Formative Instructional and Assessment Tasks
Farmer Brown’s Barn
5.OA.3 - Task 2
Domain
Cluster
Standard(s)
Materials
Task
Operations and Algebra
Analyze patterns and relationships
5.OA.3 Generate two numerical patterns using two given rules. Identify apparent
relationships between corresponding terms. Form ordered pairs consisting of
corresponding terms from the two patterns, and graph the ordered pairs on a coordinate
plane.
Paper and pencil
Framer Brown has some cows and chickens in his barn. Altogether, his animals have 40
legs. How many of them are cows, and how many are chickens?
Create a table and line graph to explore the different possibilities.
What patterned do you notice? How did the graph help you to see the pattern?
Variation: Give a specific number of animals. How many were chickens and how and
cows?
Rubric
Level I
Limited
Performance
 Student is
unable to
perform the
task without a
great deal of
assistance.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Level II
Not Yet Proficient
 Student generates a table to show the
different possible combinations of
cows and chickens.
 Student may need some assistance in
generating the graph for the task.
 Student may need some assistance in
using their table and/or graph to
determine how many of the animals are
cows and how many are chickens.
 Student engages in a discussion about
the value of the graph in solving this
task, but the discussion lacks
mathematical reasoning.
Level III
Proficient in Performance
 Student generates a table to show the
different possible combinations of
cows and chickens.
 Student generates a graph showing the
different number of legs for various
quantities of cows and chickens.
 Student uses the table and/or graph to
help them determine how many of the
animals are cows and how many are
chickens.
 Student engages in a mathematical
discussion about the value of the graph
in solving this task.
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
FIFTH GRADE
Formative Instructional and Assessment Tasks
Farmer Brown’s Barn
Framer Brown has some cows and chickens in his barn. Altogether, his animals
have 40 legs. How many of them are cows, and how many are chickens?
Create a table and line graph to explore the different possibilities.
What patterned do you notice? How did the graph help you to see the pattern?
NC DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
FIFTH GRADE