Lesson: Pals From the Pound

Play the video “A History of Pets.” Then before or after reading the article, spark a discussion based on the following questions:

• If you could own any pet, what would you choose and why?
• Describe the benefits of owning a pet. Are there any cons of pet ownership?
• What are some costs involved with owning a pet?

• Have students write down the number 136. Describe this number using any mathematical terms. (Answers will vary. Possible answers: even, composite, whole number, etc.)
• What are some other ways you can write this number? (Answers will vary. Possible answers: 100 + 30 + 6; one hundred thirty-six, 130 + 6, etc.)
• What place values could you round this number to? (nearest ten or nearest hundred)
• How would the number change if I were to place a decimal point between the 1 and 3? (It would become the decimal number 1.36. It would then include ones, tenths, and hundredths.)
• There are many math skills we can perform on a number. Today we are going to practice using our knowledge of these different skills to solve word problems.

• What do you notice or wonder about the table? What mathematical observations can you make? (Answers will vary.)
• A prime number is a number that has only 2 factors, itself and 1. What is an example of a prime number in this chart? ($31)
• A composite number is the opposite of a prime number. How would you define composite? (a number with more than 2 factors)

Have students complete problems 1 through 4 on pages 10-11 of the article.

Skills Sheets: Level Down: Prime and Composite Numbers (4.OA.B.4; 5.4A) | On Level: DynaDash: Rounding Decimals (5.NBT.A.4; 5.2C) | Level Up: Decimal Maze (5.NBT.B.7; 5.3E, 5.3G, 5.3K)

SEL (Social-emotional learning activity/prompt): They are many responsibilities in caring for a pet. Discuss some of these responsibilities as a class. Then have students create a list of ways they can be responsible at school and at home. Allow some volunteers to share their ideas with the class.

Dynamath@Home: Have students rewrite the numbers in the table on page 11 in 3 different ways. Encourage them to use numerical expressions, word forms, rounding, and more.