Submitted by: Dodie Denison Whitt
School: Rivers Edge Elementary
Summary
In “From Math-terpieces to Masterpieces,” First Grade students will begin by reading Greg Tang’s book Math-terpieces: The Art of Problem Solving. This book exposes students to famous masterpieces and art history, as well as to challenge them to solve open-ended mathematical problems using the artwork they have just learned about. The next step in the lesson’s progression allows each child to become an artist and to create his/her own original masterpiece. However, the students must not only create a picture, they must also create an original story problem that accompanies their masterpiece. These pictures and stories will be displayed gallery-style in the school hallways, but will also be turned into PowerPoint presentations (to be shared with all of the First Grade classes), as each classes’ collections of masterpieces and story problems are viewed and solved in a “Problem of the Day” fashion.
TIPC Ratings
This lesson in entering with research and information fluency. Students are using provided resource and follow teachers direction to complete class assignment.
This lesson is developing in communication and collaboration. Students worked in teacher selected groups. Students used digital tool to complete assignment.
This lesson is developing in critical thinking and problem solving. Students generated and responded to purposeful questions. Digital tool was used to solve open-ended authentic task.
This lesson is ideal/target in creativity and innovation. Students synthesized existing and self-generated knowledge to create new math problems. They reflected on others projects.
