Lesson Plan # 1

  1. (15 min) Class Organization

    1. Introductions, seating assignments
    2. Rules, times, when homework is due
    3. Materials student is responsible for
    4. General discussion of what class will cover. The second class per week later and the olympiad.

  2. (15 min) Diagnostic Quiz (24 questions to find out what students already know)
    Scoring rubric for the diagnostic quiz:
    • 0-3 points: a student that does not belong in this class. Does not know multiplication tables.
      (Did not complete the Math Pak)
    • 4-5 points: a student that will need lots of help and must apply him/herself diligently to succeed.
    • 6-10 points: standard student. Most students score in this range.
    • 11-15 points: a superior student. Grasps most concepts taught in the Math Pak.
    • 16-20 points: a student that knows much of the first 10 lessons of this course.
    • 21-24 points: I've only seen one of these. A student that could use a more challenging course.

  3. (10 min) Discussion of Decimal addition and subtraction

    1. Explain decimal numbers (follow unit 12 of the Math Pak) use only the first 3 examples.)
      Explain that decimals are numbers that contain a decimal point, like:
      
      1.5    2.8    .2    3.14    66.66
      The number to the left of the decimal point is an ordinary number. The number to the right of the decimal is the "tenths" digit and tells you the number of 1/10 ths that are added to the whole number.
      So, 1.5 is the same as the mixed number 1 and 5/10
      2.8 is the same as the mixed number 2 and 8/10
      and .2 is the fraction 2/10 or 1/5
      If there are 2 numbers to the right of the decimal point then both of them are the number of "hundredths" (1/100's) to be added to the whole number, so...
      3.14 is the same as 3 14/100. or, in money,
      $3 dollars and 14 cents.
    2. Explain decimal addition and subtraction. Explain lining up the decimals and adding zeroes. Use these board examples:
      
           4.2     5.                       .02    66.6
          +3.5    + .2   <==add zeroes==> +1.6   + 88.
          -----  ------                   -----   ------
      
      
       
          3.8      4.93  <== let students tell ==> 145.    58.2  
         -1.6     -1.8       you where to write   -   .04 -19.9
         -----    -----      the second number    ------- ------
      
      
  4. (Remainder of class) Hand out homework. Let students start working in class.