Instructional Samples

The introduction to British Columbia’s redesigned curriculum describes how the focus on the development of core competencies and a concept-based approach will work together to support learning in your classroom.

In the Instant Snow investigation, students will observe and test characteristics of a “mystery powder” that, when water is added, turns into instant snow. The mystery powder is polyacrylate, the same material used in disposable diapers. This lesson outline was designed to work with the Steps to Inquiry process, for students in Grades 3 to 6. Steps to Inquiry is a framework from Smarter Science, which was an outreach initiative of Youth Science Canada. 

In the Instant Snow investigation, students will observe and test characteristics of a “mystery powder” that, when water is added, turns into instant snow. The mystery powder is polyacrylate, the same material used in disposable diapers. This lesson outline was designed to work with the Steps to Inquiry process, for students in Grades 3 to 6. Steps to Inquiry is a framework from Smarter Science, which was an outreach initiative of Youth Science Canada. 

There are several things to consider as you plan learning experiences based on the redesigned BC curriculum. You may find the questions in this resource help you to be more explicit about your thinking processes. Being explicit in your design thinking makes it easier for you to share your ideas with other teachers and with parents.

The quantity of 5 is an essential benchmark number for young students, and a strong understanding of 5 will contribute to their understanding of 10, another significant benchmark number in our number system. As the complexity of number increases, the importance of understanding the decomposition of 10 in higher-level operations becomes evident. 

The quantity of 5 is an essential benchmark number for young students, and a strong understanding of 5 will contribute to their understanding of 10, another significant benchmark number in our number system. As the complexity of number increases, the importance of understanding the decomposition of 10 in higher-level operations becomes evident. 

We use patterns to represent identified regularities and to make generalizations. This lesson extends patterning concepts taught in Kindergarten and Grade 1, where students learned to identify and extend patterns with multiple attributes. It is essential for students to describe, extend, and make generalizations about patterns that seem to be the same or different. This kind of categorizing and generalizing is an important developmental step on the journey toward algebraic thinking. 

We use patterns to represent identified regularities and to make generalizations. This lesson extends patterning concepts taught in Kindergarten and Grade 1, where students learned to identify and extend patterns with multiple attributes. It is essential for students to describe, extend, and make generalizations about patterns that seem to be the same or different. This kind of categorizing and generalizing is an important developmental step on the journey toward algebraic thinking. 

Teachers and students at Richmond elementary schools, including Lord Byng and Tomekichi Homma, have been examining how mathematics can be experienced in the community, and connecting with stories of place. Inspired by the book Tluuwaay Waadluxan Mathematical Adventures, created by Elders, educators, community members, and students in Haida Gwaii, the Richmond teachers and students have looked for mathematics in their community and posed and solved problems of interest to them.

Teachers and students at Richmond elementary schools, including Lord Byng and Tomekichi Homma, have been examining how mathematics can be experienced in the community, and connecting with stories of place. Inspired by the book Tluuwaay Waadluxan Mathematical Adventures, created by Elders, educators, community members, and students in Haida Gwaii, the Richmond teachers and students have looked for mathematics in their community and posed and solved problems of interest to them.