Samantha+Rivers

**Unit Title**: Upgrading Playground Equipment

 * Related Lessons**: Counting Change, Recycled Materials
 * Subject(s**): Math, Science
 * Grade:** 3

Goals: 1. Use the fewest number of coins when making change. 2. Apply counting procedures to sets of coins and bills to determine the amount. 3. Ability to determine how to purchase materials with a given amount of money. 1. Describe how human activity affects the land and the ocean. 2. Explaining the importance of using reduced, reused or recycled materials. 3. Discussing how the materials chosen are beneficial for users and do not harm the land.
 * Content Standards:**
 * //Math//**
 * //Science//**

ü 1. Creativity and innovation ü 2. Communication and collaboration ü 3. Research and information fluency || ü 4. Critical thinking, problem-solving, & decision-making 5. Digital citizenship 6. Technology operations and concepts ||
 * **ISTE NETS-S**


 * Instructional objective(s):**

In science, students have been learning about the importance of helping our environment through reducing, reusing and recycling materials. They have learned what each means and how it affects the earth. In mathematics, students have been working on counting money and making change with money after purchasing items. Students will be given a certain amount of “money” to: Farther into the unit students will:
 * Research various playground equipment and ground cover that is generated from recycled or reused materials.
 * Determine which piece of equipment best suits the needs of our third through fifth grade students.
 * Present their decision to the administration on why they believe their equipment needs to be chosen for our school.
 * Purchase the equipment using the given amount of money to cover all expenses, including shipping and tax.
 * Share with the school the reasons they chose their equipment and the change they had left after making their purchase.

Action: __Before class__: Reserve the computer lab so all students will have access to the internet for research.

Lesson 2 Lesson 3 || Problem-Based Learning: Upgrading Playground Equipment Social Learning: Creating a Blog to share their thoughts regarding their purchase of playground equipment Digital Storytelling: Create a digital story that shows their experience and thoughts on finding the new equipment and its benefits for the school and the earth. || Computerswith internet connections, SMARTBoard Access to Class Blog Slide show or movie software. || Monitor: __Ongoing Assessment__: Throughout the entire research process, students may be chosen to display to the class what they are discovering and how they feel it is beneficial. Assessment(s): 1) Blog entry 2) Digital Story that will be presented to administration and peers
 * Time || Instructional Activities || Materials & Resources needed ||
 * Lesson 1

Accommodations and extensions: Students may be put into groups if some are struggling during the research process. If so, each member of the group will be assigned jobs they are to complete to help the activity be completed.

Samantha, what a great authentic PBL activity. Our school is currently researching new playground equipment to replace our old stuff. It would have been excellent for my school to include the students in on this project. We missed out on an excellent learning activity. For an extension activity for your advanced students you could have them research places to donate and recycle the old equipment. Also, I love your idea of a blog for students to share ideas and thoughts. This will carry the learning home with them. Also, if a student is absent, he or she can keep up with the progress of the learning activity. Nice job incorporating technology throughout the activity. Great PBL! Jackie

Sam, I really like your PBL. I think your students will be very invested in this project because it directly relates to them and their peers. Having students work with the "money", do the research and then find a way to present it to the administration is a great authentic activity. I can't wait to find out how they do with this! Chelsea

Sam,

Strategically grouping students is always a great instructional strategy. You don't want those students to not do any work because it's too hard or be spoon fed because it's too easy. Strategic grouping will allow you to place them with other students where they are challenged to their ability and maximize their learning experience. I like the idea of blog entries to monitor the students. Will they be reflecting on their own work day by day or will have to summarize at the end of the lesson? I think this is a great project based learning project that incorporates cross curricular ideas. The students should have fun with it too. Best of luck! Tiffini P.S. - When you submit, are you writing using this template? Or will you write in paragraph form? Tiffini, I plan on using this template. I looked at the examples Professor Kirk put in Doc Sharing and that helped guide this template. Hope this helps! Thanks for your response! Sam R.

Unit Plan- Part 2 Collaboration with Others through Social Networking Lesson 2: Collaborating with Others about Playground Upgrade


 * **Lesson Title**: Lesson 2 of 3 – Collaborating with Others about Upgrade || **Related Lessons**: Making Change, Recycled Materials ||
 * **Grades**: 3 || **Unit**: Upgrading Playground Equipment ||
 * __Goals:__**
 * Content Standards:**

//Science//
 * || //Measurement (Money)//
 * 1) Use the fewest number of coins when making change.
 * 2) Apply counting procedures to sets of coins and bills to determine the amount.
 * 3) Ability to determine how to purchase materials with a given amount of money.
 * 1) Describe how human activity affects the land and the ocean.
 * 2) Explaining the importance of using reduced, reused or recycled materials.
 * 3) Discussing how the materials chosen are beneficial for users and do not harm the land. ||

1. Creativity and innovation ü 2. Communication and collaboration ü 3. Research and information fluency || ü 4. Critical thinking, problem-solving, & decision-making 5. Digital citizenship 6.Technology operations and concepts ||
 * **ISTE NETS-S**


 * Instructional objective(s):**
 * Decide which playground equipment and ground cover best meets the needs of our students.
 * Share information with classmates by posting their choice to the class blog.
 * Present the reasons why their choice is the best and should be chosen.

1) Create a classroom blog. 2) Teach students to post and comment on the blog.
 * __Action:__**
 * Before-class preparation:**


 * During class ||
 * Time || Instructional Activities || Materials & Resources ||
 * 10 min

10 min

60 min || 1. Class discussion 2. Students will work with a partner and discuss their choices for the playground. They will discuss the pros and cons of their choices, as well as if they are staying within their budget.
 * What characteristics are you looking for in choosing your playground equipment?
 * Are there any specific criteria you are looking for in your choice?
 * What are some of the pros and cons you have discovered so far?

3.Students will log onto the class blog, and create their own post. Their post will answer the following questions: Students also need to add the link to their website or an image showing their choice so others may be able to view it. || Chart paper to document students’ answers.
 * Which playground equipment have you chosen?
 * What made you decide on this equipment and ground cover?
 * Why should the school choose your equipment over the other students’?
 * How much money, including delivery and tax, are you spending? What will your change be?
 * Any other thoughts or concerns regarding the assignment.

Computer with internet access.

Access to classroom blog ||

Ongoing assessment(s): Evaluate students’ work on classroom blog. Students will need to view at least 2 other students post and comment regarding their thoughts on their decision.
 * __Monitor:__**

Extensions: Some of the students may begin to think about what the school will do with the old playground equipment. If students finish early, they may begin researching ideas to reuse the playground equipment either for our school or someone else. They may post these ideas on the blog as well.

Hi Sam, Your lesson seems quite interesting and engaging! I love that you are incorporating blogging with your elementary class; it goes to show how these technological resources can be used at all ages. Best, Kristy

Samantha,

I love this lesson. Does your school have a PTO that the kids will present to? It would be wonderful if after the research, playground equipment could be purchased or even new ground cover. This lesson will have a positive impact on your students. Robin