Educational BreakOuts::Perseverance
- V. Sanz
- Sep 10, 2018
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 23, 2018
In order to wrap up Topic 1, Place Value, we decided to present our students their first Breakout activity. We took some curriculum activities and structured them as a series of challenges that would lead to a price.
First, students had to decipher Emoji codes in decimal and fraction number lines to find a code. The second stage involved ordering Pokemon cards by power using expanded notation. Students entered their answers in a Google form that would unlock the next challenge. The third activity was the Last Man Out, were students had to use fraction and decimal models to decide which card didn't belong. The last clue was also converting fractions to decimals and led them to a hidden envelope with a price, a "You Pick Pass."
For this activity, I selected the teams to make mixed ability groups. Students found animal sticky notes on their desks and had to find their members. Although most of the teams worked fine, a couple struggled getting along or dividing the work evenly. The activity was planned to be completed in two days, the first day, students were engaged and some teams were even able to get to stage three. The Last Man Out activity proved to be the most difficult because it didn't have much instructions and students had troubles figuring out the pattern.
A few teams got discouraged, but finally two teams figured out the clues and broke through. The excitement in their faces when the finally found the clue was priceless. Moments like that make it all worthy.
Students enjoyed the activity, were engaged and used their knowledge, however maybe my grouping was not conductive for the best collaboration. Next time, I will try groups of two, and I will let them select their partner.
We must build stamina and endurance in our students. I want them to be able to face challenges, and persevere. I hope that with practice they will learn to push through.
Comments