Our class had 2 incubators full of eggs. On day 21, our chicks began to hatch. In incubator #1, 1/3 of the eggs hatched. There were 2 chicks. How many eggs were in the incubator before hatching? How many eggs did not hatch from incubator #1 on day 21? We had more eggs in incubator #2. On day 21, 1/2 of the 18 eggs hatched. How many chicks hatched from incubator #2? How many eggs did not hatch? How many eggs did we have in both incubators? How many eggs hatched on day 21? More should still hatch! 1 of 9
Suggested Grade Span K 2 Task Our class had 2 incubators full of eggs. On day 21, our chicks began to hatch. In incubator #1, 1/3 of the eggs hatched. There were 2 chicks. How many eggs were in the incubator before hatching? How many eggs did not hatch from incubator #1 on day 21? We had more eggs in incubator #2. On day 21, 1/2 of the 18 eggs hatched. How many chicks hatched from incubator #2? How many eggs did not hatch? How many eggs did we have in both incubators? How many eggs hatched on day 21? More should still hatch! Alternative Versions of Task More Accessible Version Our class had 2 incubators full of eggs. On day 21, our chicks began to hatch. In incubator #1, 1/2 of the eggs hatched. There were 2 chicks. How many eggs were in the incubator before hatching? How many eggs did not hatch from incubator #1 on day 21? We had more eggs in incubator #2. On day 21, 1/2 of the 18 eggs hatched. How many chicks hatched from incubator #2? How many eggs did not hatch? How many eggs did we have in both incubators? How many eggs hatched on day 21? More should still hatch! 2 of 9
More Challenging Version Our class had 2 incubators full of eggs. On day 21, our chicks began to hatch. In incubator #1, 2/7 of the eggs hatched. There were 2 chicks. How many eggs were in the incubator before hatching? How many eggs did not hatch from incubator #1 on day 21? We had more eggs in incubator #2. On day 21, 1/6 of the 18 eggs hatched. How many chicks hatched from incubator #2? How many eggs did not hatch? How many eggs did we have in both incubators? How many eggs hatched on day 21? More should still hatch! Context Each spring, as part of a unit on family life and animals, we hatch frogs, salamanders and chicks. This task applies the real experience of eggs hatching to mathematics to see if children can apply learned skills in computation and fractions to problem solving. What This Task Accomplishes This task assesses children s knowledge of fractions and their ability to use answers generated in the first two sections of the problem to solve the final two questions. Time Required for Task Children required a half hour to a full hour to complete this task. Interdisciplinary Links This task was just a small part of more than a month-long unit on eggs, family, farm and spring that covers all curriculum areas. In social studies, we study animal families; in science, we study frogs, salamanders and chicks; in health, we study family life and caring for a family; and in language arts, we do a lot of reading, writing and discussing. Mathematics was integrated into the unit as we studied fractions, graphing and place value. 3 of 9
Teaching Tips Children will apply fractional understandings to solve the problem; addition or counting skills and reasoning will also be required. Most children needed to draw pictures to interpret the task, and some were able to use a combination of pictures and numbers to obtain a solution. We worked with fractions, using both divisions of an object and fair shares as we divided up small objects into equal-size groups. We worked with plasticine and small plastic knives to cut circles and squares into equal pieces. It was great hands-on work! We practiced writing fractions, counting and place value so that we were able to write numbers to 100 and beyond. In actually doing the problem, I read the task to the class and allowed questions to ensure that readability was not a factor in successfully solving the problem. Suggested Materials Small manipulatives to represent chicks and eggs Pencils Paper Possible Solutions The correct solution is four eggs in incubator #1 did not hatch on day 21, and six eggs were in the incubator before hatching. In incubator #2, nine chicks hatched, and nine did not hatch. There were 24 eggs in all the incubators. On day 21, eleven had hatched. More Accessible Version Solution Our class had two incubators full of eggs. On day 21, our chicks began to hatch. In incubator #1, one-half of the eggs hatched. There were two chicks. How many eggs were in the incubator before hatching? 4 How many eggs did not hatch from incubator #1 on day 21? 2 We had more eggs in incubator #2. On day 21, one-half of the 18 eggs hatched. How many chicks hatched from incubator #2? 9 How many eggs did not hatch? 9 How many eggs did we have in both incubators? 22 How many eggs hatched on day 21? 11 4 of 9
More Challenging Version Solution Our class had two incubators full of eggs. On day 21, our chicks began to hatch. In incubator #1, two-sevenths of the eggs hatched. There were two chicks. How many eggs were in the incubator before hatching? 7 How many eggs did not hatch from incubator #1 on day 21? 5 We had more eggs in incubator #2. On day 21, one-sixth of the 18 eggs hatched. How many chicks hatched from incubator #2? 3 How many eggs did not hatch? 15 How many eggs did we have in both incubators? 25 How many eggs hatched on day 21? 5 More should still hatch!! Task-Specific Assessment Notes Novice The Novice will know that the problem is about eggs and chicks, but will not fully understand the task. No fractional numbers will be used, and no answers to any parts of the task will be indicated. Apprentice The Apprentice will have some parts of the task correct. S/he will show some understanding of fractions but will not be able to combine the information from the first two sets of questions to determine a solution to the last part. Some math language will be used, and some reasoning will be apparent. Practitioner The Practitioner will have correct solutions to all parts of the task, demonstrating accurate understanding of fractions. Number sentences will be used to communicate, and some fractional notation may also be used. All work will be shown, and the Novice will exhibit correct reasoning throughout. Expert The Expert will have correct solutions to all parts of the task and will demonstrate a comfort with using fractions. The Expert s approach and reasoning will be explained, and accurate math language and notation will be used. Mathematically relevant comments and observations will also be made about the solution. 5 of 9
Novice 6 of 9
Apprentice 7 of 9
Practitioner 8 of 9
Expert 9 of 9