Exploring Equal-Sized Groups (Large Group)
Purpose: Develop understanding of equal-sized groups by describing equal grouping tasks
Description: Students explore equal groups to help them develop the initial idea that equal-sized groups have the same number of items.
What To Say and Do
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1
Display a collection of equal-sized groups (e.g., 4 cards with 2 dots on each card).
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2
After telling the students the total number of dots, ask them to reflect on the quantity within each group and the ways in which the groups compare. Consider prompts such as:
- What do you notice about how the dots are organized/arranged?
- What can you tell me about these cards?
- How many dots are there on each card?
- How many cards are there?
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3
Continue with a new collection of equal-sized groups, fostering continued conversation to develop an understanding of equal groups.
Variations
Display groups where one of the groups contains one more or one less item than the others (e.g., three groups of 3 and one group of 4). Ask questions such as:
- Are all the groups equal in size?
- How do you know they are/are not equal size groups?
- How can we make them of equal size?
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