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Friday, February 12, 2010

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Thematic Unit Diagram

Thematic Unit Table

Your Name: Maria Stapleford Leah Bjornstad, Tim Wood, Brendon Pond

Course-Section: TEAC 259 Section 007

Your ID:



I. Unit Context

1.Summary of the description of the unit theme :

Our unit centers on fractions, and understanding basic parts of fractions. Using a pizza pie example we will present the idea of wholes and parts. We teach them terms using the different pieces of the pizza. This will give them a visual representation of parts and wholes that will help them visualize and identify the different parts of fractions (with the added benefit of excitement). They will benefit by learning the different parts of a fraction and be able to identify the different parts in order to use, understand and represent parts and wholes using fractions.


2.Target subject area/class: The target area are students in 1st or 2nd grade; a classroom of about 15-20 students. The presentation would occur in the math section of the day.

3.Classroom and Equipments : An elementary school classroom with a projector, computer, and paper towels or plates.



II. Audience

1.General characteristics

Size: 15-20 Students



Age: 6-7 years old



Demographics: Variable

Experience: Limited previous experience needed.

Attitudes toward your class: Normally positive, engaged, and enjoy interactive activities.

Interests: Talking, playing, eating, using hands on activities.

2.Entry competencies

They'll need knowledge about whole numbers, counting, and shapes.







III. Objectives

1. State Goal: After completion of the lesson, students will understand fractions, their basic parts, and how to represent parts and wholes using fractions.

2. Objective 1:
(C) After cutting the pizza, (A) the students in the classroom (B) will observe and verbally answer questions, for (D) 5-10 minutes.

3. Objective 2:
(C) After watching the instructional video, (A) the students in the classroom (B) will practice recognition of numerators and denominators by writing down responses to questions for (D) 5-10 minutes.

4. Objective 3:
(C) After receiving a practice worksheet, (A) the students in the classroom (B) will fill out the worksheet on their own either at home or in the classroom [to be corrected the next day] (D) for the remainder of the math period and [if they do not complete it in class] at home.







IV. Instructional Strategies and Methods

Objective
The Names Of the Strategies
How to use?
1


Demonstration


We are using pizza as a visual aid, so that the students will actively want to be involved in understanding what fractions truly are. The students will be able to learn faster if they have something that they can work with that is hands on.

2


Presentation



We are going to show a video with a song that goes along with it and we’ll play the video a few times over so that it will get ingrained into the students heads, so that the students can refer to the song if they are getting confused with what they are doing.
3


Simulation


We will have the kids pick out there favorite kinds of pizza and draw them on a piece of paper, and have them make a fraction out of the pizza and label it. This will allow the students to independently show that they know what fractions are.









V. List Resources


Fraction Song
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtA2IhrGeFQ)

Papa John’s Pizza

Internet

Practice Worksheets

Technology in the Classroom

Group Name: Freaks & Geeks
Members:
1. Brendon Pond
2. Leah Bjornstad
3. Tim Wood
4. Maria Stapleford

Members Blogs:
Maria's: mstaple90.blogspot.com
Leah's: leah3bjorn.blogspot.com
Brendon's: brendonpond.blogspot.com
Tim's: teac259timsblog.blogspot.com


The culture we are living in today is very much different than the culture of the past. Technology is advancing in an increasing rate every day and the technology of today will quickly be put aside by the technology of tomorrow. This is of huge importance for the teachers of today's society. We are going from a society of teachers who use chalkboards and transparencies to a new age of teachers who are utilizing Microsoft PowerPoint and projectors. The youth of today are leading the way for this new technology in most cases, and unfortunately the teachers seem to be one step behind. The advancements of the internet seem to be endless as well.
It seems as if the youth of today are taking the technology of today and utilizing it more then the education system is. According to Richard MacManus "96 percent of students with online access use social networking technologies." Students are utilizing social networking websites such as Facebook and Myspace, as well as taking full advantage of texting, blogging, and online chatting.
Students are not only using these social networking sites as a place to waste time, but are using them to post writings, make art work, or even work on classroom assigned projects. They are even utilizing the abilities of the internet and these social networks to upload pictures and videos. According to MacManus 41 percent of students post messages weekly, 32 percent of students download music weekly, 30 percent of students download videos weekly, and 25 percent of students update their online profile weekly.
It is very important to know all of these things as teachers because it is our job to not only teach our students material, but it is also our job to be able to relate to our students, so that we can teach in the most effective way possible. For instance, if an English teacher knew that 25 percent of his or her students were updating their online profiles on web sites such as Facebook, then the teacher could utilize this knowledge and have their students create online portfolios which they could continue to work on online and continue to update them weekly. In college we see teachers increasingly moving toward computers as a valuable resource. Whether it be professors having their students turn in papers online or even having students take quizzes online, the internet is showing to be a great asset. MacManus makes it a point to point out the fact that "students aren't passive couch potatoes online" in his article about online creativity and E-learning.
It is also important to realize technological usage simply because it is the newest thing, is not purpose. It's a new "toy". Is it worth the added distractions? Cell phones, laptops, iPods, etc. can be major distractions for students. So many options and things at a touch can make it hard for young students to focus on the task at hand. If your in a classroom setting keeping an eye out for kids "passing notes" it's an easy thing to spot and then take the proper embarrassment technique to make sure the student thinks twice before choosing to ask a girl "Do you like me, check yes or no?" and not finish his school work. On the other hand, it is almost impossible to catch someone texting a note to someones phone, and if you do, one hit of a button and it's deleted. With a paper note, well...the only way to try and hide it is to "eat it", literally, before the teacher gets you to open your mouth.
Technological advances, and it's uses, are clearly limited by the purpose they can provide in a practical sense within a classroom. Questions you may ask when considering using a piece of new technology...

Does this make it easier for me to explain the subject matter to my students?
If a student needs help, can they get it in a timely manner?
If a student decides to make a poor decision that gets in the way of learning, can I see to redirect them?
Does it make the subject matter easier to understand?
5. How many distractions will this new technology introduce, and do the benefits outweigh the liabilities?

By using the most recent technologies in a classroom setting, it will allow students to be able to transition into the working world where new technology is applied daily. Being able to use online resources will allow teenagers to not only transition into the working world better, but into a college or university setting as well. Knowing how to use different software will also make students more marketable, when it comes time to looking for a job.
In his article, Researchers question school in high-tech age, Dean Bennett points out that classrooms have remained the same over hundreds of years while the world of technology has transformed the world outside schools. Teachers are beginning to integrate technology into the classroom and students are continually bringing their personal gadgets into class. Bennet suggests that should strive to include technology in their lessons, and ask the students to use their cell phones and other devices to engage in class instead of sharing notes. As teachers we can ask older students to text answers to the teacher, or ask use their laptops to e-mail assignments, or look up maps in a geography class. The teacher can easily incorporate technology into the lesson plan to engage students growing cultural knowledge.





Works Cited
2007. MacManus, Richard. New Study Shows that online creativity and E-Learning Popular with Kids. Web: http://www.readwriteweb.com
Researchers question school in high-tech age
DEAN Bennett Canadian Press Aug. 29th, 2007