Grade 4 Common Core Math: Patterns and Algebraic Thinking

Grade 4 Math: Algebra covers the Common Core Grade 4 pattern standard (4.OA.C.5) and the equations part of 4.OA.A.3 (multistep problems with a letter for the unknown), with extension pages on inequalities (Grade 6) and on coding. It does not cover the rest of Grade 4 Operations and Algebraic Thinking: multiplicative comparison (4.OA.A.1 and 4.OA.A.2) and factors, multiples and prime numbers (4.OA.B.4). Each group of pages opens with a short teaching page and a worked example. Students describe repeating and growing patterns from everyday life, turn them into tables of values and graphs, and use pattern rules to make near and far predictions. They rename numbers with tens, ones and tenths, use letters and symbols as variables, and solve equations up to 50 by number sense, guess and check, and a balance. They also solve inequalities and graph the answers on a number line.

The coding pages need no devices. Students trace code on a campground map, alter code that finds a perimeter or counts money, race two robots running at the same time, and debug nested loops. A three-part modelling task has the class plan a skating afternoon on a $150 budget, using their own survey data, then revise the plan when new information arrives and report to the principal.

The teacher notes give a six-week order, materials, differentiation, the common misconceptions for each standard, a map from every Common Core standard to its pages and a modelling checklist. Two practice pages are generated, so their answers are computed and checked. Every other page has a worked answer key, and a two-part end-of-strand assessment finishes the unit. The free sample is the teacher notes and the Spot the Pattern practice page.