options: Number Systems and Quantity: students learn to understand the complex number system and reason quantitatively.

Functions: students learn to define, use, and evaluate functions to model relationships between quantities.

Modeling: students learn to choose and use appropriate mathematics and statistics to analyze real-world empirical situations, improve decisions, and report on their conclusions and the reasoning behind them.

Operations & Algebra: students learn to solve problems using algebraic thinking and operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. They may learn to identify and explain arithmetic patterns, evaluate or manipulate numerical expressions, and reason with equations and inequalities.

Number & Operations - Fractions: students learn to understand fractions as numbers and may work with them using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Geometry: students learn to classify geometric figures by their properties, and understand and compare the relationships between them. Students develop and use formulas to compute lengths, areas, and volumes, and they use transformations to generate new shapes and compare existing ones. Geometry can be studied with and without coordinates.

Counting & Cardinality: students learn to know number names and the count sequence, count to tell the number of objects, and compare numbers.

Number & Operations in Base Ten: students learn to work with the base-ten system and build place value understanding.

Statistics & Probability: students learn to analyze and produce data distributions, and build understanding of univariate and bivariate data. They learn to interpret data, make statistical inferences, justify conclusions, understand rules of probability, and use probability to make decisions.

Ratios & Proportional Relationships: students learn to recognize, describe, represent, and reason with ratios, rates, proportional relationships, and percent.

Measurement & Data: students learn to work with data and measure attributes such as time, money, length, area, and volume. They may learn to compare measurements to operations and convert between different units of measure.
problem_activity: Narrative
The purpose of this activity is for students to analyze a collection of connecting cubes that is arranged in towers of 10. Students analyze another student’s thinking about a representation of 48 cubes in towers of 10. When students explain that they disagree with Noah because a ten must include 10 ones, they show their understanding of a ten and the foundations of the base-ten system (MP3, MP7).
MLR8 Discussion Supports.
Synthesis: At the appropriate time, give students 2–3 minutes to make sure that everyone in their group can explain why they agree or disagree with Noah. Invite groups to rehearse what they will say when they share with the whole class.
Advances: Speaking, Conversing, Representing
Required Materials
Materials to Gather
Connecting cubes in towers of 10 and singles
Launch
Groups of 2
Give students access to connecting cubes in towers of 10 and singles.
“Noah counted a collection of connecting cubes. He says there are 50 cubes. Do you agree or disagree? Explain how you know. You will have a chance to think about it on your own and talk to your partner about Noah’s thinking before you write your response.”
Activity
1 minute: quiet think time
“Share your thinking with your partner.”
2 minutes: partner discussion
“Explain why you agree or disagree with Noah. Write the word ‘agree’ or ‘disagree’ in the first blank. Then write why you agree or disagree.”
3 minutes: independent work time
Student Facing
Noah organized his collection of connecting cubes.
[IMG]
He counts and says there are 50 cubes.
Do you agree or disagree?
Explain how you know:
I ____________________ with Noah because
Student Response
Teachers with a valid work email address can
click here to register or sign in
for free access to Student Response.
Advancing Student Thinking
If students attempt to check Noah's count by counting all the cubes by one, consider asking:
“How are you checking to see if there are 50 cubes?”
“How could you use what you know about groups of ten to check Noah’s thinking?”
Activity Synthesis
Invite students to share whether they agree or disagree, and their reasons.
If needed, ask “How do you know there are not 50 cubes?” (50 is 5 tens. There are only 4 tens here. The last tower isn’t 10. There are 4 tens and 8 ones.)


correct_option_index: 7