Long Range Plans

In Mathematics, Long Range Plans are best described as "guides".  They set a course of study for the teacher, for the current academic year.  These Long Range Plans includ unit time frames (i.e. 2 weeks, 6 weeks, etc....), math strand to be taught, applicable topics, teacher notes and at times, resources to utilize for instruction.

What is beneficial about Long Range Plans (i.e. Course of Study) is that they show the natural progression of strand to strand, concept to concept.  Each activity is intended to build upon students' prior knowledge as they acquire new concepts and skills.  These plans also encourage the teacher to maintain momentum and drive throughout the course of the year.

Long Range Plans are not overly detailed as they are really a "snap shot" in time.  They provide areas of focus and generalizations.

An example of a Long Range Plan for Mathematics is below.  This "Course of Study" is for a grade 4 class:

Course of Study Example  - Simcoe County District School Board

Suggested Timing	Unit/Strand	Term 1 Topics	Teacher Notes
4 weeks	1) Number Sense & Numeration	Represent, compare and order whole numbers to 10 000; Read and represent money amounts to $100	Provide students an opportunity to explore with a variety of learning tools and number lines to represent numbers.  Emphasize the math processes.  Establish a math talk learning community.
3 weeks	2) Data Management	Data Collection, graphing, interpreting, central tendency (mode, median)	Use data management as a means to organize and represent primary data.  Provide students opportunities to identify, interpret and make meaning from patterns and relationships in the charts and graphs for primary and secondary data.
3 weeks	3) Patterning & Algebra	Growing and Shrinking Number Patterns (extend, describe, create, and make predictions)
3 weeks	4) Number Sense & Numeration	Add & subtract two-digit numbers using mental strategies. Add & subtract four-digit number using student generated and standard algorithms. Multiply to 9x 9 & divide to 81÷9 using a variety of mental strategies. Explore multiplication by 10, 100, 1000	Continue to develop patterns of numbers to support students with strategies (eg. half and double, distributive property, composing and decomposing numbers)
3 weeks	5) Measurement	Perimeter, Area, Volume, Capacity, Mass, Elapsed Time	After investigating relationships of metric units, connect to patterns and generalizations of multiplying by 10, 100, 1000
2 weeks (Unit can bridge T1 and T2)	6) Geometry & Spatial Sense (Not reported on in Term 1)	Geometric properties and relationships (2D, and angle properties, quadrilateral properties)	Introduce angle measures through wedges with a wax paper protractor and then connect bench mark angles to a whole circle protractor to understand degrees.

Suggested Timing	Unit/Strand	Term 2 Topics	Teacher Notes
2 weeks	6) Geometry & Spatial Sense	3D Geometry	Relate 2D to 3D. Look at various view points of the 3D objects to support sketches and construction of skeletons.
8 weeks	7) Number Sense & Numeration	Represent, compare, order decimal numbers to tenths, and simple fractions. Multiply a 2 digit by 1 digit, and divide 2 digit by 1 digit whole numbers, addition and subtraction of decimal numbers to tenths, money amounts	Use different base ten blocks to represent 1. (eg. If the flat represents 1, then the rod represents 0.1.  If the cube represents 1, then the flat represents 0.1.)  Reinforce base ten place value system with decimal numbers through activities of ‘trading in.’ Link standard fraction notation to concrete materials.
2 weeks	8) Patterning & Algebra	Solve for the missing number in an addition, subtraction, or multiplication statement	Emphasize equality is not about the answer that comes after the equal sign, rather to create a balance.
2 weeks	9) Number Sense & Numeration	Proportional Relationships Multiplicative relationships verse additive relationships Relating fractions to decimals	Support students with transferring from additive relationships to multiplicative relationships to develop proportional reasoning.
2 weeks	10) Probability	Experimental Probability	Incorporate fraction and decimal language to describe outcomes of probability.
2 weeks	11) Geometry & Spatial Sense	Transformational Geometry and Grids	Continue to identify and name translations and rotations.  Identify and create reflections.