• Groups of 2

MLR5 Co-craft Questions

• “Keep your books closed.”
• Display: “There are 7 rows.”
• “Write a list of mathematical questions that could be asked about this situation.” (What’s in the rows? How many things are in each row? How many things are there altogether?)
• 2 minutes: independent work time
• 2–3 minutes: partner discussion
• Invite several students to share one question with the class. Record responses.
• “What do these questions have in common? How are they different?” (They all have to do with rows. They have to do with more detail about the rows, like what’s in the rows and how many are in each row.)
• Reveal the task (students open books), and invite additional connections.


• “Complete the first problem by solving this problem in any way that makes sense to you.”
• 3–4 minutes: independent work time
• 1–2 minutes: partner discussion
• Share a variety of student representations and solution strategies. 
• “Think about the situation we have been considering. How could you represent the situation using an equation with a symbol for the unknown?”
• 2 minutes: quiet think time
• “Share your equation with your partner. Together, rewrite the equation with the solution you found in place of the symbol.”
• 2 minutes: partner work

• Groups of 2
• Display the image.
• “Coconut trees are grown as a crop in warm climates and have lots of uses. Sometimes they are grown in rows. What are some other crops that are grown in rows?” (corn, strawberries, carrots)

• “Now you are going to practice what we just learned about solving array situations and writing an equation with a symbol for the unknown.”
• 5–7 minutes: independent work time
• As you circulate, consider asking:
  • “How does each number or symbol in your equation connect to the situation?”
  • “How are you using equal groups to find the solution to the problem?”
• “Share your strategy with your partner. Ask any questions you have about your partner’s ideas.”
• 2 minutes: partner discussion