Maths: Data Investigation in 6th Class

Data is always a fun unit to complete at the start of the year in maths.
However, I sometimes think we underestimate the children's knowledge and understanding of graphs and charts.  We also need to show them the importance of 'interpreting charts' and how to 'read between the lines'.

On the sixth class curriculum the children are introduced to 'trend graphs'.
Some key teaching points are:

• The names of both the axes and how to label them
• The significance of a title
• How to space the graph evenly (Consistency)
• Using a ruler! 

In groups the children worked on devising their own research questions and carrying out some investigations.  The children had to gather their raw data and represent it using a variety of tables and graphs. 

I created this worksheet to help the guide the children in their work. 

Get it for free here : Data Investigation

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The children then presented their findings to the class. 

Start of Year Activities for 6th Class

A new year, a new class and the familiar fumble to try and root out last years start of year activities! 

In this post I've decided to compile some resources I've found useful and which I will be using again this year. 

If you've any more to add feel free to comment. 

Here are a number of activity sheets I use on the first day of school and they're all free! 

This is a brilliant little activity booklet.  It has a number of activities in it on getting to know each other, creating a summer image, etc. 

You can pick and choose what works best for you and your class. 

The main activity I'll be taking from this is the 'Class Contract'.  Here the children write down three goals for the year ahead and sign it. 

I like to hold onto this and revisit it in the new year and at the end of the school year. 

I always think its always a good start to be positive and set some goals. I usually use this worksheet after we have discussed the rules for the year ahead. 

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Back-to-School-Free-Printables-289587

This is another great activity to help to get to know the children in the style of a Facebook profile. 

http://freeology.com/wp-content/files/facebookmypage.pdf 

And for a bit of gaeilge! 

This is also in the style of a Facebook profile on the topic of 'me fein'.  

Emer at 'A Crucial Week' has created this for a fifth class, but its also a fantastic first day activity to get the children thinking 'gaeilge'.  

http://acrucialweek.blogspot.ie/2011/09/facebook-style-me-fein-worksheet.html

Here's another little activity I've created to help me get to know more about the students.  I like to put this into my assessment folder at the start of the year. 

It helps me see areas the students feel they have strengths or difficulty.  It also helps me understand how they learn. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxDOdG_Zm1egMHZmdk5KaTFCV0U/view?usp=sharing

Reflection Rubric / Self-Assessment for Project Work

Self assessment and reflection are big buzzwords at the moment.
After completion of a project or a unit of work its important that the children reflect on what they learned, what went well and what didn't go so well.

Rubrics are a good way to prompt and scaffold reflection.

Here is a rubric I've created to help the student reflect on their contributions to the group/project.
It may not be necessary to give this reflection at the end of every project, but now and again it's a good idea for students to consider

• how well they are working as part of a team 
• and what they need to work on in future projects

Here's a screenshot of the attached rubric.

Link to Reflection Rubric PDF 

Reflection Rubric

Let me know if you give it a shot and how it goes for you! :)

Yvonne

Inventors Investigation & Young Inventors Competition

Last month to coincide with the Young Inventors Competition, I decided to explore inventors and inventions as part of a unit of work in science.

First,  we brainstormed and discussed as many inventors and inventions we could think of.

I then cut up the names of some famous inventors and placed them into a hat.  The children then chose an inventors name from the hat and carried out an investigation.  I gave this worksheet to each child as a guide to help them: Inventor Investigation

The children then used the iPads to complete the investigation and created a Comic Life Strip for their chosen inventor.  The children then shared their information and their comic strip with their partners.  We then carried out a group discussion on some of the most interesting facts we found out.

We then discussed and ranked the importance of the following inventions in everyday life:

• Steve Jobs - Apple
• Thomas Edison - The Lightbulb
• Stephanie Kwolek - Bullet Proof Vest
• Alexander Graham Bell - The Telephone
• Sir Tim Berners Lee - The Internet
• Grace Murray Hopper - Coding
• Louis Pasteur - Vaccines & Pasteurisation
• Nikola Tesla - Using Electricity Safely

It turned out to be an interesting debate!

Finally the children were challenged to design and create a blueprint for their own inventions.  This was a lovely activity to finish up the unit.
I encouraged the children to think of a problem and try and come up with an imaginative solution to solve it.
Here are some examples of what the children created.   We're looking forward to seeing whether we have any success in the competition!

Maybe we have an inventor of the future in 6th Class! :)



Yvonne

Music Genre Project

Project work often falls under the SESE area.. but why not in music?

If you want to try something different with your class, or you're exploring the notion of 'genre' in music this is the perfect project! The class will love it! 

I distributed this task sheet to the children: Music Genre Project  .  Feel free to download and edit as appropriate to your class. 

The children worked individually on a project.  I wrote down a variety of different genres on slips of paper and put them in a hat.  Children then chose a slip of paper/genre from the hat and worked on this for a week. 

This would work well alternatively as a group project.  

In order to keep some variety in the projects I distributed the slips of paper.  However, if there is a style of music a child is particularly passionate about I would encourage them to go with this!

The children were given a minute to present their projects to the class. 

I encouraged the rest of the class to ask questions.  They also wrote down one interesting fact they learned for each project which was presented.  

This is a great project for a rainy day or as an early finisher activity. 

Here are some pictures of the final projects

Let me know how it goes for you! 

Yvonne 

Land League History Lesson

There are some topics within the 6th class history curriculum which can be heavy and hard to make fun or active... particularly (dare I say it) when it comes to Irish History.

I created this lesson to:

• Get the children researching and investigating. It's important that children discover or find the information for themselves and for a meaningful purpose. 
• Incorporate drama into the lesson.  Drama is a wonderful tool within history to help the children develop empathy.  It allows them to step back in time and into the shoes of the characters. 
• Develop teamwork skills.  Children had to work together to come up with an appropriate campaign. 

I have attached a copy of the task sheet I distributed to the children here: 

Land League Project Brief

I was amazed with what the children came up with! Some re created the scenes when Devoy, Parnell and Davitt joined forces.  Others distributed campaign leaflets, posters and voting slips.  Speeches and chants were made to win the support of the crowd.  Some children even brought in their own props and clothes to really get into character. 

Check out some of the pictures on our twitter page!
https://twitter.com/MissWardsClass

Finally I created a display of some of the posters and campaign slips created by the children.

This turned out to be one of my favourite lessons this year. 

The class LOVED it! 

Learning about the Land League will never be boring again! 

Let me know how you get on! 

Yvonne 

Angles & Lines Maths Trail for Senior Classes

As part of Maths week, I carried out a maths trail with my class on the topic of Angles and lines.  

What is a maths trail? 

"A Maths Trail is an organised walk through an area close to school where pupils can experience maths in the real world. A trail will help to highlight for them the huge use we make of number in our everyday life and how Maths surrounds us in even the most unusual areas" (PDST, 2014)

  

The trail I used offered the children the opportunity to explore the use of angles and lines in the environment around them.   Before starting I set out some ground rules. 

·      Children formed groups of three and four. 

·      I then assigned one piece of equipment to each child as follows:

o   Chalk

o   A large protractor

o   A metre tape

·      All children were given the task sheet and set out in their groups to complete each task.

TIP! Before setting out on the trail.  Make sure to discuss what is required on the trail prior to leaving the classroom!

The children absolutely loved the activity and for many helped increase their understanding of lines and angles. 

I have attached a free copy of the maths trail I used here! Google Docs Maths Trail File

Feel free to download and try it out with your class. (Please note: Share the file to your own account before editing! :))  Let me know how you get on!

Don’t forget to discuss your findings when you return to the classroom!

If you're thinking of creating your own trails, PDST have some great advice here and prompt questions: 

Maths Trails Overview & Prompts PDF

There are also some other examples of trails you can use here: 

Maths Trails Documents

Yvonne