Lesson Plans' Evaluation

#1 Lesson Plan Evaluation

Submitted by:

Stephanie Tennille

Name of Lesson Plan: "Adventures in Statistics"

Authors: Tom Scavo and Bryon Petroroja

URL: http://forum.swarthmore.edu/trscavo/statistics/adventures.html

Subject Area: Mathematics

Grade Level: Fifth and Sixth Grade

This lessons contains the following components:	Yes	No
Has purposeful and meaningful objectives	X
Actively involves the learner	X
Incorporates critical thinking skills	X
Encourages collaboration with others	X
Incorporates technology	X
Honors multiple ways of thinking	X
Incorporates a multi-disciplinary approach	X
Encourages risk-taking	X
Promotes problem-solving	X
Possesses motivational qualities	X
Offers authentic assessment	X
Invites creativity	X

Summary: This lesson incorporates several mathematical strands including, measurement, computation, graphing and data analysis. It is based on a student-generated idea and culminates with a presentation to the school's principal. I would recommend this lesson to 4^th through 12^th grade teachers.

#2 Lesson Plan Evaluation

Submitted by:

Stephanie Tennille

Name of Lesson Plan: "What if There Were No Clocks?"

URL: http://www.newton.mec.edu/Angier/DimSum/Crit.Think.Time.Lesson.html

Subject Area: Mathematics

Grade Level: 1^st-3^rd Grade

This lessons contains the following components:	Yes	No
Has purposeful and meaningful objectives	X
Actively involves the learner	X
Incorporates critical thinking skills	X
Encourages collaboration with others	X
Incorporates technology	X
Honors multiple ways of thinking	X
Incorporates a multi-disciplinary approach	X
Encourages risk-taking	X
Promotes problem-solving	X
Possesses motivational qualities	X
Offers authentic assessment		N/A
Invites creativity	X

Summary: I found this lesson to be a good introductory lesson before teaching concepts about time. This lesson is quite simple and would not require a lot of time. The suggestions for extending this lesson incorporate several subject areas besides Math.

#3 Lesson Plan Evaluation

Submitted by:

Stephanie Tennille

Name of Lesson Plan: "Three-Dimensional Shapes"

URL: http://ericir.syr.edu/Virtual/Lessons/Mathematics/Geometry/GEO0007.html

Subject Area: Geometry

Grade Level: 2^nd-5^th Grade

This lessons contains the following components:	Yes	No
Has purposeful and meaningful objectives	X
Actively involves the learner	X
Incorporates critical thinking skills	X
Encourages collaboration with others	X
Incorporates technology		X
Honors multiple ways of thinking	X
Incorporates a multi-disciplinary approach	X
Encourages risk-taking	X
Promotes problem-solving	X
Possesses motivational qualities	X
Offers authentic assessment		N/A
Invites creativity	X

Summary: This lesson incorporates geometry into an architectural framework. Students learn about three-dimensional shapes as they design their own 'dream home' using 3-D shapes they have created. The only weakness that I found in this activity is that it does not incorporate technology. Having the students create a 'dream home' on the computer with an appropriate software application could easily extend this lesson.

#4 Lesson Plan Evaluation

Submitted by:

Stephanie Tennille

Name of Lesson Plan: "Aurora Borealis: What Creates These Shimmering Celestial Lights?"

URL: http://ericir.syr.edu/Projects/Newton/10/lessons/Borealis.html

Subject Area: Science

Grade Level: 4^th-6^th Grade Level

This lessons contains the following components:	Yes	No
Has purposeful and meaningful objectives	X
Actively involves the learner	X
Incorporates critical thinking skills	X
Encourages collaboration with others	X
Incorporates technology	X
Honors multiple ways of thinking	X
Incorporates a multi-disciplinary approach	X
Encourages risk-taking	X
Promotes problem-solving	X
Possesses motivational qualities	X
Offers authentic assessment		N/A
Invites creativity	X

Summary: This lesson was created to go along with a segment about the Aurora Borealis from the television series, Newton's Apple. The lesson is a great follow-up after previewing the television segment. After giving an explanation of what causes the Aurora Borealis, the lesson incorporates an activity that shows students how ions conduct electricity, which fits in nicely with the cause of the Northern Lights. There are also several follow-up activities to reinforce the concepts presented in this lesson.

#5 Lesson Plan Evaluation

Submitted by:

Stephanie Tennille

Name of Lesson Plan: "How Are Mummies Able to 'Survive' the Tests of Time?"

URL: http://ericir.syr.edu/Projects/Newton/13/lessons/mummy.html

Subject Area: Science

Grade Level: 4^th -6^th Grade Level

This lessons contains the following components:	Yes	No
Has purposeful and meaningful objectives	X
Actively involves the learner	X
Incorporates critical thinking skills	X
Encourages collaboration with others	X
Incorporates technology	X
Honors multiple ways of thinking	X
Incorporates a multi-disciplinary approach	X
Encourages risk-taking	X
Promotes problem-solving	X
Possesses motivational qualities	X
Offers authentic assessment		N/A
Invites creativity	X

Summary: This lesson goes along with a segment about mummies from the PBS series, "Newton's Apple". The lesson explains the origins of mummies and includes several hyperlinks to sites about mummies. The main activity involves the learners in 'mummifying' apples. Several activities are included to extend the lesson into other subject areas. This would be a great lesson to tie into the study of Egypt and archeology.