A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively
engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.
You may save this Learning Activity to your hard drive as an .html file by
selecting “File”,then “Save As” from your browser’s
pull down menu. The file name extension must be .html.
Phase:
During/Explore/Explain
Activity:
1. Students will listen as the teacher reads the book Perfect Square by Michael Hall or uses the digital tool to show the book being read aloud.
2. Students will recall some of the ways that the square in the book was changed (cut, poked, torn, shredded, shattered, snipped, crumpled, ripped, and wrinkled).
3. Students will be paired with a partner to change a perfect square of construction paper into a new work of art. Each student will be responsible for creating two ways to change the square of construction paper.
4. Students will be paired into groups of two and each group will be provided with a square of construction paper, a pair of scissors, a hole punch, and glue. The students should work together to change the construction paper; remind students that each person gets to choose two ways to change the paper using the supplied materials.
Assessment Strategies:
After students complete their work of art, meet with each partner group to ensure that each partner can explain two ways that they changed the square using the art materials.
Advanced Preparation:
The teacher will need a copy of the book Perfect Square by Michael Hall or the ability to play an internet video with sound for the read-aloud video.
The teacher will need to cut out a "perfect square" of construction paper for each pair of students.
The teacher will need to provide each pair of students with scissors, glue, and a hole punch.
Variation Tips (optional):
The teacher can supply each partner group with additional supplies, such as pom poms, pipe cleaners, etc. This will allow the students to change the square in ways other than those shown in the book.