Strategies
The instructional format for my school is a modified block schedule. Students attend all seven periods on Mondays and follow an odd even block schedule Tuesday through Friday. Monday class periods are 55 minutes and block classes are ninety minutes. The instructional format is the three- part lesson with an opening, work period and closing. The bulk of the ninety- minute period block is the work period. Multiple strategies will be utilized for class periods to ensure effective delivery of content and the desired learning outcomes.
Technology Integration
Mobile wireless labs will be utilized throughout the unit for students to experience videos and interactive activities related to size and scale. Students will have an opportunity to view objects at the macro scale to the nanoscale using pre-assigned websites and interactive games. The technology approach will help students conceptualize and visualize objects in the various worlds of size.
Think Share Pair Proximity Partners
Students will work with proximity partners to complete a think share activity. The pair will discuss their topic and use critical thinking skills to review and learn key concepts. Each pair will have to discuss and relate information they have learned to questions or activities provided on an assigned topic from the unit.
Inquiry Based Explorations
Students will conduct independent and group labs. Students will have an opportunity to see how surface area, adhesion, magnetisms and physical arrangement of objects change with size.
Graphic Organizers
Students will create various types of graphic organizers such as foldables, flip charts, KWL's, and vocabulary maps to review, learn, and understand concepts taught. Students will use various graphic organizers to help them understand complex ideas and organize the information so they can use them at their individual levels of need.
Cooperative Groups
Student groups will consist of students from varying levels so they can learn from each other. Each group will have to work together to accomplish a common task or produce a specific product or to reach a given outcome. The teacher will function as a facilitator to ensure groups stay on task and meet the goals of the group.
Reading across the Curriculum
Students will be given a list of pre-approved books to choose from that relate to size, scale and nanotechnology. Each student will select one book to read to help him or her meet the 25-book campaign challenge for English Language Arts. Students will also read printed portions from "Prey". Each student will complete a Read for Points activity sheet that explains their feelings about both their book and the reading from "The Prey" and how they relate to the unit. Students will explain how their book affects their thoughts on nanotechnology's impact on today's society.
Pre and Post Assessments
Pre-Assessments will assess what the students already know about size, powers of ten, and scale. Responses from pre-assessments will help fine tune lessons so they are more appropriate for each group being taught. Students will range from general classes to gifted and talented classes. This method allows for differentiation of lessons to meet the needs of the participating students. Post assessments will provide information to determine if the desired goals and objectives for the unit were met. Posttest will also determine if some students still need additional help in the form of remediation or individual tutoring.
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