Donuts and Decimals

Lesson Content

• Lesson Plan Template:

  Model Eliciting Activity (MEA)

• Formative Assessment

  
  
  • See the Readiness Questions.
  • Before starting this activity, the teacher should ensure that students have the requisite prior knowledge needed to be successful (ability to convert fractions into decimals and compare decimals to hundredths). The teacher can write practice problems on the board, and students can hold up whiteboards with the solutions on them. This will allow the teacher to address any misconceptions noticed.

• Feedback to Students

  
  
  • Students can receive feedback from the teacher throughout the lesson as they brainstorm with their groups.
  • The teacher should clarify questions for students during group discussions.
  • After the students write the letters to the client, the teacher can give feedback regarding their solutions, including how to improve their responses.
  • The students will receive a final grade based on the rubric as further feedback.

• Summative Assessment

  
  
  • The teacher will determine if the students have reached the learning targets for this resource throughout the group discussion time, especially when asking the comprehension questions.
  • The students' math should be checked by the teacher to make sure they understood the math concept.
  • The students will receive a grade based on the attached rubric after the completion of this MEA.

• Learning Objectives

  
  

  The students will:

  • use decimal notation for fractions
  • compare decimals to hundredths by reasoning about their size while solving a real-world problem
  • write an opinion piece to support their opinions with text-based evidence, and demonstrate the ability to introduce a topic clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure

• Prior Knowledge

  
  

  The students should have prior knowledge about:

  • place value of tenths and hundredths
  • how to represent fractions with denominators of 10 ands 100 in decimal notation
  • how to represent decimals in tenths and hundredths as fractions
  • the definition of a numerator and denominator

• Instructional Suggestions

  
  

  Day One:

  • Before beginning this MEA, please give the students the Formative Assessment to make sure students have the required prior knowledge.
  • Use the data from the Formative Assessment to form groups so that students who scored lower are grouped with peers who can help support them.
  • Students will read Reading Passage 1 and answer the guiding/reflection questions asked by the teacher.
  • Students will work in small groups to analyze Data Set 1. Students will develop a process for deciding which option is best for the client.
  • Students will write a letter in response to Reading Passage 1, using the information in Data Set 1 to support their process.
  • The teacher circulates to each team and asks the Reflection Questions, giving feedback to students.

  Day Two:

  • Students will read Reading Passage 2 and answer the guiding/reflection questions asked by the teacher.
  • Students will work in small groups to analyze Data Set 2.
  • Students will decide if the same process from yesterday still works with the new data, in addition to deciding if their choice from yesterday is still the best option.
  • Students will write a letter in response to Reading Passage 2, using the information in Data Set 2 to support their process.
  • The teacher circulates to each team and asks the Reflection Question, giving feedback to students.
  • Students will take the Summative Assessment.

• Guiding/reflective Questions

  
  
  • What is the most important section of Data Set 1?
  • What is the least important section of Data Set 1?
  • Will your solution work with a different situation?
  • When will your procedure not work?
  • Do you agree or disagree with your classmates' solutions? Why or why not?

• Reading Passage 1

  
  

  Donuts and Decimals Letter 1

• Readiness Questions

  
  
  • What problem do you need to solve? (Answer: Which donut is the best option for this donut shop.)
  • Who is the client? (Answer: Delightful Donuts.)
  • What information will you use to solve the problem? (Answer: Data Set)
  • How will you use math to solve the problem? (Answer: Convert the fractions into decimals, then compare the decimals to hundredths.)
  • How will you present your answer? (Answer: Write a letter using the letter template.)

• Data Set 1

  
  

  Donuts and Decimals Data Set 1

• Letter Template 1

  
  

  Donuts and Decimals Letter Template 1

• Comprehension/readiness questions

  
  
  • What is the most important part of the data set when making your decision? 
  • How much does the "Comments" sections affect your choice? Why? 
  • What difficulties have you had when making your choice?

• Reading Passage 2

  
  

  Donuts and Decimals Letter 2

• Data Set 2

  
  

  Donuts and Decimals Data Set 2

• Letter Template 2

  
  

  Donuts and Decimals Letter Template 2

• Additional Instructions or Materials

  
  

  Image from Microsoft Office Clipart.

• Reflection question 2

  
  
  • What is the most important section of Data Set 2?
  • What is the least important section of Data Set 2?
  • Did you change your procedure after receiving the new data set? Why or why not?
  • Did you change your choice for the best donut for the donut shop after receiving the new information? Why or why not?