Pattern Blocks: Lesson 2

For my second lesson with Pattern Blocks, I chose to adapt a lesson from Grade Levels 3-6: All Possible Perimeters. I chose this lesson because perimeter is a concept that is in our 5th grade curriculum and I believe it is a fun, interactive lesson. During this lesson, students will create various shapes using the Pattern Blocks. Students will discover that for measurement purposes, one side of a triangle will be equal to one unit of measurement. As I plan to use this with my students during our perimeter unit, I will have them assign linear measurement to their shapes such at feet, inches, yards, etc. The students will evaluate shapes that represent large perimeters and shapes that represent small perimeters and the relationships between the two. As a final activity, after the students have explored various perimeters with the Pattern Blocks, I will challenge the students to create a shape with the largest possible perimeter and the smallest possible perimeter, allowing them to use only one shape and 5 pieces. The amount of shapes and pieces used will vary based on the differentiation of each group of students.

Exploring the NLVM website: Week 3

As I continue to explore the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives, I continue to be amazed by the endless resources that it provides. In education today, and especially in my district, there is a huge push to integrate technology into every lesson plan. Technology Infusion is now required as a separate section on our daily lesson plans. Currently, my math class is starting a unit on measurement. Included in this unit is various concepts of time, including elapse time. This has always been a struggle for my 5th grade students. Recently, I discovered the virtual manipulative entitled Time: What Time Will It Be? This particular manipulative is located in grade levels 3-5 under the Measurement category. It is great because it allows you to manipulate clocks to answer questions regarding elapse time. It also provides problems presented with both digital and analog clocks. I believe that this manipulative will provide me with a great activity for my lessons on elapse time while allowing the integration of technology. It also allows students of different ability levels to work at their own speed. When using a worksheet with a set number of problems, you run the risk of your higher level students finishing early with nothing to do while your lower level students are left feeling disappointed because they were unable to finish the assignment. This virtual manipulative automatically continues to provide new problems giving students an appropriate work load for their level.

Exploring the NLVM website Week 2

By this time, I have explored many of the activities available of the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives. However, I am particularly excited about the geoboard activity. During my first week using this website, I was not really aware of this activity, probably because it is located far down on the list and I was preoccupied with all of the cool activities listed before it. I think that this activity is especially great because of the type of class I have. I have a whole unit of geometry I have to teach in the spring and the use of manipulatives can become challenging with the mix of students I have. I have a lot of students with attention issues and commonly, geoboards and rubber bands become nothing but toys and honestly, a big hassle. Using the NLVM website, I can not only give my students time on the computers, which they love, but I can avoid the inevitable event of a rubber band flying across the room. With the use of the Promethean Board, I can connect to the website and work along with my students using the same technology that they are while teaching topics such as area in a new interactive way. I look forward to utilizing this in the coming months.

Lesson 1: Pattern Blocks

I have adapted a lesson from Grades 5-6, category Pattern Blocks on the disk. The goal of this lesson is for students to add mixed numbers with unlike denominators using pattern blocks. During the activity, the students will first find the values of the triangle, parallelogram, and trapezoid when the value of the hexagon is equal to 1. Then, in groups, the students will create designs using the pattern blocks. Next, they will find the value of their designs using their knowledge of adding mixed numbers with unlike denominators. The lesson will utilize various materials including the NLVM website, Communicators, Pattern Blocks, worksheets, and calculators (when appropriate).