Clip 1/41: Standard 3: Construct Arguments & Critiques Using Base Ten Part 2

Mathematically proficient students understand and use stated assumptions, definitions, and previously established results in constructing arguments. They make conjectures and build a logical progression of statements to explore the truth of their conjectures...They justify their conclusions, communicate them to others, and respond to the arguments of others. Elementary students can construct arguments using concrete referents such as objects, drawings, diagrams, and actions. Such arguments can make sense and be correct, even though they are not generalized or made formal until later grades. Students at all grades can listen or read the arguments of others, decide whether they make sense, and ask useful questions to clarify or improve the arguments.

Liz O'Neill works with her first grade students engaging them in composing and decomposing numbers within twenty. Using sentence frames, students shared with their partner responses to two warm-up activities engaging them with the content. A variety of solving strategies were discussed as a whole group after everyone had a chance to share with their partner. Her students then were given a bag with 10 cubes, a paper plate, and the "How Many Are Hiding Recording Sheet." In addition, sentence frames were posted on the board so students could produce academic language using structured student talk and convince their partners with oral justification. During the game, one partner takes some of the cubes and "hides" them under the plate. The remaining are placed on the top. The second partner uses sentence frames to answer the questions "What number do you see?", "How many are hiding?", "How do you know # are hiding"? In addition, the answers are recorded. Roles are then reversed. The partner game gives students practice in composing and decomposing numbers within ten.

See this video in the context of an entire lesson.

(Parts 2-3)