Current Math Focus

We have started exploring patterns in grade 4/5.  The links attached below provide 'Sum it Up' pages for each lesson in the Math Up unit. THESE LINKS EXPIRE IN 14 DAYS and will NOT be reposted so you may want to print up the pages now. I will not be sending paper copies home.  They are not intended for student instruction but rather to provide the educator (or parent-educator) with key ideas to support learning throughout the unit.   

Grade 4:

We began our unit in grade 4 by exploring repeating patterns and identifying the core in a repeating pattern. Students are learning how to predict terms in patterns by using the core. For example, the pattern ABABABAB has a core of AB.  Using our knowledge of the core we can predict that the 20th term will be a B.  If you wish to explore more about the lessons to come, check out the 'Sum it Up' pages by clicking on the links below.

Gr.4 Exploring Repeating Patterns, Gr. 4 Exploring Growing Patterns, Gr. 4 Exploring Shrinking Patterns, Gr. 4 Applying Pattern Rules, Gr. 4 Identifying Pattern Rules

Grade 5: 

In grade 5 our first lesson was about growing patterns. In this lesson we explored shape patterns and connected them to number patterns. We also learned that one term in a pattern could be a whole design with shapes. There is less focus in grade 5 on repeating patterns and increased focus on describing patterns and expressing them in a table of values.  

Gr. 5 Exploring Shape Patterns

Gr. 5 Using a Table of Values to Describe Patterns

Gr. 5 - Creating and Using Pattern Rules

We continue to explore mental math strategies in our regular number talks in grade 4/5 and apply these strategies to all of our math activities. Last week we were practicing skip-counting forwards and backwards by ANY number using benchmark/friendly numbers. Some examples of benchmark/friendly numbers are 5's, 10's, 100's, 1000's, etc.  Students should see patterns in their counting and be able to identify where the digits will change in a larger number. For example, if coutning forwards by 1000's, the change is taking place in the thousands place value spot......3670, 4670, 5670, 6670......and so on.  

Students continue to be encouraged to continue to practice their basic math facts at home including addition and subtraction facts, multiplication and division facts.  Quick recall of math facts is essential at the grade 4/5 level.