Select a mathematical topic and grade level from grades 5 to 8. Consult Illinois Learning Standards for Math and Mathematics Performance Descriptors. Start with the big picture in mind. What are the overall goals? What is the overall scope of the five lessons? You have written lesson plans in other courses. There is not one lesson-plan format that is required. Use one that you like that includes all the necessary components (here are some options). A good thing to look at early in the planning are the rubrics (below). You are encouraged to use the "Bruner Approach," and use physical, pictorial, and symbolic representations of concepts.
The final product should include an introductory ("cover page") explanation of the overall structure of the lesson sequence and broad goals (one to two pages), five complete lesson plans, and the Self-Checklist (below). Number your lessons #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, and include descriptive titles, as you wish.
The lesson sequence should be ready-to-use. That is, these are lesson plans that you could pick up and use (for example, during student teaching or your first year of teaching). All handouts, worksheets, and the like, should be included (as needed).
Two rubrics will be used. One has 5-items (which correspond to the five NCTM Process Standards). One (the "Common Elements") has 10 items.
Your grade will be determined using:
To help keep track of all the requirements, I have prepared a Self-Checklist, which is below.
- Five-Item Rubric corresponding to the five NCTM Process Standards
- Ten-Item Common Elements Rubric
- Consideration of mathematical correctness, clarity, grammar, punctuation, and overall quality.
- At least one 3-part problem-solving lesson.
- At least three assessments.
- at least one alternative assessment
- at least one traditional assessment
- at least two assessments for the purpose of evaluation.
- At least one lesson should include some use of technology.
- Mental math should be included as part of at least one lesson. (It probably won't be a lesson on mental math though. You should do the math that you are normally doing, as part of the lesson, mentally.)
- Real world applications and/or problem solving should be involved in least three of the lessons.
*Keep in mind that one lesson can satisfy more one of these requirements.
Print out this self-checklist and fill it out. Include it when you turn in your 5-Lesson Sequence Project.