Group items tagged

This would be easy to manipulate as a game for higher grades by adding operational thinking problems to come up with the numbers for the place values.

1.MD.3 "Tell and write time in hours and half-hours using analog and digital clocks." This activity can be modified for ELL students or gifted students by giving them less dates to put on their timeline, or more dates to put on their timeline. The ELL students should be encouraged to draw pictures with their events in order to convey what each event is. This activity could be used across the curriculum by having students make a timeline of their favorite book. The plot of the book should go along the timeline. This can be done in various subject areas!

3.OA.7 "Fluently multiply and divide within 100, using strategies such as the relationship between multiplication and division (e.g., knowing that 8 × 5 = 40, one knows 40 ÷ 5 = 8) or properties of operations. By the end of Grade 3, know from memory all products of two one-digit numbers." This activity can be adjusted for ELL students by allowing them more time on the timer. The extra time may allow them enough time to think through their answers without feeling rushed. This can also be used for gifted students in the opposite way. The allotted time can be shorter, which encourages them to give their answers quickly! This activity can be used with younger ages by having the students practice their math facts, rather than their multiplication facts.

5.4.1 "Investigate technologies that mimic human or animal musculoskeletal systems in order to meet a need." This activity can be adapted for ELL students by allowing those students to draw pictures of their design, rather than write a paragraph or make a chart. If the students are able, they can label the parts of their picture, using the English words they know. This activity can also be adjusted for younger grades by allowing them more than one science class time to work on the project. This may be an activity that can span a few days. The activity can then be broken down into sections. The students could use one class time to ask their questions within their group, and plan what they want their product to look like. The actual design and implementation of their product can be put into place on a separate class day.

The Design Process: Identify a need or problem to be solved; brainstorm potential solutions; throughout the entire design process, document the design with drawings (including labels) in a portfolio or notebook so that the process can be replicated; select a solution to the need or problem; select the most appropriate materials to develop a solution that will meet the need; evaluate and test the design. This activity can be adapted for gifted students by allowing them to first draw a blueprint of their model. This will allow them to make predictions and hypothesis about their cube model and their tag board model. These students can then record their observations and their conclusions about their final product. This activity can also be adapted for younger grades by giving the students more materials to help them balance their models. Also, allowing the younger students to work in partners, rather than pairs, will allow them to more freely express their ideas. Working with a partner will give each student the opportunity to make sure their ideas are heard. For younger students, omitting the blueprint may also be helpful. Rather, having the students simply draw a picture of their model with labels may be more appropriate.

Can make low-ability students only separate a into two or three categories. While have high-ability students separate into more than 4 categories and possibly add names to leaves or categories. 

5.4.2 "Investigate the purpose of prototypes and models when designing a solution to a problem and how limitations in cost and design features might affect their construction." This activity can be modified for gifted students by having them make predictions or recommendations about the types of materials that could be added to the boats to improve their design and function. The activity could be modified for younger grades by having them design only two boats and decide which one is better. This would be ideal, because younger students may take more time to build and design their boats.

This has some interesting variations to our pennies in the boat activity. I like the math connection with the bidding slip and making sure they save their boats for later comparisons.

3.1.2 "Investigate how the loudness and pitch of sound changes when the rate of vibrations changes." This activity can be used with ELL students by having them do the activity while saying a variety of words that they need to practice learning. These words could be said in Spanish and English, both. This is a great way to use this activity in a way that is meaningful for those students. This activity can also be used with older ages by having the students record their predictions about what will happen if they use a louder voice, or a deeper pitch with the sound. The students could then compare their results with other students in the class.

Extensions:  Science & Music are connected in this activity. Adaptations: Gifted students can make a rubber band instrument that plays a scale or tune.  ESL & Special Ed students can draw a picture of the instrument they would like to create or help make the instrument.  (Small groups will work on this project together)

Extensions: Science connects with a historical figure: Isaac Newton.  Teacher can give background on him prior to experiment or allow students time to research via book or internet this important historical figure. Adaptations Gifted students can choose one of Newton's laws and give a presentation on it after researching the topic.  ESL & Special Ed students can illustrate one of Newton's Laws on poster board or foam core.