Introduction
"Have you ever argued with your sibling? Maybe they wronged you in some way. How did you go about fixing the problem?" I will allow some time to discuss and answer. "When you come up with a way to fix a problem, you are finding a solution. Today, we will read "Something, Someday" by Amanda Gorman, and I would like you to find the problem the main character faces in the story and the solution that he makes. A problem is something that needs to be fixed, something that is wrong. So, turn on your listening ears and wipe your mind of all distractions."
Read Aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFWpWTrA6_k
Task
The students will listen to the book as I read and observe the problem and solution. Afterwards, I will open the floor up for discussion, providing guided questions for the students.
Questions: What was the problem faced in the story? Why was it a problem? How did the main character solve it? Are there any other solutions you can think of? How was the flower garden a solution? What did it fix?
Then, after a little discussion, I will guide the students in writing a journal entry. I want them to think of a problem in their community or family that they want to fix. They can come up with a fake journal entry if they would like as well! They will list a plan to go about solving this problem. The main goal is for students to grasp the concept of a solution and how to go about it in the real world.
The standard: 1.ETS1: Engineering Design 3) Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model that communicates solutions to others.
Process
Step 1: I will read aloud the book (5 minutes). Step 2: My students will be led in a discussion with their peers. They will be asked to come up with different solutions to the problem. Step 3: I will guide my students through their journal entries. Step 4: Afterwards, if they would like to share their story with their peers, they can!
Evaluation
I will be evaluating my students on how well they participated in the group discussion and their journal entries.
- Did they come up with different solutions?
- Can they tell me what a solution is?
- Did they write about a problem and the steps to find a solution?
I will also be grading their short paragraphs on grammar and punctuation. I will observe if they clearly understand the concept of a solution. I will also assess their creativity in this assignment.
Conclusion
"Today, you guys learned how to fix a problem by finding a solution. If anyone would like to read their journal entry, telling us the problem and solution, that is welcome." I will give time for my students to share their stories of solutions.
Lastly, I will assign an exit ticket that tells me the definition of a solution. I will encourage my students to go outside and look for problems they can solve!