The following is a unit
that focused on estimation and heavily integrated technology. It includes four Powerpoint presentations,
two used as whole class lessons, and two for individual use by students to
review material and practice. There
are also two Microsoft Word documents that students used to record answers to
their math problems. By the end of this
unit, students were able to estimate units of measure, and also were more
familiar with Powerpoint and editing fields in Microsoft Word.
NETS-T
– I.a, I.b, II.a, II.b, II.d, II.e, III.a, III.b, III.c, III.d, IV.a, IV.c,
VI.b
CTTC
– I.a, I.b, I.c, I.d, II.a, II.b, II.c, II.d, II.e, IV.c
CCCT
– 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7
Length
and Area Estimation Unit
CT Standard 15- Approximating Measures- A. Estimate lengths and areas
Unit Overview
Students often have difficulty estimating lengths
and areas. This was highlighted at a
school faculty meeting as an area that we should focus on to improve school CMT
scores. This unit will focus on CT
Standard 15, Approximating Measures, Strand A- Estimate Lengths and Areas. While focusing on estimation, the unit will
heavily integrate technology. I have
included four Powerpoint presentations, two for use as a whole class lesson,
and two for individual use by students to review material and practice. There are also two Microsoft Word documents
that students will open as a template, and record answers to math problems
directly into the word documents. These
can be saved into their individual student folders for evaluation. By the end of this unit, students will be
able to estimate units of measure, and will also be more familiar with
Powerpoint and editing fields in Microsoft Word.
Day 1- Estimating Length- Introduction
Objective:
Students will demonstrate skills in estimating customary and metric units of
length.
Materials:
LCD projector; journals; computer; rulers; meter sticks; Powerpoint titled “T-Estimating
Length Level 10 (slides 1-5)”.
Activities:
1) Use Powerpoint titled T-Estimating Length Level 10
on overhead using LCD projector. Teach
length estimation using slides 1 through 5 of the slide show and
discussion of the topic.
2) Divide students into groups. Groups choose objects in the room and use a ruler to approximate
lengths to the nearest yard, foot, and inch using the methods learned in the
slide show. They should record
estimations and explanations of their mathematical thinking in their math
journals.
3) Groups choose objects in the room and use the metric side
of a ruler and a meter stick to approximate lengths to the nearest centimeter,
decimeter, and meter using the methods learned in the slide show. They should record estimations and
explanations of their mathematical thinking in their math journals.
Assessment: Anecdotal notes from observation of group
activity and inspection of journals.
Day 2- Estimating Length- Personal References
Objective:
Students will demonstrate skills in estimating customary and metric units of
length using the “personal references” methods of estimating.
Materials: LCD projector; journals; computer;
Powerpoint titled “T-Estimating Length Level 10 slides 2 and 6-8)”.
Activities:
1) Use Powerpoint titled T-Estimating Length Level 10
on overhead using LCD projector. Review
units of measure by using slide 2.
Teach length estimation through personal references using slides 6
through 8 of the slide show and through discussion of the topic.
2) Divide students into groups. Groups choose objects in the room and use the personal references
method to estimate length to the nearest yard, foot, and inch using the methods
learned in the slide show. They should
record estimations and explanations of their mathematical thinking in their
math journals.
3) Groups choose objects in the room and use the personal references method to estimate length to the nearest centimeter, decimeter, and meter using the methods learned in the slide show. They should record estimations and explanations of their mathematical thinking in their math journals.
Assessment: Anecdotal notes from observation of group activity and inspection of journals.
Day 3- Estimating Length-
Benchmarks
Objective: Students will
demonstrate skills in estimating customary and metric units of length using the
“benchmarks” methods of estimating.
Materials: LCD projector;
computer; journals; Powerpoint titled “T-Estimating Length Level 10 slides 2, 6
and 9-12)”.
Activities:
1) Use Powerpoint titled T-Estimating Length Level 10
on overhead using LCD projector. Review
units of measure and “personal references” method by using slides 2 and 6. Teach length estimation through “benchmarks”
using slides 9 through 12 of the slide show and through discussion of
the topic.
2) Divide students into groups. Groups choose objects in the room and use the benchmarks method
to estimate length to the nearest yard, foot, and inch using the methods
learned in the slide show. They should
record estimations and explanations of their mathematical thinking in their
math journals.
3) Groups choose objects in the room and use the benchmarks method to estimate length to the nearest centimeter, decimeter, and meter using the methods learned in the slide show. They should record estimations and explanations of their mathematical thinking in their math journals.
Assessment: Anecdotal notes from observation of group activity and inspection of journals.
Day 4- Estimating Length- All three methods
Objective: Students will demonstrate skills in
estimating customary and metric units of length using all methods of
estimating.
Materials: LCD projector; computer; Powerpoint titled “Estimating
Length Level 10”; Word document titled “Practice-Est.-Level 10-Page 1&2”.
Activities:
1) Bring students to computer lab. Each student has own computer with headphones. They independently
use Powerpoint titled Estimating Length Level 10.
2) After completing slide show independently, they complete
word document Practice-Est.-Level 10-Page 1&2 on the computer.
Assessment: Check completed word document for understanding.
Day 5- Estimating Length- Perimeter
Objective: Students will demonstrate knowledge of
perimeter by measuring perimeter of playground objects.
Materials: Rulers; Yardsticks; Meter sticks; Math journals
Activities:
1) Use math text to teach lesson on measuring perimeter.
2) Students will bring journals and measuring materials
outside to measure the perimeter of objects on playground. All results and mathematical explanations
should be recorded in journals.
Assessment: Anecdotal notes from observation of group activity and inspection of journals.
Day 6- Estimating Area
Objective: Students will demonstrate skills in
estimating area of geometric figures.
Materials: Math journals; LCD projector; computer;
Powerpoint titled “T-Estimating Area Level 11(slides 1 and 2)”; graph paper.
Activities:
1) Use Powerpoint titled T-Estimating Length Level 11
on overhead using LCD projector. Teach
length estimation using slides 1 and 2 of the slide show and discussion
of the topic.
2) With partners, students will use graph paper to draw
geometric figures and determine their area.
Methods used to discover areas should be recorded in math journals.
Assessment: Anecdotal notes from observation of group activity and inspection of journals. Graph paper with figures collected and checked for understanding.
Day 7- Estimating Units of Area
Objective: Students will demonstrate skills in
estimating area of geometric figures.
Materials: LCD projector; computer; Powerpoint titled “T-Estimating
Area Level 11(slides 3 through 7)”; practice assignment on worksheet.
Activities:
1) Use Powerpoint titled T-Estimating Length Level 11
on overhead using LCD projector. Teach
length estimation using slides 3 and 7 of the slide show and discussion
of the topic.
2) Students will be given a worksheet containing sample
problems with triangles and rectangles.
They will complete it, estimating the areas of the figures.
Assessment: Assignments will be collected, scored, and returned to the students.
Day 8- Estimating Units of Area
Objective: Students will demonstrate skills in
estimating area of geometric figures.
Materials: LCD projector; computer; Powerpoint titled “T-Estimating
Area Level 11(slides 8 and 9)”; pattern blocks; graph paper.
Activities:
1) Use Powerpoint titled T-Estimating Length Level 11
on overhead using LCD projector. Teach
length estimation using slides 8 and 9 of the slide show and discussion
of the topic.
2) Students will be divided into groups of two. They will be given pattern blocks and graph
paper. They will first use graph paper
to estimate the areas of the pattern blocks.
3) They will next imagine the graph paper in their heads and
estimate shapes drawn by their partners.
Assessment: Anecdotal notes from observation of group activity and inspection of graph paper. I will also conference with students during study skills time to have them explain their estimation methods.
Day 9- Estimating Units of Area
Objective: Students will demonstrate skills in
estimating area of geometric figures.
Materials: Computer; Powerpoint titled “Estimating Area
Level 11”; Microsoft Word document titled “Practice-Est.-Level 11-Page 1&2”
Activities:
1) Bring students to computer lab. Each student has own computer with headphones. They independently
use Powerpoint titled Estimating Length Level 11.
2) After completing slide show independently, they complete
word document Practice-Est.-Level 11-Page 1&2 on the computer.
Assessment: Check completed word document for understanding.
Day 10- Estimating Units of Area and Length-
Final Assessment
Objective:
Students will demonstrate skills in estimating customary and metric units of length,
and estimating area by taking final test assessment.
Materials:
Final Test Assessment
Activities:
1)
Complete test for Estimating
Units of Area and Length.