Sticky Notes

10 min

Narrative

This Warm-up prompts students to compare four images of letters made with sticky notes. It gives students a reason to use language precisely (MP6). It gives the teacher an opportunity to hear how students use terminology to talk about characteristics of the items in comparison to one another, specifically the ways the sticky notes are composed to make the letters. Students need to pay attention to the length and the width of the overall designs as well as the orientation of the sticky notes. During the discussion, ask students to explain the meaning of any terms they use, such as "length," "width," "horizontal," "vertical," and any other descriptions of the sticky notes or the designs.

Launch

  • Groups of 2
  • Display image.
  • “Each rectangle represents a sticky note.”
  • “Pick 3 designs that go together. Be ready to share why they go together.”
  • 1 minute: quiet think time
Teacher Instructions
  • “Discuss your thinking with your partner.”
  • 2–3 minutes: partner discussion
  • Share and record responses.

Student Task

Which 3 go together?

A
Sticky notes in shape of capital letter T. 3 sticky notes sit horizontally at the top. Four additional sticky notes below the top middle sticky note.

B
Sticky notes in shape of capital letter H. 7 sticky notes each set vertically to form the left and right columns. 1 sticky note set in between the two columns on the third row.

C
Sticky notes in shape of capital letter H. 5 sticky notes each set vertically to form the left and right columns. 2 sticky note set in between the two columns on the third row.

D
Sticky notes in shape of the capital letter H. 5 sticky notes each set horizontally to form the left and right columns. 1 sticky note, oriented vertically, set in between the two columns on the third row.

Sample Response

Sample responses:

A, B, and C go together because:
  • Their sticky notes are all oriented horizontally.
A, B, and D go together because:
  • They are 3 sticky-notes wide.
A, C, and D go together because:
  • Their height is 5 sticky notes.
B, C, and D go together because:
  • They show the letter H.
  • They use more than 10 sticky notes.
Activity Synthesis (Teacher Notes)
  • “What makes the three Hs in options B, C, and D look different?”(The H in option C is wider than the other two. The H in option B is taller than the other two. The H in option D is the narrowest.)
  • “Can you think of another way to make a letter H that is different than these three? What might you change?” (The number of sticky notes to use for the vertical segments or for the horizontal segment, the orientation of the sticky notes)
Standards
Building Toward
  • 4.NF.4·Apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication to multiply a fraction by a whole number.
  • 4.NF.B.4·Apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication to multiply a fraction by a whole number.

15 min

25 min