Guess and Check Lesson Plan

  1. (5 min) Mental Math
    1. How many ways can I reorder the letters in the word "WORK"? [24]
    2. What is three fourths of one half? [3/8]
    3. Multiply 3/8 by 1/2 [3/16]
    4. Start with 22, add 44, then divide by 6 [11]
    5. Which is larger, 1/4 or .26? [.26]
  2. (10 minutes) Pass out the Guess and Check handout and follow the discussion there, including the example. Draw the sample on the board and ask for help with successive guesses.
  3. (15 minutes) In-class exercise - page 1:
    Pass out the in-class exercise sheet (both sheets). Give them 15 minutes to solve the three problems on the first sheet. Go around and make sure all students are making progress. Help those who are 'stuck' or going the wrong way.
  4. (5 minutes) Have a student go to the board and solve one of the problems in this exercise. Before class, draw a table on the board with the appropriate number of columns, but don't put the labels on the columns!
  5. (5 minutes) In-class exercise - page 2:
    Have a student (not the same student) go to the board and solve one of the problems on the second page. This time, have the student make their own table on the board and label it.
  6. (As time permits) Have another student go to the board to solve another problem of the second in-class exercise.
  7. Pass out homework as they finish the in-class.