10 class periods of 60 minutes each
Small Groups
Life contains patterns all around us consisting of three characteristics--a motif, repetition, and organization. In this unit students will learn about how patterns are used in Spanish, Science, Art, and Math.
Math - Mini-lab of 3 computers. Each computer is setup on the Virtual Patterns hotlist website. Students will choose three different websites to explore.
Science - Teachers will need to print the Science Activity Station instructions. Students will need access to a computer. They will also need the associated worksheets--temperature tracking handout and world map.
Spanish - Teacher will prepare the Verb Conjugation flashcards located as an attachment. These will need to be laid out, face down at the station. Teacher must also print out the station instruction sheet,(see attachment), and place it at the station for the students to follow.
Art - Each student will need a cardstock square to make a tessellation pattern, 8 1/2 x 11 grid paper, scissors, pencil, crayons, and tape. The tessellation instructions will be available for reference at the learning station.
Math - Teachers should preview the hotlist websites to make sure the plugins for Java, Flash, and Quicktime work correctly.
Science - Teachers should be familiar with using the internet to find weather information from different locations around the world. A very simple way to do this is type in "weather:location" in the Google search engine.
Spanish - Teachers should understand the concept of conjugating in English (the verb "to be" best illustrates this, i.e. I am, you are, he is, etc.). The teacher should also know how to conjugate regular "ar" verbs in the present tense.
Art - Teachers should understand the concept of tessellating with a slide and nibbling technique.
Math - Students should know how to navigate a website and use a mouse to drag and drop, rotate, highlight, and move objects.
Science - Students should have basic internet browsing skills. They should be able to read a map and plot cities theron. Students should also be able to add two and three digit numbers and find the average of a group of numbers.
Spanish - The students have previously learned what a verb conjugation is in English, and the pattern for conjugating regular "-ar" verbs in Spanish.
Art - Students should have previous experience with tracing a pattern, taping objects together, cutting and coloring.
Math - Students will be able to use problem solving techniques to organize colors, numbers, or geometric shapes to form a pattern.
Science - Students will recognize the pattern associated with the location of a city, its temperature, and its distance from the equator.
Spanish - Students will correctly conjugate regular AR verbs in the present tense.
Art - Students will be able to change a simple geometric shape (square)by using a slide and nibbling technique into another shape, and then organize the new shape into a tessellating design.
Math - Teacher: Open the hotlist and have the students select at least three different websites that demonstrate how to make patterns.
Science -
Math - Students should practice patterns on only one section of the website.
Science
- Advanced Learners
Math - Students could use virtual manipulatives for learning fractions and algebra.
Science - Students can graph their findings on graph paper; this can tie into the math lesson on taking an average;
Spanish - For an extension activity, the station can also be provided with blank flashcards. The students must prepare their own "Memory" cards and play again using these cards.
Art - Students could make tessellations using reflection or rotation techniques. Students could also make the tessellation shape into a picture by drawing in details.
Science - Students' worksheets will be completed, averages conducted, and maps filled out.
Art - Students will be provided with a rating scale and checklist and asked to give themselves a grade (1-4)for how well they understood the concepts related to tessellations.
Spanish -
http://nlvm.usu.edu
http://mathcentral.uregina.ca
http://www.exploratorium.com