PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Grades K–5

Ron Larson & Laurie Boswell

Modeling Real Life

Authors and Research
Big Ideas Learning is pleased to introduce a new, research-based K–8 series, Big Ideas Math: Modeling Real Life fits the needs of today’s elementary classrooms! Common Core
Big Ideas Math®: Modeling Real Life. Written by renowned authors Dr. Ron Larson and Dr. Laurie Boswell, • Uses learning targets and success criteria for student self-assessment
Edition also
available
this series uses an exploratory approach to engage students’ inquiring minds through rich explorations
• Incorporates literacy strategies, encouraging students to read, write, and talk about math
and in-class problem solving. With one voice from Grade K through Grade 8, students make
connections through cohesive progressions and consistent, dependable instruction. • Helps teachers recognize the impact they have on students
• Empowers students to grow as independent learners and experience the delight of mathematics
The pedagogical approach used in this program follows the best practices outlined in the most prominent
and widely accepted educational research including John Hattie’s Visible Learning, NCTM’s Principles to
Actions, Jo Boaler’s Mathematical Mindsets, Wiggins and McTighe’s Understanding by Design, and others.
TABLE OF CONTENTS page

Instructional Design 2–3

Teaching Support 4–5
We created Big Ideas Math because Ron Larson, Ph.D., is well
Differentiation 6–7
known as the lead author of a
we recognized the need for a truly comprehensive program for Assessment 8–9
mathematics that spans school Technology
balanced approach to learning, using mathematics and college courses.
10–11
Components 12
discovery learning and scaffolded He holds the distinction of Professor
Emeritus from Penn State Erie, The
instruction. Behrend College, where he taught
for nearly 40 years. He received his Ph.D. in mathematics
—Ron Larson, Ph.D. from the University of Colorado. Dr. Larson’s numerous
professional activities keep him actively involved in the
mathematics education community and allow him to fully
understand the needs of students, teachers, supervisors,
and administrators.

Students go deeper in their learning Laurie Boswell, Ed.D., is the http://www.bigideasmath.com

former Head of School at Riverside

when they are motivated to dig in. School in Lyndonville, Vermont. In
addition to textbook authoring, she
My passion is to provide effective provides mathematics consulting Grades K–5
Remember, you can use
the Commutative
ways for teachers to begin each lesson. and embedded coaching sessions. Property of Multiplication
to multiply in any order.
Dr. Boswell received her Ed.D. from
—Laurie Boswell, Ed.D. the University of Vermont in 2010.
She is a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in
Mathematics Teaching and is a Tandy Technology Scholar.
Laurie has taught math to students at all levels, elementary
through college. In addition, Laurie has served on the NCTM
Board of Directors and as a Regional Director for NCSM.
Along with Ron, Laurie has co-authored numerous math
programs and has become a popular national speaker. Online Resources

NGL.CENGAGE.COM/BIGIDEAS 1
 Instructional Design
The Big Ideas Math: Modeling Real Life program uses a Universal Design for Learning to create an engaging and Learning targets and success criteria help to focus student learning and make learning visible to teachers and
innovative program that uses hands-on activities and scaffolded instruction. students. With a strong emphasis on problem-solving in the classroom, students can transfer their mathematical
knowledge to new concepts and apply their understanding to real-life situations. Through in-class practice
The instructional design guides students through concepts from surface-level to deep-level learning and allows and activities, students become more comfortable with the problem-solving process to become strategic
them to transfer these skills to new concepts in a complete and comprehensive way. This allows for balanced mathematical thinkers.
lessons with built-in differentiation, as well as RTI support, that appeals to students and teachers alike.

Think and Grows offer

scaffolding to ensure all
Learning Targets and levels of learners attain
Success Criteria¹ procedural fluency.
encourage students to self-
assess and evaluate their
learning.

Apply and Grows Think and Grow:

provide independent Think and Grow: Modeling Real Life Modeling Real Life
practice to help brings problem solving
students monitor their Your teacher divides the items shown equally into the classroom,
Item Number
among 9 students. Write two equations that
own understanding of you can use to show how many straws each Toothpicks 72 promoting transfer of
concepts. student gets. Containers of clay 27
concepts and skills into
Straws 54
real-life situations.
Division equation:

Multiplication equation:

Show
how and
Show
S an d Grow
and G
Grow
row
11. Use the table above to write two equations that you can
use to show how many containers of clay each student gets.

12. Use the table above to find how many more

toothpicks students will get than straws.

Explore and Grows give students a hands-on Show and Grows give teachers the opportunity for
approach to develop conceptual understanding. continual formative assessment and student discourse.
13. Explain how a multiplication fact can help you solve
30 ÷ 3 = .

© Big Ideas Learning, LLC

166 Copyright © Big Ideas Learning, LLC. All rights reserved.
This is a sample of material under development.

Grade 3 SE field test_interior.indb 166 10/23/17 9:45 AM

¹ Success Criteria only appear on the Student Edition

pages in grades 3 to 5.

2 NGL.CENGAGE.COM/BIGIDEAS 3
 Teaching Support
The Big Ideas Math: Modeling Real Life Teaching Edition is a comprehensive resource that
guides teachers throughout instruction.

The Chapter Overview chart Chapter Materials,

and the first page of each Resources, and Suggested
lesson highlight the learning Pacing are clearly laid out
targets and success criteria that for each chapter to support
guide student learning. teachers and save planning
time.
They encourage self-assessment
and give students and teachers
benchmarks for each lesson.

The Progressions table highlights the program coherence from Laurie’s Laurie’s Notes
Coherence grade to grade. Teachers will find this useful because they can see Overview appear at the
Laurie’s Overview
what was covered in the previous grade level and how it builds to the About the Math
“About the Math” chapter and
content they are teaching in their grade level. In addition, they can Students this year have worked with multiplication and
most recently in Chapter 4, division. This chapter returns to
multiplication, continuing to work towards fluency through
at the beginning lesson level
see further connections and applications in the next grade level. further recognition of patterns. Students should be familiar
with looking at sets of numbers and their patterns. They have
spent much time studying patterns of the hundreds chart while
of each chapter for embedded
provides professional
learning addition, subtraction, skip counting, and multiples. Now
as the multiplication table is introduced, students not only look for patterns

The learning standards are called out for every chapter along with within the table, but relationships between factors and products so that both

point-of-use development,
multiplication and division equations can be solved. This chapter emphasizes
the relationships between multiplication and division as students find missing

guidance on where students should be tracking on their conceptual factors or products within the multiplication table.

Properties of Multiplication
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
professional implementation
development.
Patterns in the multiplication table reinforce 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
the Commutative Property of Multiplication as

development support,
2 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
students see the symmetry along diagonal lines 3 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30

caused by the interchange of row and column 4 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40

5 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
numbers.
The table is also used to confirm how the
Distributive Property produces an equivalent
6
7
8
6
7
8
12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60
14 21 28 35 42 49 56 63 70
16 24 32 40 48 56 64 72 80
and math questioning
product. Students will use the table to confirm
background. strategies, and
9 9 18 27 36 45 54 63 72 81 90

known or unknown facts: 10 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

● 8 × 6 is the same as 8 × 4 plus 8 × 2.

The information differentiation

● 6 × 7 is double the product of 3 × 7 since the factor 6 is double the factor 3.
● Extension to factors beyond those in the table, find 6 × 12 from the products
of 6 × 10 and 6 × 2.
In a later grade, the distributive process of partial products will be used to
develop the algorithms for multiplication of double digit numbers. Thus, basic
multiplication fact fluency will continue to be important.
offers an efficient tips every step
16 × 12 10 + 6
× 10 + 2 way to plan for of the way.
the chapter and
20 + 12 (2 times 10 plus 2 times 6)
100 + 60 (10 times 10 plus 10 times 6)
100 + 80 + 12 = 192

Algebra Connection
The use of a place holder for missing factors or products informally introduces
solidify content
the idea of a variable. Familiarity with using □, ?, and ____ easily transitions
to the use of a letter as simply another symbol to hold the place of an
unknown value.
understanding.

T-223C Chapter 5

Elem_GR3_TE_Chapter_05.indb HQ 1/25/18 3:36 PM

The table identifies with “Preparing”, The visuals and representations presented in Laurie’s Notes offer guidance for building
“Learning”, and “Complete” for each lesson. the overview are meaningful for the learning fluency with the mathematical processes
objectives in that specific chapter. and proficiencies.

4 NGL.CENGAGE.COM/BIGIDEAS 5
 Differentiation
The new elementary series offers options and resources to curate a unique instructional experience. Centers or Small Group
There are a variety of opportunities for reteaching, remediation, practice, enrichment, and extension in Activities
the Teaching Edition, online, and in printed resources. Centers in the Teaching Edition
are pre-planned, “ready to go”,
and include materials that come
with the program. They align
Embedded School to Home Connections with chapter content, leading
Differentiation The Resources by Chapter book includes to more effective conceptual
Family Letters, and the Practice pages development and fluency.
The Teaching Edition, along
offer QR codes that link to lesson pages
with the program’s print and
for guidance. Lesson Tutorial Videos are
digital resources, offer support
available for grades 3-5 to support practice
for all levels of learners.
and homework exercises.
The comprehensive guide
for Scaffolding Instruction
in the Teaching Edition was
thoughtfully written with
both students and teachers
in mind.
Throughout every lesson, Centers offer engaging and fun games, as well
as incorporating technology. Print and interactive online games use skills from the
Laurie’s Notes provide point
chapter in a fun and engaging way.
of use differentiation for
emerging, proficient, and
advanced learners.
Math Musicals Connect and Extend
The modification suggestions relate directly to
the specific content of the exercises.
Storybooks and animations featuring Learning
Newton and Descartes help students The Teaching Edition provides
see the mathematics that surrounds opportunities to connect and
them in their everyday lives.
ELL Support extend learning for students
with Practice Notes, Prior Skills,
The ELL Support
Cross-Curricular Connections,
boxes are located
and Extend Student Learning,
throughout the
which helps meet student
Teaching Edition.
learning styles such as linguistic,
These are quick,
interpersonal, bodily-kinesthetic,
point-of-use notes
and others.
to help teachers
differentiate The Lesson Resources highlight
instruction for ELL options for supporting all
students. students in their transition
from surface- to deep-level
understanding.
Manipulative Kits and Virtual Manipulatives
Support hands-on learning and facilitate the transition from
the concrete to the abstract.

Use the hand

puppets to act
Some of the ELL notes have differentiated levels of support to Literature Kits out the stories
provide the most effective suggestions for these students. Literature Kits are available to enhance instruction with and songs!
stories and support cross-curricular connections.

6 NGL.CENGAGE.COM/BIGIDEAS 7
 Assessment
The K–5 program offers a variety of opportunities for both formative and summative assessment. Student Laurie’s Notes and the ELL support
ownership and accountability for learning is a vital component of fluency with the content, as well as the provide instructional support for
modifying the Performance Task The Performance Task provides students with the opportunity
mathematical processes and proficiencies. activity for different levels of learners to demonstrate their understanding of the chapter learning
as well as options for individuals, targets. It aligns with what was previewed in the Performance
partners, and small groups. Task Preview.
Each chapter opens with a Performance Task Preview.
It previews what children will be learning throughout the chapter.

The evaluation table lays out a point Grade 4 Performance Task

structure for ease of grading and evaluation.
The Performance Task Preview is an engaging way to hook them Students are given visibility into what will be
into the content of the chapter with some guiding questions expected of them at the end of the chapter to
about engaging and relevant topics. ensure accountability for learning.

Online Assessment
Chapter Tests are available in the Assessment Book. Additional assessment With the Dynamic Assessment System, teachers can build customizable assessments
opportunities include Course Benchmark Tests (Pre-Course, Post-Course, and with Big Ideas Math question banks or items they create!
Cumulative), as well as Prerequisite Skills Practice.
Items include a variety of question types such as multiple choice, technology
enhanced, multiple select, essay style, and more.
Name_________________________________________

Chapter
1 Test A

1. Is the number of butterflies even or odd?

http://www.bigideasmath.com

Even Odd

2. Write the even number as the sum of two equal numbers.

14 = ____ + ____

3.

____ rows of ____

____ + ____ + ____ + ____ + ____ = ____

4. You have 4 bags. There are 2 soccer balls in each bag. How
many soccer balls are there in all?

____ soccer balls

5. A bookcase has 3 shelves. There are 4 games on each shelf.

How many games are there in all? The Teaching Edition also includes an alternative
assessment option to support multiple learning
____ + ____ + ____ = ____ ____ games
styles and meet the needs of all students.
Copyright © Big Ideas Learning, LLC Big Ideas Math: Modeling Real Life Grade 2 9
All rights reserved. Assessment Book

Grade 2 Chapter Test

8 NGL.CENGAGE.COM/BIGIDEAS 9
 Technology
Big Ideas Math: Modeling Real Life comes with an innovative and dependable technology package that
supports and enhances instruction for teachers and students.

Dynamic Student Edition STEAM Videos Dynamic Classroom

The Dynamic Student Edition is a complete, interactive STEAM Videos, which are available for Grades 3–5, allow The Dynamic Classroom mimics the students’ Dynamic Student Edition, with additional resources and support for teachers.
version of the Student Edition. Students have access students to see mathematics in real life.
to interactive explorations, digital examples, virtual
manipulatives, Lesson Tutorial Videos (Grades 3-5), and digital
exercises from the textbook.

STEAM Performance Tasks make further connections to the Point-of-use Laurie’s Notes guide instruction with Dig Ins, Interactive explorations and digital examples from the textbook
mathematical content. Students learn about animals, electricity, motivation suggestions, teaching tips, questions to ask the create a 21st-century classroom atmosphere that engages students.
sea levels, constellations, and more! students, closure strategies, and more!

Skills Trainer
Dynamic Assessment System Math Musicals
The Skills Trainer is an online interactive tool for skill practice
With the Dynamic Assessment System, teachers can Math Musicals are a fun way of bringing music and literature that comes with detailed reports for teachers to gain insight into
create customizable homework and assessments with into your math classroom. Big Ideas Math’s own Newton, the each student’s proficiency. Students have access to every skill
Big Ideas Math question banks or items they create! dog, and Descartes, the cat, team up to provide educational found within the Modeling Real Life series.
stories, songs, and animations to enhance student learning.
Items include a variety of question types, all of which
are automatically scored except for the newly released
essay questions, which allow students to explain their
thinking and reasoning.
The reports in this system provide the feedback
teachers need to drive instruction.

The Formative Check provides teachers with immediate feedback

on student progress, making it easy to differentiate and provide
support where it is needed the most.
Math Musicals bring fun into the The Skills Trainer can be used to engage students in remediation or
classroom with engaging songs that as the daily warm-up for the lessons!
support concepts with patterns, rhythm,
and rhymes.

Students complete the assignments online and can receive

immediate feedback on their progress.

10 NGL.CENGAGE.COM/BIGIDEAS 11
 Components
Big Ideas Math: Modeling Real Life
PRINT RESOURCES TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES offers a program that:
Student Edition (Volumes 1 and 2) Dynamic Student Edition
Teaching Edition (Volumes 1 and 2) • Virtual Manipulatives

Resources by Chapter • Interactive Explorations

• Family Letter • Digital Examples INSPIRES

• Warm-Ups • Lesson Tutorial Videos*

• Extra Practice Dynamic Classroom

Elevate student learning with a balanced approach
• Reteach • Laurie’s Notes
• Virtual Manipulatives
ENGAGES
• Enrichment and Extension
• Chapter Self-Assessment* • Interactive Explorations
• Digital Examples
Assessment Book
• Formative Check
Captivate student learning with innovative technology
• Prerequisite Skills Practice
• Course Benchmark Tests • Flip-To

• Chapter Tests
Instructional Resources
Dynamic Teaching Tools
• Answer Presentation Tool*
EMPOWERS
• Vocabulary Cards • Skills Trainer Make learning visible through student accountability
• Blackline Masters • Digital Flashcards
• STEAM Videos*
• Activities
Skills Review Handbook*
• Game Library
• Multi-Language Glossary
GROWS
Differentiated Rich Math Tasks • Additional Online Resources Positively impact student performance in mathematics
• Lesson Plans
• Differentiating the Lesson
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES • Graphic Organizers
Manipulative Kits • Pacing Guides
Literature Kits • Worked-Out Solutions Key*
• Math Tool Paper Learn more at NGL.Cengage.com/BigIdeas
Math Musicals
• Kindergarten Exploration Literature
Newton and Descartes Puppet Set
Dynamic Assessment System
• Customized Practice and Assessments
• Detailed Reports
Video Support for Teachers
• Professional Development Videos
• Concepts and Tools Videos

*Available for Grades 3–5

12 NGL.CENGAGE.COM/BIGIDEAS 13
K–12 Programs
Big Ideas Math programs offer a seamless articulation from elementary through high school. With a consistent
author voice from level to level, students make connections through cohesive progressions and rich instruction.
Big Ideas Math uses a balanced approach to engage students’ inquiring minds and empower them to become
mathematical thinkers in their daily lives.

Common Core
edition available
for Grade K
through Algebra 2.

Big Ideas Math: Modeling Real Life for Grades K–5

Advanced middle school

courses available!

Big Ideas Math: Modeling Real Life for Grades 6–8

Integrated
Mathematics
courses also
available!

Grades 9–12 Precalculus/AP® Calculus

National Geographic Learning® proudly represents Big Ideas Math programs.

Learn more!
NGL.Cengage.com/BigIdeas
@natgeolearning

@ExploreInside

@natgeolearning

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for pricing or ordering information. Or, call 888-915-3276.

*AP® is a registered trademark of the College Board, which was not involved in the production and does not endorse this product.
Big Ideas Math® and Big Ideas Learning® are registered trademarks of Larson Texts, Inc.
APR / 18

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