Counting Stories: Mathematical Storytelling

Suggested Time: 45-60 minutes
Overview
The lesson will begin with the teacher reading a story with the class, interjecting feeling into the phrases and telling the story with energy. Then the students will practice storytelling to one another, working through the stories in the book. Finally, students will work in groups to solve the mathematical problems provided.
Vocabulary
Objectives
Next Generation Science Standards
Common Core Mathematical Standards
Required Project Materials
Multimedia Resources
Optional Multimedia Resources
Before the Lesson/ Background Information
Homework from Previous Session:
The Lesson
Part 1: Reading Together (15 mins)
  1. Read a story from The Man Who Counted: a Collection of Mathematical Adventures with the students.
  2. Make it fun: read with energy and have the kids work as “voice actors” when characters are speaking.
Part 2: Group Work: Voice Actors! (15 mins)
  1. Separate the students into groups. Assign one story from the book to each group.
  2. Within each group, have the students decide who is doing what part. If there are voices in the story, some of them can be voice actors. If not, each student can read a different part.
Part 3: Solving Problems (15-30 mins)
  1. Have each group work on the mathematical problems associated with each story.