Unlike many of my classmates, I am one of the few who has yet to experience using a SMARTBoard. My former school district just installed them this year and the school I currently work in does not have any. Do I feel at a disadvantage? Definitely! I hear so many wonderful things about them, including the advantages they offer for both teachers and students alike, and I want to actually see it for myself.
While I don't have access to a SMARTBoard, I was still eager to download the SMARTBoard software and browse through the multitude of lessons available on SMARTExchange, a place where teachers can share and access lessons.
My most recent teaching was in first grade, so I decided to start there. The students always enjoyed when we made charts and graphs, based on data questions that I would ask them. I came across a lesson titled, "Favorite Dessert Graph." The objectives for this lesson were very age appropriate, in that students would be able to create a class graph, as well as read and answer questions about the graph. The topic, desserts, is one that all first graders would not only be able to relate to, but get excited about as well.
The format of the graph was very easy to read and straightforward. The only difficulty I had was it took me a minute to decide what all the options stood for (ice cream, candy, bar, cake or pie). Perhaps putting a label next to the graphic would make it less confusing. I like the idea of students dragging the graphic into the appropriate column. Another thought would be instead of them dragging a picture, they could drag their name, that way you could see who likes what. I believe this would also help students gain more ownership.
The corresponding questions on the next two slides used simple language to help students reflect on and analyze the data. It is introducing them to the maximum, minimum, and mode, just without using that terminology.
This lesson could be altered in many ways to ask students different questions about how they got to school, what they are wearing today, and so on.
Now, I just need access to a SMARTBoard!!
http://exchange.smarttech.com/search.html?q=dessert+graphing
