Grade 4 Math: Understanding Sets with Braces – Week 2

Here’s a Grade Four Mathematics lesson plan focusing on the objectives “Name any set using braces” and “Name and list members of a set” based on Jamaica’s National Standard Curriculum, with the 5Es and differentiated activities for tiers 1, 2, and 3.

Grade 4 Mathematics Lesson Plan

Topic: Naming and Listing Sets
Duration: 60 minutes
Objectives: Students should be able to:

1. Name any set using braces { }.
2. Name and list the members of a set.

Key Vocabulary:

Set, Element, Members, Braces { }, Empty set

Teaching Resources/Materials

Chart paper/whiteboard and markers, Cut-out pictures (fruits, animals, shapes, etc.), Flashcards with numbers, letters, and objects, Counters (e.g., buttons or beans), Worksheets for set notation practice, Interactive set activities or digital resources (optional)

Lesson Content Summary

Naming a Set: A set is named by placing its elements (or members) inside braces { }. Each element is separated by a comma.

• Example: The set of vowels can be written as {a, e, i, o, u}.

Listing Members of a Set: Elements of a set must be clearly listed within braces.

• Example: The set of odd numbers less than 10 is {1, 3, 5, 7, 9}.

Empty Set: A set that has no members is called an empty set, denoted by { } or ∅.

Teaching/Learning Procedure:

Engage:

Display a group of objects on the board (e.g., three apples, two oranges, one banana) and ask, “How can we group these objects? What do we call this collection?”

Students will respond with ways to group the objects and share ideas about collections and sets.

Purpose: To stimulate students’ thinking about collections and sets and introduce the idea of set notation.

Explore:

Give each group of students a set of objects (e.g., shapes, fruits, numbers) and ask them to list the members of each group. Provide them with sample sets such as:

• Set of fruits: {apple, banana, orange}
• Set of even numbers less than 10: {2, 4, 6, 8}

Students will work in small groups to write down the objects they are given and express them as sets using braces.

Purpose: To give students hands-on experience in grouping and listing set members using proper notation.

Explain:

Explain that a set is a collection of items, and we use braces { } to name and list the members of a set. Walk through examples on the board, naming the sets using the objects in braces. Emphasize how each element inside the braces represents a member of the set.

Students will observe and write down examples from the board, such as:

• Set of shapes: {circle, square, triangle}
• Set of numbers: {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

Purpose: To clarify the concept of naming and listing members of sets and to formalize the use of braces.

Elaborate:

Hand out worksheets where students are given different collections of objects or numbers and must name the sets using braces and list the members of the sets. Include both concrete objects (e.g., pictures of animals, fruits) and abstract sets (e.g., set of vowels, set of prime numbers less than 20).

Students will complete the worksheets individually or in pairs, naming and listing the elements of sets. Teacher circulates to provide support as needed.

Purpose: To reinforce learning through practice and application of set notation and member listing.

Evaluate:

Ask students to come to the board and write a set using braces, naming and listing the members of a set provided by the teacher (e.g., “List the members of the set of vowels” or “Write the set of odd numbers between 1 and 10”).

Students will write and explain their sets to the class. The teacher will assess for understanding and accuracy.

Purpose: To check for comprehension of set notation and the correct listing of set members.

Differentiated Instruction

Tier 1: Below Grade Level (Struggling Learners)

Provide extra examples with simple sets (e.g., set of fruits or colors). Use flashcards with images, allowing students to focus on visual representations before transitioning to abstract sets.

Materials: Flashcards and physical objects (e.g., toy animals, counters).

Support: Teacher will work closely with this group, modeling how to write sets using braces.

Tier 2: On Grade Level (Average Learners)

Challenge students with sets containing more variety (e.g., numbers, letters, and simple abstract sets like “set of days of the week”). Have them name and list the members using both concrete and abstract examples.

Materials: Worksheets and everyday objects.

Support: Students will work in pairs or small groups for peer support, with teacher feedback.

Tier 3: Above Grade Level (Advanced Learners)

Extend learning by asking students to form more complex sets (e.g., set of prime numbers, set of consonants in the alphabet). Have them create their own sets and challenge others to list the members.

Materials: Advanced worksheets with abstract elements like prime numbers, divisibility rules, etc.

Support: Encourage independent work, allowing them to create and describe their own sets.

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to name and list members of a set using braces and demonstrate their understanding with both real-life and abstract examples.