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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Everyday, ordinary Olympics

Students will use a stopwatch to time themselves performing in various events, record data, and then compare and order decimals to determine bronze, silver and gold medal winners.

A lesson plan for grades 4–5 Mathematics

By Linda Hill-Wise

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Learning outcomes

Students will use place value through hundredths/thousandths in ordinary, everyday real-world applications to compare and order decimals.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

45-60 Minutes

Materials/resources

  • A teacher or class created list of everyday, ordinary events.( Can use Everyday Olympics sheet. See Supplemental Information for descriptions of events.)
  • A stopwatch that displays time to the hundredths or thousandths place value.
  • Equipment needed to complete the various events, i.e. a book for “Posture Speed”, yarn for “Yarn Writing” and a jump rope for “Jump Roping.”

Pre-activities

Students need to have a basic understanding of decimals to be able to identify, compare and order decimals. A discussion might need to take place that when comparing decimals in terms of time, the least amount of time will win the gold medal.

Activities

  1. Put student names in a container. Select three names for each of the events. Either the teacher or a student can be appointed to be the timekeeper.
  2. As each of the three students completes an event, the student records time on the board and reads decimal aloud. The class also records times on the worksheet for each event.
  3. After discussion, order decimals from greatest to least. Determine bronze, silver and gold medal winners.
  4. Repeat until all events listed in “The Everyday, Ordinary Olympics” are completed.
  5. As an extension activity, students can create words problems based on the activity to add and subtract decimals.

Assessment

Students have successfully ordered, compared decimals to determine gold medal winners in each event listed.

Supplemental information

Description of Events

  1. Stopwatch Punch- punch button to start stopwatch and again to stop time as quickly as possible.
  2. Count to 81 by 9’s- orally state multiples of nine
  3. Calisthenics- do 20 jumping jacks
  4. Shoelace Tying- untie teacher’s shoe and time as each student ties the laces
  5. Singing “Happy Birthday”- sing this song to the teacher or someone celebrating a birthday
  6. Posture Speed- students walk from one point to another balancing a book on their head and must start over if it falls off
  7. Yarn Writing- using yarn or a length of string, form the cursive letters to spell a word such as “love”
  8. Finger Snapping- snap finger 10 times
  9. ABC’s for Speed- recite the alphabet as quickly as you can
  10. Jump Roping- complete 10 jumps

Comments

The inspiration for this lesson plan came from a book entitled, “Everyday, Ordinary Olympics.” I selected events described to include an entire class and applied the concepts to ordering and comparing decimals. I have also used gold, silver and red (bronze) foil-covered chocolate kisses for awards.

North Carolina curriculum alignment

Mathematics (2004)

Grade 5

  • Goal 1: Number and Operations - The learner will understand and compute with non-negative rational numbers.
    • Objective 1.01: Develop number sense for rational numbers 0.001 through 999,999.
      • Connect model, number word, and number using a variety of representations.
      • Build understanding of place value (thousandths through hundred thousands).
      • Compare and order rational numbers.
      • Make estimates of rational numbers in appropriate situations.
    • Objective 1.02: Develop fluency in adding and subtracting non-negative rational numbers (halves, fourths, eighths; thirds, sixths, twelfths; fifths, tenths, hundredths, thousandths; mixed numbers).
      • Develop and analyze strategies for adding and subtracting numbers.
      • Estimate sums and differences.
      • Judge the reasonableness of solutions.
    • Objective 1.03: Develop flexibility in solving problems by selecting strategies and using mental computation, estimation, calculators or computers, and paper and pencil.

  • Common Core State Standards

    • Mathematics (2010)

      • Grade 4

        • Number & Operations—Fractions
          • 4.NOF.7Compare two decimals to hundredths by reasoning about their size. Recognize that comparisons are valid only when the two decimals refer to the same whole. Record the results of comparisons with the symbols >, =, or <, and justify the conclusions,...

      • Grade 5

        • Number & Operations in Base Ten
          • 5.NO.3Read, write, and compare decimals to thousandths. Read and write decimals to thousandths using base-ten numerals, number names, and expanded form, e.g., 347.392 = 3 × 100 + 4 × 10 + 7 × 1 + 3 × (1/10) + 9 × (1/100) + 2 × (1/1000). Compare two decimals...