Results Page: 268

The Math Connection

?When are we ever going to USE this MATH?? How many times have you heard this question? Students delight in challenging the teacher for reasons or justifications of the material taught. What better way to answer this question than to allow students to research career fields of their own interest and make the math connection! Relating the curriculum content to their own choices, students broaden their understanding of where people use it in the real world by exploring the application of math concepts in the work place. Students research occupations of interest, draft and revise business letters addressing when, where, and how mathematics is used. Students produce final letters to mail to a contact person employed in their career choice. Students engage in problem-solving activities, solving and creating applications relevant to the world of work incorporating computer skills, Internet research, language arts skills, and mathematical skills. After receiving their reply letters, students produce final reports reflecting what they learned. Students expound on their positive and negative feelings about mathematics and the effect it has on their choices of occupations. Students produce portfolios at the end of the unit in booklet form as an integral part of the summative assessment. Once assessment is completed, students retain the portfolios for future reference. Irrational numbers addressed in MA.A.1.4.2 & MA.A.1.4.3, and complex numbers addressed in MA.A.1.4.2 are not taught or assessed in this unit.

Found in: 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade, All Year Long, Language Arts, Mathematics

The Inside Story — Cells, Organs, and Systems of the Human Body

You know that the human body is a wonderful system of interrelationships, but have you wondered just how your body works? Through various activities, students learn that cells are the basic unit of life. Cells work together to form tissue. Tissues work together to form organs. Organs work together to form systems. The various parts and functions of our body systems are unveiled as students learn the relationships between our systems and how these relationships keeps us alive and well. Reading in the content area and study skills such as note taking, outlining, graphic organizers, and illustrating are learned as students gather and organize facts about the human body. Although the overall size of the unit appears overwhelming, a user friendly routine is quickly established. This routine allows for progression to higher order thinking skills while remaining student and teacher friendly as the unit is taught.

Found in: 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, All Year Long, Language Arts, Science

Students as Historians: Investigating the Gulf War

In this unit, students use facts and opinions, as well as primary and secondary sources. They explore the detective work of historians as they investigate the Gulf War from different perspectives and interpretations. Students use a variety of media for research and become acquainted with technology as a tool for enhancing and enriching the academic classroom.

Found in: 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, All Year Long, Language Arts, Social Studies

Statistical Sleuths

Statistical Sleuths involves students in mathematical problem-solving processes. Faced with dilemmas such as, how much time an average eighth grade student should spend on homework, students formulate and test their hypotheses using mock statistics and identify sampling techniques that could be used to collect the necessary data. They then organize the data into several graphs and reflect on the data’s central tendency. Throughout the exploration of the unit, a Detective Diary is utilized so that students can share personal reflections in a journal format. For the summative assessment, students use skills and processes learned during class to complete an FCAT style test and then embark on a performance based statistical journey which replicates the daily activities from the unit, allowing students to prove their learning in a real-world application.

Found in: 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, All Year Long, Mathematics

Speak for Yourself

Speak For Yourself asks the guiding question, “What does it take to make a good speaker?” Students formulate a working definition of what it takes to make a good speaker as they work through the course of the unit. By analyzing famous speeches, role-playing examples and non-examples of speaking behaviors, and identifying informal and formal language, students become aware of good speaking behaviors. They learn how to modify word choice to fit purpose and audience. Ultimately, students organize and produce their own oral presentations to perform for the class. All of these activities culminate with the evaluation of classroom presentations. Within the evaluation, students must appraise the presentations as either effective or ineffective. At the unit’s completion, students can explain not only the speaking behaviors necessary, but also the planning process necessary “?to make a good speaker.” This unit has accompanying lesson plans and attached files.

Found in: 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, All Year Long, Language Arts, Social Studies