:Girls and Boys
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Approach: One to one
Level: Year 4
Focus: Solving number problems using physical objects. 
Resources: Two cue cards, 5 tens rods, 15 ones cubes, recording book.
108KB
Questions / instructions:

Show cue card 1: Room 1 – 26 children


Room 1 at Tupai School has 26 children.

Place 5 rods and 15 cubes in front of the student.

Room 1

26 children

 

 

% responses
2001 ('97)
y4
1. Can you show me 26 using these rods and cubes?
arranged 2 tens rods and 6 ones cubes
92 (89)
2. Is it possible that there could be the same number of girls as boys in that class?
Prompt: If the student says “no”, ask why?
yes, initially
70 (63)
yes
8 (10)
3. Use the rods and cubes to show me how many boys and how many girls there would be in Room 1 if there was the same number of girls as boys.
Prompt: You could use two of the tens rods and six of the ones cubes.
arranged 2 groups of 1 tens rod and 3 ones cubes
79 (76)
4. Now tell me how many girls there are, and how many boys there are.
13
80 (73)

Room 2

32 children

 


Put all of the rods and cubes back together.       

Show cue card 2: Room 2 – 32 children.


Room 2 at Tupai School has 32 children.
 
5. Can you show me 32 using the rods and cubes?
arranged 3 tens rods and 2 ones cubes
91 (88)
arranged 2 tens rods and 12 ones cubes
3 (4)
6. Could there be the same number of girls as boys in that class?
Prompt: If the student says “no”, ask why?
yes, initially
56 (49)
yes
6 (8)
7. Use the rods and cubes to show me how many girls and how many boys there would be in Room 2 if there was the same number of girls as boys.
arranged 2 groups of 1 tens rod and 6 ones cubes
55 (43)
8. Now tell me how many girls there are, and how many boys there are.
16
61(46)
Commentary:
The year 4 students enjoyed high success with this task until they were required to rename from tens to ones in part 7. The 2001 students had a small but consistent advantage over the 1997 students in parts 1 to 6, and a larger advantage in parts 7 and 8.
 
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