POS Grade 4 Algebraic Thinking
Proficiency Quest
Big Idea: Algebraic Thinking
Students explore and examine patterns and develop rules to go with patterns. They generate input-output for functions and create tables to analyze
functions. Students use number sentences with missing values.
Grade 4 Enduring Knowledge – Understandings
Students will understand that
• patterns, relations and functions are tools that help explain or predict real-world phenomena.
• numerical patterns can be written as rules that generate the pattern.
• algebra represents mathematical situations and structures for analysis and problem solving.
• real-world situations can be represented using mathematical models to analyze quantitative relationships.
• functions are used to analyze change in various contexts and model real-world phenomena. Functions can be written in words, as a symbolic sentence or in a
table.
Grade 4 Skills and Concepts – Patterns, Relations and Functions
Students will
• represent, describe, analyze and/or formulate rules for number relationships or functions through a variety of methods (e.g., the use of variables, ordered pairs,
lists in tables, plots on graphs and patterns)
• compare, contrast and/or extend patterns of numbers and shapes and sounds from real-world or mathematical situations
Grade 4 Skills and Concepts – Variables, Expressions and Operations
Students will
• explore unknowns and open sentences to express relationships
• write stories about mathematical sentences with missing values
Grade 4 Skills and Concepts – Equations and Inequalities
Students will
• solve simple equations (e.g., 4=7-[ ], 6+[ ]=10)
• solve simple inequalities (e.g., N+5> 14)
• apply number sentences to solve real-world problems
• read or create and solve story problems using mathematical sentences with missing values
• model real-world situations with simple number sentences using manipulatives, numbers and/or symbols