An exploration for 4th grade

A site that I often frequent for good math inquiry problems is http://www.inquirymaths.org/.



This is a good inquiry I found there for 4th (and 5th) graders.

 24 x 21 = 42 x 12

The link gives good directions and discusses the importance of student conjectures and exploration.  But it leads me to another idea:  How much more valuable is solving this problem and thinking about it deeply than doing a page full of double-digit multiplication?   We sometimes practice the way we were taught, but many times, there are way better ways.  Students, in this case, solve two multiplication problems, look for patterns, develop conjectures, and then work to test those conjectures.  More math problems are being practiced while students are doing some important noticing and thinking.  So much better than a sheet full of double-digit problems.  

Sorts

Sorts are a great way for students to make sense of things around them.  It could be images or numbers or objects or words....the point is to get them thinking about a subject and have them make sense of it in some way.

Here are some ideas for sorts.  Don't think that these are just for Littles.  Older students enjoy them.  They offer a non-threatening way for students to look at things, and they offer us good insight into our students' thinking.  Sorting is very mathematical even when it is not about numbers.  It is about looking at things carefully, finding patterns, and making sense--that's math!

SORT:
pattern blocks
doors
coins
book characters
drain covers
shapes--2D and 3D
numbers (odd/even) (prime/composite) (square/not square) (multiples)
vehicles
words
patterns
emojis
food
volume/area/perimeter
shoes
states
types of graphs (no numbers or titles are necessary)
expressions
angles