Color Tiles Lesson Plan

Objective:

• build logical reasoning skills
• make conjectures based on evidence
• find the fractional parts of a whole

Material:

• 12 Color Tiles, a combination of four color
• Small paper bag
• A paper clip
• Direction page

Procedure: Students will be working with a partner.

• Display a sealed Riddle Bag containing four red, three yellow, two green, and three blue Color Tiles. Tell children that you will give clues to help them answer the riddle, “How many Color Tiles of each color are in this bag?”
• Give the first clue: There are twelve tiles in my bag. Have children follow this clue by counting out twelve tiles.
• Have children respond to the second clue: The tiles are of four different colors.
• Give the three following clues, pausing after each to allow children time to adjust their tiles to match it:

1. Three-twelfths of the tiles in my bag are blue.
2. There is one more red than blue.
3. There is one more yellow than green.

• Have children display their solutions to the riddle. Then reveal the contents of the Riddle Bag.
• Discuss what qualities make a good riddle clue. Establish that each new clue should bring the solution closer.
• Point out that a good set of clues leads to just one solution.

*The Direction Page*

• Can you write a set of clues to make a Color Tile Riddle?
• Work with a partner. Chooses up to 12 Color Tiles. Notice how many you have of each color. Discuss what fractional part each color represents.
• Decide on 3 or 4 good clues for your riddle and write them down. At least of your clues must contain a fraction.

1. .......................................................................................
2. .......................................................................................
3. .......................................................................................
4. .......................................................................................

• Now test your riddle. Do this by pretending you don't know the answer and are trying to solve it.
• Put your tiles into the paper bag, close it, and clip your riddle to the bag.
• Exchange Riddle Bags with another pair. Try to solve their riddle. Then look into the bag to check your solution.
• Be prepared to talk about how you made and solved the riddles.

Closure:
Let's double the number of tiles inside the bag by doubling the tiles of each color. Compare the fractional presentation of the colors with their doubles. What is your conclusion?
Double the number of tiles inside the bag by adding tiles from different colors -no rules. Compare the fractions all together.