Teachers chose to use the same basic scenario and similar, simple numbers for the
problems so the students would not get lost in the computation or the context. They
wanted the students to focus on the differences in the thinking involved in the four
problems types.
Students would be divided into small groups with chart paper divided into four
sections. The four problems would be posted at different tables. Students would
rotate from table to table with their chart paper and record their work in the appropriate
section of the chart paper. Colored counting chips would be available at each
table. When the rotations were complete the four charts would be posted side-byside
on the board and discussed, across all solutions for each problem number and
then across the four problem types. The teacher was to focus the discussion on what
was similar about the problems and what was different.
As recommended in the lesson study literature, the teachers agreed that observers
would not interact with students. There was, however, discussion about
whether observers would stay at a table or rotate with a student group. Pros and
cons for both (understanding how all the children thought about one problem vs.
how one set of children thought about all the problems) were discussed. In the end,
the group opted to stay at one table in order to observe all students’ thinking on
one problem.
Once completed, a typed version of the lesson plan was created. The plan included
teacher actions and strategies, anticipated student responses and thinking,
and points for the observers to notice