Compare whole numbers up to the millions that are represented in standard form, words, expanded form, and expanded form with words in this 3 part problem-solving lesson. First, your students are guided through the process of representing and comparing multi-digit whole numbers. Next, they compare numbers found in real world contexts (i.e. House listings, lotteries). A bonus activity of using an atlas to research and compare world facts is included.

New Ontario Curriculum Expectations:

B1.1

read and represent whole numbers up to and including one million, using appropriate tools and strategies, and describe various ways they are used in everyday life

This problem solving approach provides students with the opportunities to apply reasoning skills, select tools, problem solving and computational strategies, create a variety of representations of mathematical ideas, communicate and defend their ideas, and reflect on and monitor their thinking.

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WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Tips Sheet: This detailed guide will provide you with a break down of each part of the lesson . This includes how much time is allocated, what the students and teacher role is, and a list of guiding questions that the teacher could ask students in order to clarify their thinking.

• Problem Solving Checklist: An optional problem solving checklist has been included for your students to use to self assess their work.

• Getting Started: Your students will be lead through a quick warm up activity to activate prior knowledge, review concepts, or practice a skill necessary for the problem solving task.

• Working On It: Rich problem solving tasks in which students complete with a partner, in a small group, or individually.

• Reflect and Connect: This is a list of things the teacher needs to highlight while students present and share their solutions to the Working On It task. It includes a list of guiding questions to ask while students present solutions to their work. It also includes a list of problem solving strategies that could be identified in the presenting group's or individual's work. This sheet also demonstrates how to effectively display student work in the classroom so that strategies can easily be referenced during other problem solving opportunities.

• Exit Ticket: These problem solving tasks are similar to the one students worked on during the Working On It part of the lesson. Each student will complete the exit ticket independently using the strategies they reviewed in the Reflect and Connect phase. This work is used for assessment purposes and allows the teacher to identify common misconceptions or areas of need. It is also a great opportunity for the teacher to provide individualized descriptive feedback that is directly related to the criteria on the problem solving checklist.

• Bonus Activity: Integrate math and social studies/ geography with this activity. This activity is designed to have students locate and compare world facts up to 1 billion. These facts include mountain heights, length of rivers, land area, and population of different places. This gives them an idea of the physical and human geography of different regions and allows them to strengthen their ability to compare large whole numbers in real world contexts.

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OTHER MATH ACTIVITIES BY BLUE SKY SCHOLASTICS:

• Place Value Mysteries - 3 Part Problem Solving Lesson, The Price is Right Games
• Adding Whole Numbers and Checking for Reasonableness Problem Solving Lesson
• Adding Decimals and Estimating - 3 Part Lesson - Problem Solving Activities
• Comparing Whole Numbers up to 6 or 7 digits - Greater than, Less than
• Math Problem Solving Strategy Stations - Developing Problem Solving Skills

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