ALEX Learning Activity

  

Comic Strip Math

A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.

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  This learning activity provided by:  
Author: Ginger Boyd
System:Geneva County
School:Samson Middle School
  General Activity Information  
Activity ID: 1996
Title:
Comic Strip Math
Digital Tool/Resource:
Make Beliefs Comix
Web Address – URL:
Overview:

In this learning activity, the students will review the elements of a comic strip. Students will collaboratively create their own comic strip demonstrating step by step procedures to solve a math equation involving fractions. Finally, students will create their final comic strip in Make Beliefs Comix website. A copy of each group's comic strip will be printed and posted on the classroom bulletin board for class viewing. 

This activity was created as a result of the Arts COS Resource Development Summit.

  Associated Standards and Objectives  
Content Standard(s):
Arts Education
ARTS (2017)
Grade: 4
Media Arts
3) Arrange varied content and components to convey purpose and meaning in different media arts productions, applying associated artistic principles.

a. Use artistic concepts of balance and contrast.

Example: Recreate a short scene depicting Hansel and Gretel running through the forest, with some students representing static trees and others performing the moving characters. Balance is created by composition of figures in the frame and contrast is shown by static and moving characters.

Unpacked Content
Artistic Process: Creating
Anchor Standards:
Anchor Standard 3: Refine and complete artistic work.
Process Components: Construct
Essential Questions:
EU: The forming, integration, and refinement of aesthetic components, principles and processes creates purpose, meaning and artistic quality in media artwork.
EQ: What is required to produce a media artwork that conveys purpose, meaning, and artistic quality? How do media artists improve/refine their work?
Concepts & Vocabulary:
Conceptualize
  • imagine
  • visualize
  • unified ideas
  • theme
  • brainstorm
Original
  • unique
  • synthesize
  • model
Artistic Goals
  • intent
  • message
  • aesthetic
Purpose
  • your "why"
  • intent
Artistic Concepts
  • balance
  • contrast
Elements of Design
Principles of Media Arts
Elements of Design
Figurative Language
  • analogy
Skill Examples:
  • Brainstorm with a group and list many, varied, and unusual ideas for a class media arts project. Use a storyboard to capture and organize ideas.
  • In a group and after brainstorming choose one idea and create a plan and/or model for a media arts production that meet the group's artistic goals. Challenge the model by getting feedback from classmates and revise the storyboard.
  • After researching choose many and varied images and l for a media arts production that convey a chosen purpose. Images and sounds will use balance and contrast.
  • Refine a media arts project to address a chosen purpose, communicating through metaphor.
Mathematics
MA2019 (2019)
Grade: 4
13. Using area and length fraction models, explain why one fraction is equivalent to another, taking into account that the number and size of the parts differ even though the two fractions themselves are the same size.

a. Apply principles of fraction equivalence to recognize and generate equivalent fractions.

Example: a/b is equivalent to (n x a)/(nĂ— b).
Unpacked Content
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • Use visual models to create equivalent fractions.
  • Explain the generalized pattern, a/b = (n x a) / (n x b).
  • Use the generalized pattern to create equivalent fractions.

Set models (parts of a group) are not models used in grade 4.
Teacher Vocabulary:
  • Fraction
  • Numerator
  • Denominator
  • Equivalent
  • Fraction model
  • Area model -Length model
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • Fractions can be equivalent even though the number of parts and size of the parts differ.
  • Two fractions are equivalent if they are at the same point on a number line or if they have the same area.
Skills:
Students are able to:
  • Use area and length fraction models to explain why fractions are equivalent.
  • Recognize and generate equivalent fractions.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • equivalent fractions are fractions that represent equal value.
Diverse Learning Needs:
Essential Skills:
Learning Objectives:
M.4.13.1: Identify fraction 1/b as the quantity formed by 1 part when a whole is partitioned into b equal parts; understand a fraction a/b as the quantity formed by a parts and size 1/b.
M.4.13.2: Identify a fraction as a number on the number line; represent fractions on a number line diagram.
M.4.13.3: Recognize a fraction as a number on the number line.
M.4.13.4: Represent fractions on a number line diagram.
M.4.13.5: Recognize fractions as numerals that may represent division problems.
M.4.13.6: Label numerator, denominator, and fraction bar.
M.4.13.7: Identify parts of a whole with two, three, or four equal parts.
M.4.13.8: Distinguish between equal and non-equal parts.
M.4.13.9: Define area, length, equivalent, fraction, numerator and denominator.

Prior Knowledge Skills:
  • Recognize fractions as lengths from zero to one.
  • Represent whole numbers as lengths from 0 on a number line diagram with equally spaced points corresponding to the numbers 0, 1, 2…, and represent whole-number sums and differences within 100 on a number diagram.
  • Identify a number line.
  • Recognize whole numbers as lengths from zero to one.
  • Represent whole numbers as lengths from 0 on a number line diagram with equally spaced points corresponding to the numbers 0, 1, 2…, and represent whole-number sums and differences within 100 on a number diagram.
  • Identify a number line.
  • Label the fractions on a pre-made number line diagram.
  • Represent whole numbers as lengths from 0 on a number line diagram with equally spaced points corresponding to the numbers 0, 1, 2…, and represent whole-number sums and differences within 100 on a number diagram.
  • Recognize a number line diagram with equally spaced points.
  • Compare length using non
  • standard units to determine which is longer.

Alabama Alternate Achievement Standards
AAS Standard:
M.AAS.4.13 Identify and compare models of a whole (1), one-half (1/2), one-third (1/3), and one fourth (1/4) using models, manipulatives, numbers lines, and a clock.


Learning Objectives:

Students will collaboratively create a four- to eight-frame comic strip demonstrating step by step how to solve a math equation involving fractions.

  Strategies, Preparations and Variations  
Phase:
After/Explain/Elaborate
Activity:

This learning activity is best used after a lesson on fractions.

Show the students the following comic: Garfield.

Lead a discussion with the class to review the important elements of comic strips.  Explain that comic strips are used to tell a story. They have three main parts: setting, characters, and plot. Comic strips use a series of frames to show how the story moves or flows and words and pictures are used equally throughout the comic strip. 

Place students in small groups (three students per group). Each group will create a four- to eight-frame comic strip demonstrating step by step procedures to solve a math equation involving fractions. Groups will complete a draft on their comic strip template before putting the lesson into Make Beliefs Comix website. 

Each group will print out their comic strip and all comic strips will be posted on the classroom bulletin board for class viewing.

Assessment Strategies:

The student will be assessed on successful completion of a four- to eight-frame comic strip appropriately demonstrating step by step procedures of the math equation. The comic strip will also be posted on the bulletin board for classroom viewing. 


Advanced Preparation:

The teacher will need a projector, interactive whiteboard, and internet connected computer. The teacher will need to develop a math equation involving fractions for each group to illustrate or allow students to develop their own equation. The students will need internet connected devices (one per group). The teacher will need to print and make enough copies of the comic strip template in advance one per group.

Variation Tips (optional):

The comic strips can be created individually, in pairs, or in small groups (three students in each group).

Notes or Recommendations (optional):
 
  Keywords and Search Tags  
Keywords and Search Tags: