On Wednesday I taught fractions with chocolate chip cookies to first and second graders! Fractions, I am pretty sure that I did not learn about them that young, but maybe we were introduced to them it was just later in life that I finally got to the point that I grasped the understanding of a fraction being only part of whole.
So I decided to do a lesson that I totally made up from scratch. I knew that the unit this month was fractions so they had at least thought about it a little bit this month. This was also the first large group lesson that I had done with the students besides a read aloud. Finally, I was being observed for the first time. Needless to say I was a bit nervous about what to expect. This could be a totally crazy lesson, there was no way to tell except to just think about it for a while and then just jump in.
It was so much fun. The craziness of the lesson just added excitement, there were a few times when it seemed like there was not much control but I think the students loved it. The main thing I learned: It was crucial to have an activity in my back pocket to give students who finished the investigative part of the inquiry lesson. I had a sheet called “Create your dream cookie” and it was a blank sheet with an outline of a frame. This was key because it allowed the group of students who were still grappling with the inquiry piece of the lesson to have time to think it all out, while the other students were completely engaged in cookie creation.
Yes, I know what you mean about not learning about things at that young of an age. My daughter started algebra in 2nd grade. I just couldn't believe it. You would think now having taking it for 8 years, she would know enough to teach it. The problem is it just divides the day up more and it doesn't appear the students have time to really grasp the knowledge, that’s just my parent thought. At the same time, I have been a parent long enough I am see a change in education and I have hope for the future, as I become a part of that change.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we did learn it that young and we just did not have the right cookie so we did not remember the lesson *wink* I am sure the students will remember this experience even if they did not grasp the whole lesson. It must have been a blast.