Unit 5, Lesson 14
Towers of 10
Kindergarten
Preparation
Lesson Narrative
In previous lessons, students composed and decomposed 10 in multiple ways and found the number that makes 10 when added to a given number. In this lesson, students determine how many cubes are hidden when a tower of 10 connecting cubes is broken into 2 parts and only 1 part is visible. Determining how many more are needed to make 10 is more challenging with connecting cubes than with a 10-frame or fingers, because students can't use the structure of the 10-frame or fingers and simply count the empty squares or the fingers that are down. The goal of the Lesson Synthesis is for students to reflect on the different tools they have used to compose and decompose 10.
This lesson has a Student Section Summary.
- Action and Expression
- MLR8
- Explain (orally) methods for determining the number of objects that makes 10 when added to a given number of objects.
- Match (orally) cubes and counters on a 10-frame that represent the same decomposition of 10.
- Let’s figure out how many cubes are hidden.
Required Materials
Activity 3
Required Preparation
- Each group of 2 needs 10 connecting cubes.
- Gather materials from previous centers:
- What's Behind My Back, Stages 1 and 2
- Math Fingers, Stages 1-4
- Shake and Spill, Stages 1-3
- Counting Collections, Stage 1
- Roll and Add, Stages 1 and 2
Suggested Centers
NoneTeacher Reflection Questions
As you finish up this unit, reflect on the norms and activities that have supported each student in learning math. List ways you have seen each student grow as a young mathematician throughout this work. List ways you have seen yourself grow as a teacher. What will you continue to do and what will you improve on in the next unit?