Overview | The Math | The Lesson

The Lesson

You may choose to only do Number Path #1, both Number Paths, or the whole lesson.

Number Path #1

1. Distribute Number Path #1.
2. Ask the children to choose a number and fill out their Number Paths. (Tip: It would be useful to show an example first.)
3. You may repeat the above steps several times.
4. Distribute Worksheet #1.
5. Ask some children to share their triangle and cloud numbers with the class. The students should fill their charts with this information.
6. Ask the group for observations. The goal is for everybody to understand that the Number Path ends up just multiplying numbers by 10. Ask the group to complete the "shortcut" part of the worksheet.
7. If your group consists of older children with the appropriate background, you may review the Distributive Law and ask them to prove that the cloud number is always 10 times the triangle number. (Here is a solution.)

Number Path #2

1. Distribute Number Path #2.
2. Ask the children to choose a number and fill out their Number Paths. (Tip: It would be useful to show an example first.)
3. You may repeat the above steps several times.
4. Distribute Worksheet #2.
5. Ask some children to share their triangle and explosion numbers with the class. The students should fill their charts with this information.
6. Ask the group for observations. The goal is for everybody to understand that the Number Path ends up just multiplying numbers by 20 and then adding 1. Ask the group to complete the "shortcut" part of the worksheet.

Blank Number Path

1. Play Magician: Perform the magic trick based on Number Path #1 as described in The Math page.
2. Explain the connection to Number Path #1.
3. Distribute Blank Number Path.
4. Challenge your students to build their own Number Path with a prescribed shortcut of multiplication by 5. To build a Number Path, students have to fill in the underlined empty spaces in the Blank Number Path.
5. Ask volunteers to perform the magic trick based on their new Number Path.

Download the Lesson Kit (pdf)