Summary
This lesson involves the hypothetical destruction of Richmond, Virginia, due to a nuclear weapon and the impending zombie apocalypse that occurs because of this explosion. This lesson asks students to think critically and use rates and proportions in order to “protect” the United States from this new zombie threat. Ultimately, the students must determine the circumference of a circular barrier around Richmond that will be used in order to keep zombies from escaping and terrorizing the rest of the country. As an introduction and hook for the lesson, the students use the ActivPrompt tool to predict where this circular barrier should be located. In order to determine whether or not their predictions are correct, students measure circular objects around the classroom, share these measurements with the class using a Google Spreadsheet and then use this collective information in order to “discover” the existence of Pi. With their newfound knowledge of Pi, students calculate the circumference of the circular zombie barrier and use proportions to calculate how much military personnel and equipment is needed in order to man and maintain the barricade. As an extension activity, students use their calculations to create an infographic of their findings and present that information to the President of the United States.
TIPC Ratings
Not Observed – 0
Although not intended to be “research-based,” this lesson does mildly focus on specific information fluency skills. Throughout the lesson, the students use ActivEngage and ActivPrompt to help brainstorm information that is needed to solve the various aspects of the lesson problem (Where should the zombie barrier be located? How big is the zombie barrier circumference?). The students use their mathematical knowledge in order to determine these needed measurements. In completing these tasks, the students are using digital tools to create questions that will guide their investigation throughout the lesson.
Approaching – 4
ActivPrompt, ActivEngage, and the collaborative Google Form facilitate student collaboration within the lesson. The ActivPrompt predictions and Google form allow the students to examine collective data from an entire class and determine trends and outliers. ActivEngage is used as a brainstorming tool, which allows for the same type of phenomenon. The students discuss their mathematical reasoning and solve the lesson problem mathematically in teacher-chosen pairs, which allows the students to voice their reasoning out loud and receive help from another individual.
Ideal – 6
Critical thinking and problem solving are the major focus of this lesson. In this assignment, the students to make predictions and use ActivPrompt in order to collectively view those predictions, which then leads to a discussion of trends. Students then generate and respond to purposeful questions through participation in the ActivEngage brainstorm. Students collaboratively generate questions about the measurements and information that is needed to solve the lesson problem. While working in groups and using the given information to solve the problem, the students must select their own critical thinking and problem solving strategies. The teacher does not provide the students with equations or fill in the blanks scenarios, but instead prompts and probes the students as to how they would use their mathematical knowledge in order to calculate the answer to their problem. Finally, the students use the Google Spradsheet in order to analyze and discuss the relationship between circumference and diameter, which leads to a “discovery” and richer understanding of Pi.
0 – Not Observed
Creativity and Innovation are not a particular focus of this lesson. If a teacher wishes to integrate creativity and innovation into the lesson, they may have the students create an infographic of their findings and present that information to the President of the United States. For this portion of the assignment, the student could use digital tools such as infogr.am or easel.ly.
Student Artifact
Live Classroom Action – Pi Google Form from HCPS Instructional Technology on Vimeo.
Download Files
Saving the World with Circular Measurements
Contents:
- Saving the World with Circular Measurements – H21 Lesson Plan
- Student Worksheet
- Lesson Flipchart
- Link to Lesson Google Form
- Sample Student Work
- Live Classroom Action – Pi Google Form
