Teaching pack: Finding Unknowns in Number Sentences (Year 4) -- a week of maths lessons

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Teaching pack · Year 4 Algebraseegongsik /au

Finding Unknowns in Number Sentences: a week of ready-to-teach maths

Five days of lessons for Year 4 Algebra. Print this pack and the week is prepared.

AC9M4A01

find unknown values in numerical equations involving addition and subtraction, using the properties of numbers and operations

Start here: five minutes to Monday

Skim the week at a glance.
Print the five days (plan + worksheet each).
Cut out the card sheet once.
Open the free interactive unit on your board.
Teach from the plan.

On the board

On-screen pictures: “The balance scale”, “Find the unknown”, “Undo to find it”, “True or false?”, “Which inverse?”.

seegongsik.com/au/y4/algebra/AC9M4A01

Aligned to Australian Curriculum V9 (AC9M4A01). Original material from seegongsik. Descriptors (c) ACARA, CC BY 4.0.

The week at a glance5 lessons

The week at a glance

One lesson a day. Run them in order where you can.

Day	Lesson	Children learn and do	On screen
1	The balance scale	Practise the idea with talk, board and worksheet	Board: The balance scale
2	Find the unknown	Practise the idea with talk, board and worksheet	Board: Find the unknown
3	Undo to find it	Practise the idea with talk, board and worksheet	Board: Undo to find it
4	True or false?	Practise the idea with talk, board and worksheet	Board: True or false?
5	Which inverse?	Practise the idea with talk, board and worksheet	Board: Which inverse?

Materials

This pack printed.
Pencils and the board or projector.
Optional counters or rulers if a day plan names them.

A note home

This week in maths we work on finding unknowns in number sentences. Ask: What did you practise today?

seegongsik.com/au/y4/algebra/AC9M4A01/pack

Day 1 · Teacher planDay 1 of 5

The balance scale

Children practise “The balance scale” with talk, the board picture, and a short worksheet. About 40 minutes.

We are learning to

explain the balance scale in Year 4 words,
use the board picture to check thinking,
record an example on paper.

Success criteria

I can show one example of today’s idea.
I can say the idea in a short sentence.

You need

interactive unit open on “The balance scale”,
worksheet (next sheet), one per child,

Lesson flow (about 40 minutes)

5 min	Warm-up Ask: “What might help us today?”
10 min	On the board Open “The balance scale”. Ask: “What changed on the screen?”
15 min	Worksheet Children complete the day sheet.
10 min	Share Ask: “In one sentence, what was today’s idea?”

On the board

Leave “The balance scale” on screen for the main block.

seegongsik.com/au/y4/algebra/AC9M4A01

Watch for

Skipping the board -- bring them back to the picture.
Correct answer with no explanation -- ask how do you know?

Answers and look-fors

Meeting the idea sounds like a clear sentence about the balance scale.

Day 1 · Worksheet

The balance scale

NameClassDate

Use the board picture. Show your thinking.

1. Draw or write one example from the board.

2. What is the main idea in your words?

3. Make a second example of your own.

I know I am right because

I can teach this idea to a partner:Yes □ No □

Day 2 · Teacher planDay 2 of 5

Find the unknown

Children practise “Find the unknown” with talk, the board picture, and a short worksheet. About 40 minutes.

We are learning to

explain find the unknown in Year 4 words,
use the board picture to check thinking,
record an example on paper.

Success criteria

I can show one example of today’s idea.
I can say the idea in a short sentence.

You need

interactive unit open on “Find the unknown”,
worksheet (next sheet), one per child,

Lesson flow (about 40 minutes)

5 min	Warm-up Ask: “What might help us today?”
10 min	On the board Open “Find the unknown”. Ask: “What changed on the screen?”
15 min	Worksheet Children complete the day sheet.
10 min	Share Ask: “In one sentence, what was today’s idea?”

On the board

Leave “Find the unknown” on screen for the main block.

seegongsik.com/au/y4/algebra/AC9M4A01

Watch for

Skipping the board -- bring them back to the picture.
Correct answer with no explanation -- ask how do you know?

Answers and look-fors

Meeting the idea sounds like a clear sentence about find the unknown.

Day 2 · Worksheet

Find the unknown

NameClassDate

Use the board picture. Show your thinking.

1. Draw or write one example from the board.

2. What is the main idea in your words?

3. Make a second example of your own.

I know I am right because

I can teach this idea to a partner:Yes □ No □

Day 3 · Teacher planDay 3 of 5

Undo to find it

Children practise “Undo to find it” with talk, the board picture, and a short worksheet. About 40 minutes.

We are learning to

explain undo to find it in Year 4 words,
use the board picture to check thinking,
record an example on paper.

Success criteria

I can show one example of today’s idea.
I can say the idea in a short sentence.

You need

interactive unit open on “Undo to find it”,
worksheet (next sheet), one per child,

Lesson flow (about 40 minutes)

5 min	Warm-up Ask: “What might help us today?”
10 min	On the board Open “Undo to find it”. Ask: “What changed on the screen?”
15 min	Worksheet Children complete the day sheet.
10 min	Share Ask: “In one sentence, what was today’s idea?”

On the board

Leave “Undo to find it” on screen for the main block.

seegongsik.com/au/y4/algebra/AC9M4A01

Watch for

Skipping the board -- bring them back to the picture.
Correct answer with no explanation -- ask how do you know?

Answers and look-fors

Meeting the idea sounds like a clear sentence about undo to find it.

Day 3 · Worksheet

Undo to find it

NameClassDate

Use the board picture. Show your thinking.

1. Draw or write one example from the board.

2. What is the main idea in your words?

3. Make a second example of your own.

I know I am right because

I can teach this idea to a partner:Yes □ No □

Day 4 · Teacher planDay 4 of 5

True or false?

Children practise “True or false?” with talk, the board picture, and a short worksheet. About 40 minutes.

We are learning to

explain true or false? in Year 4 words,
use the board picture to check thinking,
record an example on paper.

Success criteria

I can show one example of today’s idea.
I can say the idea in a short sentence.

You need

interactive unit open on “True or false?”,
worksheet (next sheet), one per child,

Lesson flow (about 40 minutes)

5 min	Warm-up Ask: “What might help us today?”
10 min	On the board Open “True or false?”. Ask: “What changed on the screen?”
15 min	Worksheet Children complete the day sheet.
10 min	Share Ask: “In one sentence, what was today’s idea?”

On the board

Leave “True or false?” on screen for the main block.

seegongsik.com/au/y4/algebra/AC9M4A01

Watch for

Skipping the board -- bring them back to the picture.
Correct answer with no explanation -- ask how do you know?

Answers and look-fors

Meeting the idea sounds like a clear sentence about true or false?.

Day 4 · Worksheet

True or false?

NameClassDate

Use the board picture. Show your thinking.

1. Draw or write one example from the board.

2. What is the main idea in your words?

3. Make a second example of your own.

I know I am right because

I can teach this idea to a partner:Yes □ No □

Day 5 · Teacher planDay 5 of 5

Which inverse?

Children practise “Which inverse?” with talk, the board picture, and a short worksheet. About 40 minutes.

We are learning to

explain which inverse? in Year 4 words,
use the board picture to check thinking,
record an example on paper.

Success criteria

I can show one example of today’s idea.
I can say the idea in a short sentence.

You need

interactive unit open on “Which inverse?”,
worksheet (next sheet), one per child,

Lesson flow (about 40 minutes)

5 min	Warm-up Ask: “What might help us today?”
10 min	On the board Open “Which inverse?”. Ask: “What changed on the screen?”
15 min	Worksheet Children complete the day sheet.
10 min	Share Ask: “In one sentence, what was today’s idea?”

On the board

Leave “Which inverse?” on screen for the main block.

seegongsik.com/au/y4/algebra/AC9M4A01

Watch for

Skipping the board -- bring them back to the picture.
Correct answer with no explanation -- ask how do you know?

Answers and look-fors

Meeting the idea sounds like a clear sentence about which inverse?.

Day 5 · Worksheet

Which inverse?

NameClassDate

Use the board picture. Show your thinking.

1. Draw or write one example from the board.

2. What is the main idea in your words?

3. Make a second example of your own.

I know I am right because

I can teach this idea to a partner:Yes □ No □

Cut-out cardsReuse all week

Talk cards for Finding Unknowns in Number Sentences

Cut out. Hold up a card and give an example.

The balance scale

Give an example.

Find the unknown

Give an example.

Undo to find it

Give an example.

True or false?

Give an example.

Which inverse?

Give an example.

Store in an envelope labelled AC9M4A01.

Mini-check · End of week

Show what you know: Finding Unknowns in Number Sentences

NameClassDate

Work on your own. Use pictures or numbers.

1. Draw or write the big idea of this week.

2. Give one clear example.

3. Give a second different example.

4. What mistake should we watch for?

I can explain this idea to a partner:Yes □ No □

Mini-check · AnswersTeacher

Answers and look-fors

Item 1 names the unit idea (finding unknowns in number sentences) in child words.
Items 2-3: two different correct examples.
Item 4: a real muddle for this topic.

Use day-plan look-fors across the week.