This resource is a remix from Illustrative Mathematics https://tasks.illustrativemathematics.org/content-standards/tasks/1086.Considering the original resource, there are a few suggestions added to the remix. Modification 1 - Instead of providing students one type of bean ( as originally stated), it would allow curiosity if students were provided with an assorted selection of beans/seeds like sunflower seed, carrot seed, peas and bean, along with which the unifix cubes can be color-coded for each bean/seed. This would benefit all types of learners as they will be able to visualize and build a concrete conceptual understanding of the content.  Modification 2 - This modification allows students to choose the unit of measure and provide them with different types of ruler ( mm, cm and inches), promoting mathematical discourse on customary and metric conversions as they engage in selecting the appropriate unit of measure. This allows students to identify the unit of measure in an active learning environment. As teachers incorporate these two modifications, it allows students to develop a growth mindset by understanding how mathematics and science go hand in hand, encouraging literacy within the curriculum.   

This resource is a remix from Illustrative Mathematics (https://goopenva.org/courses/3-md-how-heavy). This resource encourages student collaboration and allows students to have a mathematical dialogue as express their understanding of units of measure. Teachers can use objects found around the house to demonstrate mathematics in the real world. I like how this resource adds flexibility in instruction, as it allows teachers to creatively add diverse manipulatives or real-life items on the balance scale. This activity scaffolds the learning process allowing students an opportunity to experience active hands-on learning to strengthen their understanding of mathematical concepts, which provides a diverse learning experience. This resource is a valuable part of building background when introducing units of measure or equations in the early elementary years of mathematics education as it provides students a concrete example of building an equation with concrete objects.  Suggested Modification - A student recording sheet with illustrations has been added to the resource to allow all different types of learner to learn from a concrete idea to strengthen conceptual learning about building an equation. 

Students will find helpful resources for learning and practicing math skills and processes in this eMediaVA collection.

      Using the picture book The True Story of the Three Pigs by A. Wolf  as told to Jon Scieska, students will complete math word problems that cover the measurement SOLs. They will also write their own “true story” of another fairy tale, which covers the English writing SOLs. An extension of this unit could be to have students create math word problems based on their new story and have their classmates solve them. This lesson can also be used as an art activity if the story is illustrated. If technology is available, it can be an opportunity for students to practice their computer skills to create a final version of their new illustrated fairy tale or to use the computer to illustrate it.