Beacon Lesson Plan Library

Dragon Math

Carol Weyrich

Description

This activity allows students to master multiplication facts in a fun and competitive manner.

Objectives

The student solves multiplication basic facts using various strategies including the following: modeling with concrete objects or drawings; skip counting, for example, to find 4x5, count 5, 10, 15, 20; using doubles and near doubles, such as 3x8=(2x8)+8; applying the cummutative property of multiplication, such as 7x3=3x7; applying distributive property of multiplication, such as 8x7=(8x5)+(8x2); noting and applying patterns in the 'facts tables' such as the regularity in the 'nines'; and using the zero and identity properties of multiplication.

Materials

-Pencils
-Bulletin board paper
-Picture of an animated dragon
-Picture of a dinosaur
-Opaque projector
-Color markers
-White construction paper to cut into scale shapes
-Fluorescent paper to cut into scale shapes
-Sticky-back velcro dots
-Scissors for each student

Preparations

1. Picture of a dinosaur and a dragon.
2. Scale shape template for each student. Teacher will need to create.
3. Set up opaque projector in a learning center.
4. Gather paper, velcro, etc.

Procedures

1. Teacher asks students if a dragon is a real animal. Teacher leads class to reach the conclusion that a dragon is a fictional character that might stem from the real dinosaur. Pictures of the dinosaur and dragon are displayed in classroom.

2. Divide class into groups of 3 or 4. Each student puts five multiplication problems of facts 1-5 without the answer on white scales.

3. Each student then writes the answers to the multiplication problems on florescent colored scales.

4. Sticky-back velcro dots are placed on the back of both white and fluorescent scales.

5. Teacher loads picture of the dragon into opaque projector, and creates a learning center where students work in groups of three or four to copy and color dragon on bulletin board paper.

6. When dragon is drawn and colored, the teacher hangs the picture in a visible place in the classroom.

7. All white scale multiplication problems are attached to the back of the dragon.

8. Students gather in their groups, exchange florescent scales with other groups, and challenge each other to place the florescent scales on the correct problem on the dragon's back. As mastery of the multiplication problems is achieved, then students race to see which group can complete the entire back of the dragon the quickest with accuracy.

Assessments

Students are able to correctly place answers to multiplication facts with 90% accuracy.

Extensions

Lesson used successfully for ESE students. Can be used with all mathmatical operations.
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