Lesson Plan #: AELP-EDT0007

Technology Centers for the Integrated Technology Classroom

An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan

Author: Julie York
School or Affiliation: Lincoln Savage Middle School, Murphy, OR
Endorsed by: These lesson plans are the result of the work of the teachers who have attended the Columbia Education Center's Summer Workshop. CEC is a consortium of teachers from 14 western states dedicated to improving the quality of education in the rural, western, United States, and particularly the quality of math and science Education. CEC uses Big Sky Telegraph as the hub of their telecommunications network that allows the participating teachers to stay in contact with their trainers and peers that they have met at the Workshops.

Date: May 1994

Grade Level(s): All

Overview: Designing "theme" based activities, across the curriculum, incorporating technology, to be used as centers.

Subject(s):

Objective(s): Develop a cooperative learning atmosphere. Allow students to be in charge of their own learning. Encourage students to be independent workers. Students will be responsible for their use of time and completion of their assignments.

Materials: These will vary depending on the centers created, the facilities, equipment, and materials you have available. Be creative!

Karlovich & Shoemaker, Pattern in Chaos, Northwest Council for Computer Education. Feb. 1992.
Gardner, Howard, Frames of Mind.

Tying It All Together:

  1. Students are divided into groups of 4 or 5 depending on class size
  2. Two days are set aside during the week for centers
  3. The theme for the week is introduced and discussed, and handouts describing the centers are given to each student
  4. Students then work through each of the centers with their group, with the "teacher as a guide"
  5. Group process after all students have worked through all centers

Guildlines For Centers:

  1. Group all activities around a theme
  2. Select activities that fit a common time frame
  3. Choose activities that are of value to kids
  4. Include activities that are not all teacher dependent
  5. Have some accountability built into each center
  6. Include each of the "Seven Intelligences"* into the centers

Theme: Math/Problem Solving

Puzzles & Problems - Friends or Foe??!!

  1. SuperPaint (IIGS) - Picturing Multiplication and Division Using the SuperPaint program, draw a picture to represent these problems:
    a) 50 divided by 8
    b) 17 times 6
    Work with a partner! Print when done.
  2. Tangrams - Recreate 2 of the tangram puzzles in Tangram book at center, create your own puzzle for someone else to solve. You must use all of the seven pieces.
  3. Jenny's Journeys (Apple IIe) - Work with coordinate graphing. When you understand what the X and Y axis are all about, take the graph paper in front, and create a design. Write the coordinates on a separate piece of paper.
  4. Pathways 3 and Next Shape 5X5 - These are some thinker games that you play with a partner. Read the directions carefully! When we process, I will be looking for strategies that you used to win the game.
  5. Kings Rule - As you play this game, you must write down every pattern that you solved. List them in order.
  6. Calculator - Using a calculator work the following problems.What words do the answers spell?
    a) 0.19335 x 4
    b) 71 + 150 X 3
    Create 3 problems, of your own, in which the answers spell a word.
  7. Personal Goal Time - This is time where you can work on your personal goals. On a sheet of paper, write down what goals you worked on during this time and what progress you made. Hand it in right at the end of the center. Please use time wisely!!