Jeffrey E. Erickson
Jeff is from the southside of Chicago. He graduated from Northwestern University with a BA in Biology and UCLA with an MBA. Jeff has worked in the computer, publishing and gaming industries. He is entering his eighth year of teaching at Nobel Elementary School and will be teaching 5th Grade Math in the 2015-16 school year.
Perimeter and Area of Irregular Polygons
The object of this lesson is for 5th grade students to be able to transfer their knowledge about the perimeter and area of rectangles and squares to the perimeter and area of irregular polygons that are composed of rectangles and squares. They will also be able to relate this knowledge to real world situations. We will have a class discussion about these potential real world problems.
The lesson begins with a review about the meaning of the perimeter and area of a two-dimensional, geometric figure and an example of finding the perimeter and the area of a rectangle. In groups, students will find the area and perimeter of an irregular polygon. Using a SMARTboard, I will then model the calculation of the perimeter and area of this irregular polygon. A key learning experience here is the students and I will discuss what may be common errors including using unlike units of measurement, missing measurements of some of the sides and the general understanding of the perimeter and area of a two-dimensional, geometric shape. The students also develop a stronger understanding of irregular polygon measurements when we visually display how missing measurements are determined using the SMARTboard. Students really struggle with finding these measurements and this part of the lesson deepens their understanding. We will then work together in determining the perimeter and area of another irregular polygon.
I will then display the work of four students on the problem of finding the perimeter and area of an irregular polygon. In pairs, the students analyze the sample work.. This activity leads to a rich discussion about what each student did, potential misunderstandings, mistakes and what they thought the students were thinking to achieve their final results. A key element of this part of the lesson is that the I display sample of student work that shows common errors and also different ways to end up with the same, correct results. Students will choose their choices using Plickr. Students are then assigned the task of finding the area of a room in their home.
Jeff is from the southside of Chicago. He graduated from Northwestern University with a BA in Biology and UCLA with an MBA. Jeff has worked in the computer, publishing and gaming industries. He is entering his eighth year of teaching at Nobel Elementary School and will be teaching 5th Grade Math in the 2015-16 school year.
Perimeter and Area of Irregular Polygons
The object of this lesson is for 5th grade students to be able to transfer their knowledge about the perimeter and area of rectangles and squares to the perimeter and area of irregular polygons that are composed of rectangles and squares. They will also be able to relate this knowledge to real world situations. We will have a class discussion about these potential real world problems.
The lesson begins with a review about the meaning of the perimeter and area of a two-dimensional, geometric figure and an example of finding the perimeter and the area of a rectangle. In groups, students will find the area and perimeter of an irregular polygon. Using a SMARTboard, I will then model the calculation of the perimeter and area of this irregular polygon. A key learning experience here is the students and I will discuss what may be common errors including using unlike units of measurement, missing measurements of some of the sides and the general understanding of the perimeter and area of a two-dimensional, geometric shape. The students also develop a stronger understanding of irregular polygon measurements when we visually display how missing measurements are determined using the SMARTboard. Students really struggle with finding these measurements and this part of the lesson deepens their understanding. We will then work together in determining the perimeter and area of another irregular polygon.
I will then display the work of four students on the problem of finding the perimeter and area of an irregular polygon. In pairs, the students analyze the sample work.. This activity leads to a rich discussion about what each student did, potential misunderstandings, mistakes and what they thought the students were thinking to achieve their final results. A key element of this part of the lesson is that the I display sample of student work that shows common errors and also different ways to end up with the same, correct results. Students will choose their choices using Plickr. Students are then assigned the task of finding the area of a room in their home.
STEMraderie: Ultimate STEM Lesson Components
Gretchen Brinza, Jeff Erickson, Sushma Lohitsa, and Darnella Wesley
- Real World
- Student-Centered
- Team Effort
- Safe Space
- Technology Opportunities
Real World
Real world application allows students to see learning has meaning beyond the classroom. It extends into the worlds in which they live, driving additional learning.
Student-Centered
Student-centered learning is driven by the students. The teacher becomes a facilitator as students “run” the learning environment.
Team Effort
Everyone’s voices and experiences matter, no matter how big or small. Collaboration is at the forefront of both teaching and learning and respectful argument is encouraged.
Safe Space
Students feel safe in all aspects of their learning. They are encouraged to take risks, and failure is expected. From failure, real learning takes place.
Technology Integration
Each lesson allows creative opportunities for real-time technology integration. As technology evolves, so can the lesson. Technology empowers student engagement and learning.