Brief Description

In this lesson, students will read a series of number books.  They will identify and record  the numbers and number words from each book. They will create a class book that demonstrates number sense using one of the books as a pattern.

Standards and Frameworks

Technology Standards

3T-F1  Use prescribed technology writing or drawing tools for communicating and illustrating.
3T-F2  Use prescribed technology tools for publishing and presenting information.

1M-F1  Represent and use numbers in equivalent forms through the use of physical models, drawings, word names and symbols.
1M-F2  Relate counting, grouping and place-value concepts to whole numbers.
3M-F1  Create, describe and extend a variety of patterns using shapes, events, designs and numbers.
3M-F2  Formulate generalizatins about patterns.

Academic

• Students will collect and group objects to represent numbers.
• Students will label groups of  objects with number words.
• Students will recognize patterns from the books they read.
• Students will extend these patterns in their own words.
• Students will create their own patterns using objects in the classroom.
• Students will create a class number sense book patterned after one of the stories they read in class.

• Students will use MS Word and a digital camera to create their own number sense book.

Basic computer skills should include using a mouse to click and drag
Previous experience with a digital camera

Materials

MS Word
Digital camera
Floppy disks
Various classroom objects, such as pencils, scissors, markers etc.
Various counting books that could include:  My Little Sister Ate One Hare, Down in the Meadow, 10 Terrible Dinosaurs, Ten in a Bed.  Select the number of books based on the number of groups you will have.  You should have one book per group of four or five students.

Accommodations for Special Needs

Students will work as a whole class and in small groups for this assignment.  Students with special needs should be grouped according to their needs.

Procedures

1. The teacher will read the different books to the class over a one-week period.  The teacher will read each book two times.  The first will be an introduction to the story.  The second time, the teacher will ask the students to find the number or number words in the story.  Each time a number or number word is found the teacher will write it on a piece of chart paper she has next to her.  The teacher will ask the students to show her what that number means by showing them a representation with their fingers.  Then she will have a student come up and draw a visual representation next to the number word on the paper.  For example, the chart might look like this:

 
  3                  three                  *  *  *
2. By the end of the first week each book will have been read to the class twice and there will a chart of numbers used in each book.  The charts created during the first week should be hung on the walls for children to be able to see and refer to.
3. During the second week, divide the class into groups of four to five students.  Each group will be responsible for finding the numerals or number words in each book.  Each group will then use objects from the classroom to make a model of that number.  For example, if the number in the book is three, the students might get three pencils and lay them next to each other.  Each group will write a label for their model using both the numeral and the number word.  The students will then take a digital picture of their model.
4. During the third and fourth weeks of this project, the teacher will read each book to the class again, this time asking the students to make predictions about the story.  What do they think will come next?  How do they know?  What are the clues?  The teacher will tell the students that these books all have patterns.  A pattern is a something that repeats.
5. Students will be asked to identify the pattern in each book.  This pattern will be written on chart paper.  For example, There were _________ in the bed and the little one said “Rollover, rollover.”  So they all rolled over and one fell out.
6. Students will then be asked to use the digital pictures they took to compose their own books.
7. Each group, with the help of the teacher, will import their pictures into MS Word. The students will find the pattern in the book and write new words using their pictures.
8. The students will type their story into Word with the help of the teacher.
9. The students will print out their book and assemble it.  Teacher with the help of the students will read the book to the class.
10. The book should be made available in the reading center for children to read.

 

Students will have a final assessment using a rubric that evaluates these criteria: completion of a group book, group participation and cooperation, use of technology, modeling of numbers and labeling of models.  The teacher will meet with the students at the end of each phase of the project to go through a group assessment checklist.  This will help keep the students on track through out the assignment.

Assessment Rubric:  Using Literature to Develop Number Sense
 

Group Assessment Checklist

Week One  (This is a sample to go through with the whole class.  Students will help the teacher check to make sure she has done all of these things.  Then she can explain that at the end of next week, she will use a checklist like this to make sure they have done all of their work.)
 

Read each story twice to the class
Found numbers in the story
Wrote down numbers on chart paper
Wrote number words on chart paper
Drew a picture of number on chart paper

Week Two (to be used with each group)
 

Each student helped to find numbers in the book
Each student helped to create a model of each number
Each student had a turn labeling the models with number word and numeral
Each student had a turn taking a digital picture of the model
Each student saved their pictures on disk.  The group gave the disk to the teacher when they were finished.

Week Three and Four (to be used with teacher and group)
 

Read book for a third time
Find pattern in book
Write down pattern on chart paper
Write down pattern words for each picture
Arrange pictures in order
Type in words under pictures using computer
Create a title for your book
Print out book
Read book to class

Teacher Name: Karen Gutierrez
Site: The University of Arizona
Date Submitted: March 24, 2002