The purpose of investigating curricular materials is for teachers to critically think about different ways to teach the target concept.  This phase of the Lesson Study cycle should include reviewing the ways teachers have taught the concept in the past, curricular resources, and research on teaching the target concept. Our project included animations as a way to enhance the investigation phase by demonstrating two possible problem-based lessons addressing the same mathematical concept. We would select a few animations, view them with the teachers during the Study Group, and discuss the students' thinking demonstrated in the animation. Below are animations depicting possible ways that a teacher could Launch and Summarize a lesson, as well as ways that students may approach the problem during the Explore phase of the lesson from two different lessons.

In the Grocery Store Problem, students are locating the possible location of a new grocery store given a map of their town with the current grocery stores.  

• Grocery Store Problem Student Worksheet 1 (for odd numbered explores)
   
• Grocery Store Problem Student Worksheet 2 (for even numbered explores)

In the Pottery Problem, students are using the perpendicular bisector to create a repeating pattern on pottery.  

• Pottery Problem Student Worksheet

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