Essential Question for students (objective):  How can you use patterns, tables, and rules to solve problems?

Supplies:  video (length 2:01), note-maker

CCSS: 5.OA.3 Model with Math TEKS: 5.4 C, 5.8 C Make connections to real world
Time needed: 10 minutes + 
Instructional Format: Video, student problem-solving, group or individual work

Lesson Description: There are many ways to use this video in your math class.  I filmed it with the express purpose of seeing that there are real-world problems that connect to making tables, finding rules and patterns, and even graphing in the first quadrant.

1) You can show this video (2:01) at the beginning of a unit on algebraic patterns as a hook that will keep the students interested in learning about patterns.  You can have them work on the problem at the end of daily lessons (or once a week) armed with new knowledge that they are exploring in class.  Students use the note-maker to help record their problem-solving work.  Or you could revisit the video at the end of the unit as a formative check to see what the students have learned about algebraic patterns and whether they can apply that knowledge.

2) You could show this video as a warm-up activity after the students have learned some basic algebraic pattern work.  It is a great way to show context to algebra that connects to the natural world.

Extensions:  What other birds have unusual behavior that follows some kind of mathematical pattern or rule?  Can you write up a problem using the predictable behavior?