Oh, the Tooth that One-ths Was

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Lesson Plan (Part One)
Lesson Plan (Part Two)

Author: Doug Sabre
School District: Potsdam Central/A.A. Kingston Middle School
Subject: Place Value (base-ten system)
Grade Range: 4-5
Duration/Time Required:

  • Number of days: 2
  • Length of period: 45 minutes

Additional periods of time might be necessary depending upon the desired complexity of the illustrations

Standard:

  • Content - Number Sense and Operations
    • 4.N.4 Understand the place value structure of the base-ten number system
    • 4.N.11 Read and write decimals to the hundredths, using money as a context
    • 5.N.3 Understand the place value structure of the base-ten number system
    • 5.N.8 Read, write, and order decimals to thousandths
  • Process - Communication, Connections

Objective: Reinforce the knowledge of place value names (thousands through hundredths) and the correct way to express a decimal point verbally (”and”) through storytelling. Children do not need to be previously familiar with the mnemonic OH TOOTH.

Instructional Plan:

  • Read to the students the story about T.H.S. and Princess Patty. Expressive reading that makes strong use of timely pauses will be most effective in helping students enjoy and remember the important points. *** Rehearse the story! ***
  • As the story is being read, the teacher writes on the chalkboard or chart paper the names of the various places as shown at the top of the attached story. It will work best if you add individual place values and corresponding labels as they come up during the storytelling. See the italicized notes in the story to know when to chart each place value and its name.
  • Provide students a copy of the story in storyboard format. Ask them to illustrate the pages in a way that enhances the story and emphasizes critical pieces of information.
  • Use the OH TOOTH mnemonic (with the second O darkened to represent the decimal point) during follow-on lessons that require the student to know and apply place value.

Assessment:

  • Evaluate students illustrations to see how well they connected the story elements to their knowledge of place value positions and names.
  • Ask some students to share (communicate) with the class their illustrated stories. These multiple readings of the tale will provide additional experience with the place value positions and names.

Resources:

  • Teacher copy of “Oh, the Tooth that One-ths Was”
  • Chart paper or chalkboard
  • Copies of the “Oh, the Tooth that One-ths Was” storyboard (one for each student)
  • Students will need illustration tools (pencils, colored pencils, crayons, markers, etc.)