Direct Instruction Lesson Plan

Lesson Title: Estimating sums and differences

Targeted Grade Level: 4th Grade

Academic Subject: Mathematics

Lesson Goals:

With Direct Instruction, students will be able to develop a clearer understanding of

estimating sums and difference when rounding whole numbers. We will be taking
more of a scaffolding approach and students will begin by working with me, we will
do a group/partner activity and a solo final assignment.

Grade 4 TEKS: Mathematics

(C) select tools, including real objects, manipulatives, paper and pencil, and
technology as appropriate, and techniques, including mental math, estimation, and
number sense as appropriate, to solve problems;

(2) Number and operations. The student applies mathematical process standards
to represent, compare, and order whole numbers and decimals and understand
relationships related to place value.

Lesson Objectives:

 Round whole numbers to estimate sums and differences.

 If students do not need an exact answer, they will use place value to round
numbers to find the sums and differences.

Materials/Resources Needed:

 http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/math/numbers/nestimate-
whole-numbers.htm
 Paper
 Pencils

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  Whiteboard
 Smartboard if available
 Number line worksheet
 Estimating sums and differences worksheet


Lesson Components:

Students will cut and paste these notes in their math subject.

I will start by using the following website to help us as a class warm up and work on
rounding and place value.
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/math/numbers/nestimate-whole-
numbers.htm

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Depending on class length this should take about 15-20 minutes.

In groups or partners students will complete the following. During this time the
instructor or teacher aide can assist students who are struggling to understand.
This is also a good opportunity to pair some students with those that struggle to get
a peer teaching lesson. We will go over and check our answers as a class.

Possible Questions:

1.  What place are you rounding to?

2.  What two numbers does this number fall between when counting
by tens?
3.  By looking at the number line, is this number closer to the number
on the left or on the right?
4.  What do the rules of rounding tell you to do?
5.  When you round the underlined digit, what happens to the
numbers behind it?

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 Evaluation:

As a final evaluation and grade on 100-point scale students will test over the
following worksheet. Students may use their number line worksheet for help. The
rubric will consist of the following: Are the proper sequence of steps being
followed, correct rounding, correct addition and subtraction leading to the final
correct answer.

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