Formative Instructional and Assessment Tasks
Who Has a Bigger Garden?
4.NBT.5- Task 2
Domain
Cluster
Standard(s)
Materials
Task
Number and Operations-Base Ten
Use place value understanding and properties of operations to perform multi-digit
arithmetic.
4.NBT.5 Multiply a whole number of up to four digits by a one-digit whole number, and
multiply two two-digit numbers, using strategies based on place value and the properties of
operations. Illustrate and explain the calculation by using equations, rectangular arrays,
and/or area models.
Task handout
Who Has a Bigger Garden?
In eastern North Carolina, three farmers are having a discussion about who has the largest
garden.
Mr. Sanchez: My garden is 87 yards long and its width is 1/3 of its length.
Mrs. Thompson: My garden’s width is 18 yards less than the width of Mr. Sanchez’
garden. Its length is 8 yards longer than the length of Mr. Sanchez’ garden.
Mr. Peterson: My garden is square and has a perimeter of 204 yards.
Part 1:
What are the dimensions of each garden?
Part 2:
List the gardens in order from smallest to largest area.
Rubric
Level I
Limited Performance
 The student is unable to
use strategies to find
correct answers to any
aspect of the task.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Level II
Not Yet Proficient
 The student has
between 1 and 2
errors.
Level III
Proficient in Performance
 The answers are correct.
 Part 1: Mr. Sanchez: 87x29,
Mrs. Thompson: 95 x 11
Mr. Peterson: 51x51.
 Part 2: Mrs. Thompson: 1,045 square yards;
Mr. Sanchez: 2,523 square yards; Mr.
Peterson: 2,601 square yards.
Standards for Mathematical Practice
Makes sense and perseveres in solving problems.
Reasons abstractly and quantitatively.
Constructs viable arguments and critiques the reasoning of others.
Models with mathematics.
Uses appropriate tools strategically.
Attends to precision.
Looks for and makes use of structure.
Looks for and expresses regularity in repeated reasoning
NC DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
FOURTH GRADE
Formative Instructional and Assessment Tasks
Who Has a Bigger Garden?
In eastern North Carolina, three farmers are having a discussion about who has the
largest garden.
Mr. Sanchez: My garden is 87 yards long and its width is 1/3 of its length.
Mrs. Thompson: My garden’s width is 18 yards less than the width of Mr. Sanchez’
garden. Its length is 8 yards longer than the length of Mr. Sanchez’
garden.
Mr. Peterson: My garden is square and has a perimeter of 204 yards.
Part 1:
What are the dimensions of each garden?
Part 2:
List the gardens in order from smallest to largest area.
NC DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
FOURTH GRADE