Weekly Agenda

 Assuming this class operates on a 45-50 minutes class schedule, I would use the introductory activity for all of day one. Students would be given homework to complete for the night, but it’s short and relevant to the next day’s lesson.

Day two will begin with students completing a review game on the board. They will use the website http://coolmath.com/prealgebra/00-factors-primes/index.html to have a quick class review on the differences between composite and prime numbers. We will also review to make sure students understand what a square number is by referring to this site. http://www.mathsisfun.com/definitions/square-number.html Students will then use their own sheet of paper to construct definitions for each mathematical term. They will use this to spark a think, pair, and share for students to discuss how they would explain each term. Students will then show their homework examples to their partner and discuss whether they have completed the assignment correctly. Students will then be allowed to share their definitions on a small piece of poster paper. They will display these and students will visit each of the posters in a “museum” setting. At the end of class students will be asked to vote on which definitions they found most useful.

Day three will begin with the definition winners’ posters being placed in the front of the room. Students will then play an “Around the World” game in which they must identify the number as prime, composite, or square (square and composite numbers are sometimes interchangeable but students should recognize a square number to get it correct). This activity serves as a formative assessment. At this moment, students will show whether they have been able to grasp the basic concept of the new mathematical terms.

I will then give students the directions to their final assessment for the unit.

YOU are the new mathematician that has busted onto the scene of mathematics. You no longer accept the words that have been assigned to prime, composite, and square numbers. You want to change things up and maybe make learning these terms easier for students. After all, you did have to learn them when you were once a wee tot!

Your mission is to rename prime, composite, and square numbers with a word of your choosing (while remaining appropriate!). You must explain your reasoning for changing the original terms to your new ones. You must convince the board of Mathematic Scholars that you will forever change the math world and increase more interest in math in schools.

You must complete a PowerPoint presentation for each of the three changes you suggest. You also must provide examples (3) of each term. Be sure that you can explain the definitions because that will be a part of your grade!

Good luck, ya ole mathematician!

Students will be able to begin brainstorming before they leave class.

Day four will begin with students taking a short quiz over the terms and using the definitions to identify examples. The rest of the class time will consist of students using a computer lab to create their PowerPoint presentations. Students will save and send any work they have not completed to be completed at home.

Day five will consist of student presentations. They will take turns and keep their presentations brief and to the point. They will be graded on their word choices, explanations, examples, and presentation. The grade will be focused around their explanations because this best demonstrates if they have understood the concept of prime, composite, and square numbers by allowing them to interpret them into their own words.