Stage E - Mathematics
Descriptors
6A - Students who meet the standard can demonstrate knowledge
and use of numbers and their many representations in a broad
range of theoretical and practical settings. (Representations)
- Place mixed numbers and decimals on a number line.
- Show equivalent representations of a number by changing
from one form to another form (e.g., standard form to expanded
form, fraction to decimal, decimal to percent, improper
fraction to mixed number).
- Differentiate how fractions are used (part of a whole,
part of a set, location on a number line, and division of
a whole number).
- Analyze how the size of the whole affects the size of
the fraction (e.g., 1/2 of a large pizza is not the same
as 1/2 of a small pizza).
- Describe integers using familiar applications (e.g., a
thermometer, above/below sea level).
6B - Students who meet the standard can investigate, represent
and solve problems using number facts, operations, and their
properties, algorithms, and relationships. (Operations
and properties)
- Determine whether a number is prime or composite.
- Identify all the whole number factors of a composite number.
- Explore and identify properties of square numbers.
- Compute with 10, 100, 1000, and other powers of 10.
- Explore and use divisibility rules.
- Solve number sentences and word problems using addition
and subtraction of fractions with unlike denominators.
- Solve number sentences and word problems using addition
and subtraction of decimals.
6C - Students who meet the standard can compute and estimate
using mental mathematics, paper-and-pencil methods, calculators,
and computers. (Choice of method)
- Develop and use strategies to estimate computations involving
familiar fractions and decimals in situations relevant to
students' experience * (e.g., double a recipe with 3/8 cup
sugar, will more than a cup of sugar be needed).
- Evaluate estimates to judge their reasonableness and degree
of accuracy.
- Select and use appropriate operation(s) and tool(s) (e.g.,
mental math, pencil-and-paper, estimation, calculator, computer)
to perform calculations on whole numbers, fractions, and
decimals according to the context and nature of the computation.
**
- Determine and justify whether exact answers or estimates
are appropriate.
6D - Students who meet the standard can solve problems
using comparison of quantities, ratios, proportions, and percents.
- Identify and express ratios using appropriate notation
(i.e., a/b, a to b, a:b).
- Model the concept of percent using manipulatives or drawings.
7A - Students who meet the standard can measure and compare
quantities using appropriate units, instruments, and methods.
(Performance and conversion of measurements)
- Convert U.S. customary and metric measurements into larger
or smaller units.
Draw an angle of any given measure using a protractor or
angle ruler.
7B - Students who meet the standard can estimate measurements
and determine acceptable levels of accuracy. (Estimation)
- Explain that all measurements are approximations.
- Describe how precision is affected by choice of units.
- Estimate the perimeter, area, and/or volume of regular
and irregular shapes and objects.
7C - Students who meet the standard can select and use
appropriate technology, instruments, and formulas to solve
problems, interpret results, and communicate findings. (Progression
from selection of appropriate tools and methods to application
of measurements to solve problems)
- Select appropriate tools to measure, draw, or construct
figures.
- Develop and discuss strategies for determining area and
perimeter of irregular shapes.
- Develop and use formulas to determine the area of squares,
rectangles, and right triangles.
- Read and interpret a scale on a map or a scale drawing
using the idea of a constant ratio (e.g., 1" represents
1 mile), and use it to answer questions about actual measurement.
- Explain the meaning of a measurement answer in context.
8A - Students who meet the standard can describe numerical
relationships using variables and patterns. (Representations
and algebraic manipulations)
- Describe, extend, and make generalizations about given
geometric and numeric patterns. **
- Describe a pattern, with at least two operations, verbally
and symbolically, given a table of input/output numbers.
- Demonstrate equality of two expressions with variables
(e.g., 28 + 35 = 35 + n).
- Describe situations involving inverse relationships (e.g.,
the more people, the fewer cookies per person).
8B - Students who meet the standard can interpret and
describe numerical relationships using tables, graphs, and
symbols. (Connections of representations including the
rate of change)
- Model problem situations with objects and equations to
draw conclusions. **
- Represent and analyze patterns and functions using words,
tables, and graphs. *
- Demonstrate how the change in one quantity affects the
other in a functional relationship involving whole numbers
and unit fractions.
- Identify, describe, and compare situations with constant
and varying rates of change using words, tables, and graphs
(e.g., two quantities that vary together are the length
of the side of a square and its area). **
8C - Students who meet the standard can solve problems
using systems of numbers and their properties. (Problem
solving; number systems, systems of equations, inequalities,
algebraic functions)
- Solve problems with whole numbers using order of operations,
equality properties, and appropriate field properties.
8D - Students who meet the standard can use algebraic
concepts and procedures to represent and solve problems. (Connection
of 8A, 8B, and 8C to solve problems)
- Create and solve linear equations involving whole numbers
using a variety of methods (e.g., guess and check, bean
stick counters).
9A - Students who meet the standard can demonstrate and
apply geometric concepts involving points, lines, planes,
and space. (Properties of single figures, coordinate geometry
and constructions)
- Identify, compare, and analyze attributes of two- and
three-dimensional shapes and develop vocabulary to describe
the attributes. *
- Classify two- or three-dimensional shapes according to
their properties (e.g., regular and irregular, concave and
convex, types of quadrilaterals, pyramids, and prisms).
**
- Investigate and describe the results of subdividing and
combining shapes. **
- Describe paths using coordinate systems. **
- Determine the distance between points along horizontal
and vertical lines of a coordinate system. **
- Identify and justify rotational symmetry in two- and three-dimensional
shapes. **
- Identify and describe how geometric figures are used in
practical settings (e.g., construction, art, advertising,
architecture).
- Identify, sketch, and build two- and three-dimensional
shapes given attribute clues.
- Copy a line segment or an angle using a straightedge and
a compass.
- Construct a perpendicular bisector of a line segment.
9B - Students who meet the standard can identify, describe,
classify and compare relationships using points, lines, planes,
and solids. (Connections between and among multiple geometric
figures)
- Demonstrate congruence of plane figures using transformations
(translation, rotation, reflection).
- Determine if two polygons are congruent using measures
of angles and sides.
- Match a front, right side, and top view drawing with a
three-dimensional model built with cubes.
- Identify and describe the five regular polyhedra.
- Create regular and semi-regular tessellations using pattern
blocks, other manipulatives, or technology.
9C - Students who meet the standard can construct convincing
arguments and proofs to solve problems. (Justifications
of conjectures and conclusions)
- Make and test conjectures about mathematical properties
and relationships and develop logical arguments to justify
conclusions. **
- Make and test conjectures about the results of subdividing
and combining shapes. **
10A - Students who meet the standard can organize, describe
and make predictions from existing data. (Data analysis)
- Represent given data using double bar graphs, double line
graphs, and stem and leaf plots with and without technology.
- Select an appropriate graph format to display given data.
- Read, interpret, infer, predict, draw conclusions, and
evaluate data from any graph.
- Determine mean, median, mode, minimum value, maximum value,
and range, and discuss what each does to help interpret
a given set of data.
10B - Students who meet the standard can formulate questions,
design data collection methods, gather and analyze data and
communicate findings. (Data Collection)
- Design investigations to address a question and consider
how data-collection methods affect the nature of a data
set.
- Propose and justify conclusions and predictions that are
based on data, and design studies to further investigate
the conclusions or predictions. *
10C - Students who meet the standard can determine, describe
and apply the probabilities of events. (Probability including
counting techniques)
- List all possible outcomes of compound, independent events
(e.g., toss a coin and spin a spinner).
- Assign a value of zero to probabilities that are impossible
and a value of one to probabilities that are certain.
- Express simple probabilities as a fraction between zero
and one.
- Predict the probability of outcomes of simple experiments
and test the predictions. *
* National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Principles
and Standards for School Mathematics. Reston, Va: National Council
of Teachers of Mathematics, 2000.
** Adapted from: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Principles and Standards for School Mathematics. Reston, Va:
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, 2000.
back to Mathematics Classroom Assessments
and Performance Descriptors |