Newswire

Find Numbers from 1000 to 1 Billion. Challenge students to quickly find large numbers and place them in order. Use one of the three options described in Before the Lesson.

Write Large Numbers. Have students write each number they find on the Place Value Chart in their Student Activity Book. Students should then carefully write each of their numbers on half an index card so that the numbers can be placed on the Newswire display during this lesson and on the News Number Line in Lesson 5. Ask students to record the label, e.g., people in town, on the back of the half-index card. By using an unfolded paper clip, the index card strips can be hung on the wire. If the tags are easily knocked off the line, pinch both loops of the paper clip. See Figure 1. Attaching the index card strips to the wire with clothespins is another option.

Post Numbers on the Bulletin Board. After students have recorded their numbers on index card strips, have them post the newspaper clippings or internet articles on the “Newswire Bulletin Board,” which has been divided into four sections labeled: “Thousands,” “Ten Thousands,” “Hundred Thousands,” and “A Million or More.” See Figure 3. These categories encourage students to think about the relative size of each number. Ask students how they decided in which category their article should be placed. Help students discover that placement can quickly be confirmed by counting the digits in the number.

Reading Numbers. Demonstrate how to read and write large numbers. Have students isolate each period as they read; say the number formed by the digits within that period; and add the label for that period at the end of the number. For example, the number in Figure 4 is read: thirty-two million, seven hundred fifty thousand, three hundred sixty-five. For each period, except the ones period, the name of the period is added.

Place Numbers on the Wire (Smallest to Largest). Once students have identified the smallest number, have a student hang the index card strip for that number on the far left side of the wire. Refer back to the other numbers that were recorded on the display. Ask students to place these numbers in order on the wire to the right of the smallest number. Involve the class in directing students as they read the numbers out loud and place the index card strips on the wire. Larger numbers are placed to the right and smaller numbers are placed to the left. Repeat the same discussion and procedure asking for the largest numbers found.

Allow students to choose some of their remaining numbers, read them out loud, and add them to the wire as time permits. Numbers added to the wire will need to be inserted between existing numbers, thus providing another opportunity for students to think about number relationships. Additional numbers that are brought in as homework can be added to the Newswire display or saved to use on the number line to be constructed in Lesson 5.