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Total Duration:
31 to 60 Minutes
Materials and Resources:
Set of Cards that have the following letters on them: A, B, C, D. Cards One set for each collaborative group.
paper
pencil
large chart paper
Colored cards for sorting students into groups
Technology Resources Needed:
Projector
Computer
Background/Preparation:
Students should be fluent in multiplication facts and recognizing number patterns.
Teacher should prepare Dinner Guest Cards before the students arrive for class.
As students enter the classroom, the teacher will hand out a colored card to each student. Students will be arranged in groups of four. Prepare enough different colored cards to provide for the four groups.
Before (activate prior knowledge) - Essential Question:
The teacher will ask: "Give examples of ways that you use multiplication in your life?" Groups will share one way they use multiplication in real life. (3 - 5 minutes)
During: (Actively engage students) (35 minutes)
The teacher will say: "Today you will pretend to be at a dinner party. You have four guests at your dinner party. How may ways can you arrange the seating of the guests?"
Handout the Dinner Party Guest Cards to each group.
On a sheet of paper, the students should write down the letters A, B, C, D.
Students line up the cards in the order of A,B,C,D.
As the students move the cards around in different arrangements, they will record the arrangement on their paper and the chart paper.
Students should record the total number of arrangements they found (24).
Groups will call out one arrangement and as the other groups find the same arrangements on their paper, they will put a check mark by the arrangements. (answer to dinner party)
Students will discuss any patterns that they noticed as they were arranging the letters. Groups will share with the other groups any patterns they noticed.
At this point, tell the students that the mathematical term for these type of arrangements are called factorials or permutations.
On the board, the teacher will write 4!. Ask the students if they recognize anything written on the board. (Misconception: Based on their background experience, they will think that the ! is an exclamation symbol.) Tell the students that in math, this symbol is used for permutations or factorial. The teacher should read 4! as four factorial.
On the board write, 4! = 4 X 3 X 2 X 1 = 24. Ask them to describe the number pattern.
Four students should be selected to come to the front of the room (with a dinner guest card). They are to sit in one of the chairs in the order of A,B,C,D. The teacher will call out the different arrangements and the dinner guests will move to their new seat. Students will see the different arrangements.
Other groups of four dinner guests may come to the front of the room and act out the arrangements.
Handout the worksheet that goes with the book Anno's Mysterious Multiplying Jar
Read aloud the book, Anno's Mysterious Multiplying Jar or use the video. (if your school system does not allow you to access youtube you may download the video using Keepvid.)
As the book is being read, students will fill in the number pattern for each factorial. Groups will share their answers.
After: (Assess) Use a Quick Write to quickly assess understanding of factorials.
Assessment Strategies
The Quick Write will be used to assess enduring understanding of factorials.
Acceleration:
Enrichment Activity for Factorials: Students will calculate the number of arrangements for the word, STEGALL. Key Question: Will the double L's make a difference in the answer?
Anno's Mysterious Multilying Jar Video - This book is a picture book about factorials. This video is a youtube video. (If your school system blocks youtube, then you make go to keepvid.com and download the video. This site provide free downloads.)
View the Special Education resources for
instructional guidance in providing modifications and adaptations
for students with significant cognitive disabilities who qualify for the Alabama Alternate Assessment.