each pair will need a dice and the provided place value mat.

The students roll a dice and make numbers with the digits on the place value mat.

Place the base ten blocks on display.

After each pair has four numbers written, ask them to discuss which number would be best to use for constructing their place value building.

Are high numbers or low numbers better?

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Hands-On Activity Instructions

Collect the accurate number of blocks and work to meet the building challenge.

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Hands-On Activity Instructions

Structure must have:

  • The same amount of blocks as your chosen number
  • At least 10 inches tall
  • A innovative exit
  • Have at least two rooms

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Build and Experiment

Record three ideas that did not work!

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How do we assess our work?

How Much Is Their Building Worth?

They will look at other buildings keep track on their project paper the value of each block the other group used so that when they are done, they will know exactly how much their building is worth.

For example if I build a model house using 6 hundred flats, 5 tens sticks, and 3 ones cubes, my building is worth 600 + 50 + 3 = 653. Have each pair take a walk around looking at one-two buildings from other groups and try to calculate the value of each one. (We are Teachers)

Record Expanded Form on the note sheet.

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Differentiation

One way to differentiate in this lesson is to provide some groups smaller numbers to work with and help them collect the right amount of blocks.

Use printed place value blocks to make a 2 D design.

Creative grouping to ensure each pair has a leader to help direct their project.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Photography -

Create a gallery wall of building photos.

Utilize a CAD program to design the building digitally.