Week+Two+Lesson

Units of Measure

Materials used:- > eg Handspan - Centimetres - 20 cm Activity
 * A series of cards that had a) units of measure b) an item that would use that particular measure and c) a reasonable quantity that would link to both.
 * 20 sets of cards
 * In smal groups, the students try to match up each of the cards so that all are arranged "correctly"

OBSERVATION
 * The activity was very interesting in that it occurred within the unit of study so it was not an immersion activity, as such..
 * The stundets were very engaged and animated in their discussion of which unti of measure would match the particular item being measured
 * The greatest problem was allocating a numerical value to the set

REFLECTION
 * While the students were fairly capable, as a group, determining the correct unti of measure to use, appplying an appropriate unit of measure became the difficult part of the exercise.

WHERE TO?
 * Students would need to have more "real world" experience of some of the measures and their use.

Micarle - To trial this interactive discussion my class started extremely basic. The students actually had a discussion about the different Habits of the mind through their wiki. I know this is not straight maths but for these kids understanding their learning is halr the battle. To be honest I think the students have a long way to go with this style of teaching. It is an unfamiliar concept to them in mathematics, which is disapointing.

Sarah - I sent up a Wiki for my class but was frustrated with how long it took to get them all onto it. Maybe I didn't explain how to get on there well enough but what with trying to help kids with their other work and with getting kids onto the wiki I was running around like a headless chook! Admittedly it took me a week to set it up the way I wanted it and it's taken me a week to get the kids on there but they are so excited about it I couldn't believe it. As a class we decided what our protocols were going to be and they all took it very seriously which was encouraging. I'll post a bit more about it this week as the kids actually collaborate on some problem solving together. The bit that the students found hard to understand wa not the being invited to the wiki but the actual making a username and they had no idea what their mackillop email address was!

Simon. I have done a number of activities. Firstly I think Johnny has stolen my activity up the top here and written it up. Anyway I found that the students were really engaged with this activity and dscussed and decided on which units go where. It was a good started m(pre test) activity as it gave me an idea of there understanding. I will use the activity again to see if they have learnt anything over the period they have learnt about measurement.

My students in the year nine enhanced class were given the challenge of using graphmatica program to produce the best pattern using quadratic equations. They discussed possible tranformations that would allow them to produce the best pattern on their page. Worked really well aas some of the more artistic dreamers were very engaged and actually took charge in this activity were they would normally sit back.

I have also started a Wiki with my year 7 homeroom. They love it. Didn't have too many trouble with getting them all on it as I got them to send invites to themselves from my computer during the lesson. Have already had Science assesssment handed in on it, a photostory depicting items from around the school that would be measured using certain units of measurement. Videos, links to websites etc. However did try to have a discussion on measurement conversions from length to area and it was a bit of a flop.