Posted by:
Audrey Gagnaire
8/1/2008 5:16:20 PM
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| Title: |
Detracting Distraction |
| Grade Level: |
Elementary School |
| Subject Area: |
Arts
Language Arts
Mathematics
Science
Technology
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| Lesson Time: |
three 90-minute class periods |
| Introduction: |
In our classroom, there's a big window that shows the
staircase. It is very disrupting when classes go by as my
students stop what they are doing to watch. Students will
identify what the problem is (too much distraction, no
privacy, not enough beauty in the stairways. . . ).
Students will brainstorm ideas to solve the problem, and
figure out what solutions are feasible in the classroom. |
| Standards: |
Mathematics Standard 1. Level II. Uses a variety of
strategies in the problem-solving process 1. Uses a
variety of strategies to understand problem situations (e.
g. , discussing with peers, stating problems in own words,
modeling a problem with diagrams or physical objects,
identifying a pattern) 2. Represents problem
situations in a variety of forms (e. g. , translates from a
diagram to a number or symbolic expression) 3.
Understands that some ways of representing a problem are
more helpful than others 4. Uses trial and error and
the process of elimination to solve problems
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| Objectives: |
Students will be able to: - brainstorm ideas to make our
classroom less distracted by the outside
- identify
different solutions, then narrow them down based on
feasibility and accessibility to materials
-
communicate, collaborate in small groups
- decide what
steps they need to take in order to realize their
project
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| Resources: |
No Resources available. |
| Materials: |
Dependent on student’ s design solutions |
| Vocabulary: |
Students in this age group should be familiar with all words used. |
| Procedures: |
1. The teacher will lead a discussion on why the
window to the staircase may be distracting to students in
the adjoining classroom. 2. Students will brainstorm
ideas to make our classroom less distracted by the outside.
3. Students will identify different solutions, then
narrow them down based on feasibility and accessibility to
materials. 4. Students will be able to communicate
and collaborate in small groups through brainstorming to
come up with design solutions to minimize the distraction
of the window. 5. Each group will then present their
best ideas to the class. They should address how
their design solves the problem and how it would be
implemented. 6. As a whole class, students will
decide on which idea to pursue after reviewing all the
ideas. The teacher will then lead a discussion and
brainstorming session on how to take this design to the
“ next step. ” 7. Students will define
the different steps to take in order to fully realize their
design solution. 8. Students will decide according
to level of interest which group they want to be a part of.
9. Some students will work on a technology piece to
be presented at the technology showcase. They will create a
PowerPoint presentation showing the different steps that
the class took to get our final product. They will take
photos, write a description of the different steps taken,
and produce the final PowerPoint. 10. Students will
do any necessary research to implement the chosen design
(for example, measuring the classroom or window, observing
the traffic in the stairwell, experimenting with materials
or desk arrangements). They will make sketches or
models, or write proposals (depending on the scope of the
final design). 11. Students will then work as a team
to develop the final product or presentation. Remind
students that they must address how this design solved
their solution, how they came to their final product, and
ask them to think about what they would do next if they had
more time. 12. At the end of the project, students
will celebrate their creation by inviting other classes to
look at their wall. If possible, invite a designer
or school administrators to the class to see the final
presentation. 13. The class will have a party after
watching the PowerPoint presentation on a later day. 14.
Finally, lead a discussion with the class asking
them what they learned from the process. Discuss
what worked best, what didn’ t work, and how the
design could then be improved. |
| Assessment: |
- student involvement in the group
- self-assessment
-
assessment of their own group
- final project
-
PowerPoint presentation
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Enrichment
Extension Activities: |
No Enrichment Extension Activities available. |
| Teacher Reflection: |
N/A. |
Related
Files: |
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