Students’ age range: 12-14
Main subject: Mathematics
Topic: Finding the Area of Plane Shapes and Applying it to Real-life Situation
Description: Students will be given an engaging start-up exercise which will require them to observe a diagram, and then state the number of squares they see.
An introductory video related to Area will then be shown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCdxURXMdFY (up to 1:57 mins)
Jigsaw Discussion- Students will be placed in 6 groups of 5 students. Each member would have been preassigned a category, along with text and video content, and asked to become on expert on area related questions. Each of them will then present their mini-lesson, while making use of tablets, mini white boards or any other useful resource. During each lesson the other group members will complete the supplied Area formula sheet, and make notes on calculation procedures. The teacher will observe each group, make notes and use a check list to check for particular features.
At the end of the lesson, students will be asked to provide feedback on the lesson, using a metacognition table via www.padlet.com
In the next class session. students will be provided with Activity Sheets in which they will be asked to:
1) calculate the area of each plane shape and composite shapes
2) draw two plane shapes - triangle and trapezoid- on square paper. They will draw the diagram based on given dimensions, estimate it's area by counting squares, calculate it's area by using the formula and then compare the answers. (Were your answers the same? If not, what do you think can account for the difference?)
Students will then be shown a brief video related to tiling a floor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txt4xk5-W6w
They will be asked to go into groups of three, and complete an area application activity- "Which tile size is most cost effective to tile your classroom?" (Students will be supplied with data, and would have been asked to measure the dimensions of their classroom ahead of class time)
This task will be collected for marking.