This lesson is for : Grade 5:
Summary
What are Fractals? You hear about them in the Frozen song, but what are they really? This student-centered project allows students to understand what fractals are in our world. Through a field trip to the Math and Science Center where students are introduced to the topic, they are then motivated to learn more about fractals and how they are relevant in our daily lives. Initially, groups are formed where each student becomes the expert on a particular area where fractals can be found: architecture, nature, art, or music. A Google form is created and posted on the classroom blog where the students answer questions to enhance their research. After the research phase, new groups are formed where there is at least one student expert in each fractal area and members share their knowledge with other group members. Notes are taken on a shared Google doc. Next, groups decide how they want to present their final project which will air on the school’s morning announcements. Final projects include a radio broadcast, videos, and a Google Slides presentation. After the projects are aired on the announcements, the student population is challenged to find examples of fractals on their own. Butcher paper is hung in the hallways and various grade levels are encouraged to either draw pictures or take photos and post them on the paper to share their findings. Additionally, the fifth graders are partnered with a first grade art class where they share more examples of their knowledge of fractals.
TIPC Ratings
Research & Information Fluency
Rating: Approaching – Explanation: This lesson falls under the Approaching range. The students conducted the research phase using sources from the Math and Science Center website/ paper notes, Skyping with a fractal expert from the Math and Science Center, Google images, and observations of fractals in the real world. During their visit to the Math and Science Center, students were able to ask questions, create geometric shapes, and complete several fractal activities on the computer.
Communication & Collaboration
Rating: Approaching – Explanation: This lesson falls under the Approaching range. Students created their own groups based on interest levels and became experts on either fractals in nature, art, music, or architecture. The students had the opportunity to communicate with an instructor from the Math and Science Center by Skyping with her so they could collect answers needed for additional fractal research. They also used a teacher created Google form as a way to organize their thoughts prior to moving forward with the process. Students were then able to collaborate within new groups to share out their information and create different presentations to showcase their knowledge of fractals with the entire school. The students used Google docs to take notes that they shared with group members. The groups decided which format to use to present their final projects to the school on the morning announcements. Final projects included the use of Audacity, Windows Movie Maker, and Google Slides presentation. After the projects were aired on the announcements, the student population was challenged to find examples of fractals on their own. Butcher paper was hung in the hallways and various grade levels either drew pictures or took photos and posted them on the paper to share their findings. Additionally, the fifth graders were partnered with a first grade art class where they shared more examples of their knowledge of fractals.
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
Rating: Approaching – Explanation: This lesson falls in the Approaching range. The students were presented with the problem: What would our world be like if we did not have fractals? The students had to use critical thinking and problem solving skills to address this question. Through analyzing information collected during the research phase, groups had to develop a plan to effectively present their information to students on the school’s morning announcements.
Creativity & Innovation
Rating: Approaching – Explanation: The lesson falls in the Approaching range. Creativity and innovation were evident in each group’s final projects. There were no limitations in how groups could create their projects. Encouraging other grade levels in the school to participate in finding additional examples of fractals in their environment, provided an opportunity to reach a larger population and involve them in the process of creation.
Student Artifact
Lesson Materials
