Lesson Plan: Non-Routine Problem Solving and Decimal Place Value

 

Objective:

• Students will solve non-routine problems using various strategies.
• Students will identify the place value of a digit in a decimal number.

Materials:

• Whiteboard or projector
• Markers or pens
• Worksheets with non-routine problems and decimal place value exercises
• Manipulatives (e.g., base-ten blocks, place value charts)

Procedure:

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

• Warm-up: Begin with a quick mental math exercise involving
  decimal addition and subtraction.
• Review: Briefly review place value concepts for whole numbers and decimals. Use a place value chart to visually represent decimal positions.
• Introduce Non-Routine Problems: Explain that non-routine problems don't have a direct solution method. Students must think creatively and use various strategies to solve them.

2. Non-Routine Problem Solving (20 minutes)

• Present a Problem: Present a non-routine problem, such as:
  • A farmer has 30 chickens. He sells 2/5 of them. How many chickens does he have left?
• Encourage Different Strategies:
  • Drawing a Picture: Guide students to draw a diagram to visualize the problem.
  • Using a Number Line: Show how a number line can be used to represent the problem.
  • Acting It Out: Encourage students to act out the problem with manipulatives.
  • Using a Table or Chart: Demonstrate how to organize information in a table.
• Discuss Strategies: Facilitate a class discussion to compare and contrast different strategies. Highlight the importance of choosing the most effective strategy for a given problem.

3. Decimal Place Value Practice (20 minutes)

• Review Place Value: Use a place value chart to review the names of decimal places (tenths, hundredths, thousandths, etc.).
• Practice Exercises: Distribute worksheets with exercises that require students to identify the place value of digits in decimal numbers.
• Guided Practice: Work through a few examples together, explaining the process step-by-step.
• Independent Practice: Have students work independently on the worksheets.

4. Closure (5 minutes)

• Review Key Points: Summarize the main points of the lesson, emphasizing the importance of non-routine problem-solving strategies and understanding decimal place value.
• Exit Ticket: Assign a short exit ticket to assess students' understanding of the concepts.

Differentiation:

• For Advanced Learners: Present more complex non-routine problems and encourage them to develop their own strategies.
• For Struggling Learners: Provide additional support and manipulatives to help them visualize the problems. Offer simpler decimal place value exercises.

Assessment:

• Observation: Observe students' participation in class discussions and problem-solving activities.
• Worksheet Assessment: Collect and assess completed worksheets.
• Exit Ticket: Analyze students' responses to the exit ticket.

By incorporating non-routine problem-solving and decimal place value into this lesson plan, students will develop critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of number concepts.