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Working Backwards with Formulas - How do I undo a formula?
Lesson 4 of 18
Objective: Students will be able to determine unknown dimensions when given the area or circumference of a known figure.
Big Idea: It’s more fun to go in reverse, just ask Mater! This lesson requires students to manipulate formulas to solve for unknown values.
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Launch
Opener: As students enter the room, they will immediately begin working on the opener. See my Instructional Strategy - Process for openers clip for more information on how I run openers! This portion of the lesson is a good way to incorporate mathematical practice 3, critiquing the reasoning of others.
Learning Target: After completion of the opener, I will address the day’s learning targets to the students. In today’s lesson, the intended target is, “I can determine unknown dimensions when given the area or circumference of a known figure.”
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Explore
Working Backwards with Formulas Notes: I will begin the lesson by passing out the notes sheet, and drawing their attention to the first example problem. The first example is a basic formula, and should pull from their prior knowledge of working with formulas in 6th grade. I will ask that students discuss the question with their table groups, and raise their hand to share out only when they can share an equation – not just an answer. During their discussion, I will walk around the room to hear the various conversations taking place. I will take a volunteer to come to the board to work out the first example, and then I will ask that they discuss the next example, following the same procedures they used in the first example. I again will monitor progress by listening in on table conversations, and will ask for another volunteer to work out the second example.
Table Practice: Following the second example, I will ask that tables work together to complete the remaining five example exercises – using their knowledge from the first two examples to guide them. I will set the timer for 8 minutes, and then I will call on tables to work and verbally explain the problems at the board. Students will need to pay close attention to precision, MP 6, when working backwards with formulas, as the incorrect inverse operation could lead them astray!
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Summarize
Instructional Strategy - How do table challenges work?: As a way to assess student progress with the concepts learned this week, I will conduct a table challenge using the Smart Clickers. I will not be offering any assistance during this time, giving students an opportunity to grapple with the mathematics, MP 1. At the conclusion of the activity I will reward the top scoring group(s). Students will be regrouped for tomorrow’s lesson based on results and teacher observation during the clicker activity. After the clickers, I will summarize the lesson by posing the question, “How can I find unknown side lengths when given the area or circumference of a figure?” We will discuss as a group.
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- UNIT 1: Introduction to Mathematical Practices
- UNIT 2: Proportional Reasoning
- UNIT 3: Percents
- UNIT 4: Operations with Rational Numbers
- UNIT 5: Expressions
- UNIT 6: Equations
- UNIT 7: Geometric Figures
- UNIT 8: Geometric Measurement
- UNIT 9: Probability
- UNIT 10: Statistics
- UNIT 11: Culminating Unit: End of Grade Review
- LESSON 1: Relationship Between Circumference and Diameter - What is pi?
- LESSON 2: Circumference and Area of Circles
- LESSON 3: Area of Irregular Figures - How do you break up a figure?
- LESSON 4: Working Backwards with Formulas - How do I undo a formula?
- LESSON 5: 2D Figures - Review Time!
- LESSON 6: Composite Figures and Circles Test
- LESSON 7: Intro to 3D Figures and Cross-Sections - What shape do you see?
- LESSON 8: Volume of Prisms - How are base area and volume of a prism related?
- LESSON 9: Volume of Square Pyramids - What is the relationship between and prism and pyramid?
- LESSON 10: Volume of Prisms and Pyramids Fluency Practice
- LESSON 11: Surface Area of a Rectangular Prism - What shapes do you see?
- LESSON 12: Surface Area of a Triangular Prism - What shape is the base?
- LESSON 13: Surface Area of Triangular and Rectangular Prisms Fluency Practice
- LESSON 14: Surface Area of a Square Pyramid - What shapes are the faces?
- LESSON 15: Volume and Surface Area of Prisms and Pyramids Fluency Practice
- LESSON 16: Volume and Surface Area Review
- LESSON 17: 2D and 3D Volume and Area Test
- LESSON 18: Surface Area and Volume Centers -5 Days of Enrichment and/or Remediation