Hands-On Problem Solving, Grade 2: A Minds-On Approach

by Jennifer E. Lawson, Susan Atcheson, Pat Steuart (Contribution by), Dayna Quinn-LaFleche (Contribution by), Denise MacRae (Contribution by)

Overview

Hands-On Problem Solving is essential to learning mathematics. When actively engaged in problem solving, students use all the mathematical processes they need in order to achieve the goals of mathematics education and to support lifelong learning. In Hands-On Problem Solving, students are exposed to a wide range of problems in all areas of mathematics. They solve these problems by applying a combination of mathematical knowledge, tools, and strategies. They also explore a variety of methods for solving and confirming their solutions.

The ability to use mathematical knowledge to solve problems is the goal for all students. Hands-On Problem Solving is an easy-to-use resource that helps teachers plan and implement best practices to meet this goal. In this book, you will find

• problem-solving activities to incorporate into daily mathematics classes for an entire school year
• a correlation chart identifying the math concepts presented in each lesson
• tasks designed for specific outcomes and learning expectations from Canadian curriculum documents
• problems integrating other curricular areas such as language arts, science, and social studies
• materials lists, reproducibles, assessment suggestions, and much more!

Download the FREE digital resources that accompany this book by following the instructions printed on the first page of the Appendix.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781553793458
Publisher:	Portage & Main Press
Publication date:	07/12/2012
Series:	Hands-On Problem Solving Series , #2
Edition description:	Canada-Wide ed.
Pages:	298
Product dimensions:	11.00(w) x 8.50(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Jennifer E. Lawson, PhD, is the creator of the Hands-On books published by Portage & Main Press. As senior writer and editor for the series, she has contributed to more than 50 publications for teachers and students. Jennifer provides professional development workshops for educators locally, nationally, and virtually, and is a Workplace Wellness Advisor. Her most recent book is a collective effort called Teacher, Take Care: A Guide to Well-Being and Workplace Wellness for Educators. She is also one of the founders of Mission to Mexico, an organization that supports schools in some of the most impoverished communities in Puerto Vallarta. Throughout her extensive career in education, Jennifer has worked as a classroom teacher, resource and special education teacher, consultant, principal, university instructor, and school trustee. She lives with her family in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Susan Atcheson, BSc in psychology, BEd, PBCE, certificate in special education, is a resource teacher in the St. James-Assiniboia School Division in Winnipeg, Manitoba. As an educator for the past 30 years, Susan has worked as a classroom teacher with children with learning disabilities, as a resource teacher at both the elementary and middle-years levels, and as a tutor for adult education. Susan believes in creating learning environments for children that engage and support curiosity and imagination while developing strong academic and social skills.

Pat Steuart, BEd, is an elementary school teacher who has taught all subjects in primary grades 1 to 4. She currently teaches a multiage/grades 1–3 classroom. Pat believes in an activity-based approach to teaching and providing opportunities for students to share and discuss their solutions and ideas. She has taught courses in the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba. She resides in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Dayna Quinn-LaFleche, BEd, is the K–4 math and math-intervention teacher at Rosser Elementary School in the Interlake School Division in Rosser, Manitoba. She believes that students learn best through hands-on activities or experiences, and that when they make connections from the curriculum to real life, genuine education happens. She lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Denise MacRae, BHEc, EdCert, is a former primary school teacher who taught nursery to grade 3 for 29 years in the inner city of Winnipeg. She currently works as a faculty advisor for the University of Manitoba. She lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Table of Contents

Introduction to Hands-On Problem Solving, Grade 2 1

• Program Introduction 2
• Program Principles 2
• Big Ideas in Mathematics 2
• Communication 2
• Connections 3
• Mental Math 3
• Estimation 3
• Reasoning 4
• Technology 4
• Visualization 4
• Problem Solving 5
• What Is Problem Solving? 5
• Best Practices in Teaching Problem Solving 5
• Routine Problems 5
• Non-Routine Problems 6
• Extended Exploration Problems 7
• Implementing the Hands-On Problem-Solving Program 7
• Program Format 7
• Planning Your Year of Problem Solving 7
• Curricular Connections 8
• Supporting Literacy During Problem Solving 8
• The Questioning Process 8
• Additional Resources 8
• A Note About Pennies 8
• Reproducible to Guide and Support Learning – Problem Solving 10
• Mathematics Correlation 11
• Grade 2 Correlation Chart 11

The Hands-On Problem Solving Assessment Plan 13

• Assessment for Learning 13
• Assessment as Learning 13
• Assessment of Learning 14
• Performance Assessment 14
• Portfolios 14
• Assessment Reproducibles 16

Routine Problems 25

• Implementation of Routine Problems 26
• Problem Types 26
• Teaching Routine Problems 27
  • 1A Sarah Builds an Inuksuk 32
  • 2A Miranda Bakes Pumpkin Pies to Sell at the Farmers’ Market 34
  • 3A Coins in Your Pocket 36
  • 4A Lance Paints His Face 38
  • 5A Remembrance Day Poppies 40
  • 6A Hannah Puts Stamps on Greeting Cards 43
  • 7A Tom Collects Hockey Pucks 45
  • 8A Cinnamon Hearts on Valentine’s Day Cookies 47
  • 9A Colin Collects Stickers 49
  • 10A Collections of 100 Items 51
  • 1A Serena Collects Coins 54
  • 12A Choir Practice at Recess 56
  • 13A Touring the Bluenose II 58
  • 14A How Much Water? 60
  • 15A Washing the Dishes 62
  • 16A Pennies in a Boat 65
  • 17A How Many Hockey Sticks? 67
  • 18A Titanium or Aluminum? 69
  • 19A Jill Colours a Caterpillar 71
  • 20A Tommy’s Tuba Pattern 73
  • 21A A Pattern With Nickels 75
  • 22A How Many Seals? 78
  • 23A Ring-Toss Pattern 80
  • 24A Celebrating Manitoba Day 82
  • 25A Getting in Shape 84
  • 26A Walter the Whooping Crane 86
  • 27A A Picnic Problem 88
  • 28A Measuring Fish 90
  • 29A Building a Stool 92
  • 30A Drawing Pentagons 94
  • 31A Sorting Road Signs 96
  • 32A Counting Balls 99
  • 33A Surveying Classmates About Spiders 101
  • 34A Counting Teeth Lost 103
  • 35A Making Wind Devices 106
  • 36A How Many Donuts? 109
  • 37A Favourite Birthday Cake 111
  • 38A Rebecca’s Family Recycling 113
  • 39A Green Eggs and Ham 115
  • 40A Dogs at Stanley’s Party 119

Non-Routine Problems 123

• Implementation of Non-Routine Problems 124
• Teaching Non-Routine Problems 127
• An Additional Resource for Solving Non-Routine Problems 129
• Reproducible to Guide and Support Learning – Non-Routine Problems 130
  • 1B Collecting Plastic Bags 131
  • 2B Sharing Gummy Bears 133
  • 3B Coins in Cups 135
  • 4B Number of the Day 138
  • 5B Do Aliens Play Hopscotch? 141
  • 6B Making a Birthday-Cake Glyph 144
  • 7B A Venn Diagram for Hockey 150
  • 8B A Heart Pattern 153
  • 9B Evaporating Water 155
  • 10B Which Stickers Are Stars? 157
  • 11B Soccer Target Hit 160
  • 12B How Old Are Vihn’s Grandparents? 163
  • 13B What Number Am I? 166
  • 14B Figuring Out the Cost of Stickers 168
  • 15B Side-by-Side at the Movies 170
  • 16B Buying Snacks 172
  • 17B Number Sums Puzzler 1 176
  • 18B Which Coins Do Amber and Julia Have? 179
  • 19B How Old Are Lizzie and Lana? 182
  • 20B Ricardo’s Baseball Jersey 184
  • 21B Choosing a New Mouth Guard 186
  • 22B A Golden Boy Model 190
  • 23B Jeremiah and Chase Go Ice Fishing 192
  • 24B Stone Soup 194
  • 25B Coins in Mason’s Pocket 196
  • 26B Number Sums Puzzler 2 198
  • 27B Numbers on Model Race Cars 200
  • 28B Monkeys Stealing Caps 202
  • 29B Collections of 100 Things 204
  • 30B Five Coins in the Piggybank 207
  • 31B Months Mystery 209
  • 32B Diorama Challenge 212
  • 33B Mystery of the Missing Numbers 214
  • 34B Favourite Cupcakes 216
  • 35B Number Riddle 218
  • 36B Making a Funny Monster 220
  • 37B Counting Hairy Spider Legs 226
  • 38B Getting Mortimer to Sleep 229
  • 39B Pouring Liquids Down a Ramp 231 4
  • 0B Number Sums Puzzler 3 233

Extended Exploration Problems 235

• Implementation of Extended Exploration Problems 236
• Teaching Extended Exploration Problems 236
• Reproducible to Guide and Support Learning – Extended Explorations 240
  • 1C The Terry Fox Run 241
  • 2C Visit to a Local Food Bank 244
  • 3C An Invitation to Moira’s Birthday 246
  • 4C What’s in a Name? 248
  • 5C LEGO Graphing 250
  • 6C Quilt Pattern 253
  • 7C Makeup Mess 258
  • 8C A Glooscap Legend 263
  • 9C 10 Is the Most Amazing Number! 267
  • 10C A Gallery Walk of Masterpieces 270

Appendix 279

References 290

About the Authors 292