Implementation
Since my Imagine-it has been dreamed about, talked about, analyzed, and anticipated, the next step was to implement. What does my Imagine-it look like? Student engagement across the curriculum with real-world exposure and hands on creativity. One STEM activity the students engaged in was creating a human number line. Sixth grade students explored integers by creating a color coded number line including negative and positive numbers. Correctly ordering negative numbers on a number line is difficult for some students. They have a hard time conceptualizing how -1 is greater than -4. This misconception is built around the absolute value of the the number without respect to its negative direction. Allowing the students to become the number line and experience the proper order helped disprove their misconception.
Another Imagine-it activity my class has explored was “Program-A-Friend Challenge”. This challenge was given to my third grade class. Students was systematically placed in groups of four. They created a name for their team and assigned team roles including a graphic designer, spokesperson, “friend”, timekeeper, and secretary. Students worked in groups to design a maze using 6-10 chairs. They had to write the code for a “friend” to walk through the maze blindfolded. Students were excited about their maze design. They learned how important it is for computer code to be detailed. They also learned the significance of teamwork.
A daily STEM practice in my Imagine-it is student collaboration. Students use Math Talks to collaborate. During the Math Talks, the students are the teachers and I become a scribe. I allow them to challenge each other’s math misconceptions and to encourage their peers to critically think and question what is being said. In this video, you will see pictures of my Imagine-it progress as described above.
Another Imagine-it activity my class has explored was “Program-A-Friend Challenge”. This challenge was given to my third grade class. Students was systematically placed in groups of four. They created a name for their team and assigned team roles including a graphic designer, spokesperson, “friend”, timekeeper, and secretary. Students worked in groups to design a maze using 6-10 chairs. They had to write the code for a “friend” to walk through the maze blindfolded. Students were excited about their maze design. They learned how important it is for computer code to be detailed. They also learned the significance of teamwork.
A daily STEM practice in my Imagine-it is student collaboration. Students use Math Talks to collaborate. During the Math Talks, the students are the teachers and I become a scribe. I allow them to challenge each other’s math misconceptions and to encourage their peers to critically think and question what is being said. In this video, you will see pictures of my Imagine-it progress as described above.
https://youtu.be/rj-xm-NZqsA