Miss Blue is a problem about rounding in which students are asked to critique the work of two students. Both students are asked to round to the nearest tenth; one student rounds down and the other rounds up. Students must decide with whom they agree and explain the choice.
Microsoft Word version: 3_NBT_RoundingNearestTen_Problem_Critique_MissBlue
PDF version: 3_NBT_RoundingNearestTen_Problem_Critique_MissBlue
This task is designed for third grade students to understand measurement in terms of volume. Students must decide if they have enough oil to bake a cake, construct an argument, and explain their thinking. Baking a Cake requires students to convert from ounces to cups and vice versa, and contains whole numbers and fractions.
Microsoft Word version: 3_MD_MeasurementVolume_Problem_Construct_BakingACake
PDF version: 3_MD_MeasurementVolume_Problem_Construct_BakingACake
Changing the Area asks students to explore both area and perimeter using Base Ten Blocks. The task asks third grade students to arrange Base Ten Blocks in different ways to preserve area and change perimeter, then to preserve perimeter and change area. The task uses little argumentation language but asks students to explain reasoning and discoveries. Students are also asked to critique a student’s claim by agreeing or disagreeing and providing explanation.
Microsoft Word version: 3_MD_MeasurementPerimeter_Problem_Critique_ChangingTheArea
PDF version: 3_MD_MeasurementPerimeter_Problem_Critique_ChangingTheArea
How Many Perimeters is an argumentative task designed for third graders that utilizes visual thinking, hands-on interaction, and divergent thinking, with modifications provided. Students are asked to use algebra tiles to determine if all shapes created with the same three tiles will have the same perimeter. Argumentative language, such as constructing a claim and providing evidence, are heavily used throughout the bulleted and multi-part task, and students are asked to work in teams and share their claims with the class.
Microsoft Word version: 3_MD_MeasurementPerimeter_Problem_Construct_HowManyPerimeters
PDF version: 3_MD_MeasurementPerimeter_Problem_Construct_HowManyPerimeters
This task is for second graders trying to understand the properties of single-digit subtraction. Students must agree or disagree on if the commutative property is true for subtraction. Agree or Disagree? asks students to explain their thinking.
Microsoft Word version: 2_OA_Subtraction_Problem_Critique_AgreeOrDisagree
PDF version: 2_OA_Subtraction_Problem_Critique_AgreeOrDisagree
Second graders are required to solve double digit addition number problems with and without regrouping. They sometimes have a problem determining whether or not they need to regroup. In this problem they need to explain how they solved it and what tool they used. Most students would choose to use place value blocks or a hundreds or two hundreds chart to prove their answer.
Microsoft Word version: Gr_2_OA_AdditionMultiDigit_Problem_Critique
PDF version: 2_OA_AdditionMultiDigit_Problem_Critique
Loading...
Second graders are given a number to determine if it is odd or even. Many begin to look at the first digit of the number to determine if it is odd or even. I have students use a tool, most will choose counters to see if they can divide the number evenly.
Microsoft Word version: 2_NBT_PropertyOddEven_Problem_Critique
PDF version: 2_NBT_PropertyOddEven_Problem_Critique
Second graders are asked to critique a student response. Students must add three quantities using knowledge of place holders and place values. The task involves hundreds, tens, and ones places and asks students to explain their thinking. Student explanation requires an understanding of place values and how to write numbers given place values.
Microsoft Word version: 2_NBT_PlaceValue_Problem_Critique_SallysWork
PDF version: 2_NBT_PlaceValue_Problem_Critique_SallysWork
This task was used with second graders to understand place value. Students are asked to critique Lydia’s Idea on writing a number in expanded form and explain their reasoning. Lydia’s Idea involves the hundreds, tens, and ones place values and the expanded number contains a 0 in the tens place.
Microsoft Word version: 2_NBT_PlaceValue_Problem_Critique_LydiasIdea
PDF version: 2_NBT_PlaceValue_Problem_Critique_LydiasIdea
This task is geared towards second graders. Students are asked to critique a comparison of two numbers using what they know about place value. Students are asked to explain how they compare the two numbers using content knowledge. The task addresses a common misconception in which students simply look at the left-hand digits and compare them rather than looking at place values of the digits.
Microsoft Word version: 2_NBT_PlaceValue_Problem_Critique_BensThinking
PDF version: 2_NBT_PlaceValue_Problem_Critique_BensThinking
Reload document 
Open in new tab