We have been asked to design a lesson plan that incorporates STEM skills. I have designed a
mathematics lesson plan for the algebra strand for senior infants which involves the important skill of sequencing. In order to teach children the importance of algorithms, it was decided to use the Julia Donaldson story ‘What the Ladybird heard’ as a stimulus. The children will watch this story and the teacher will then use questioning to elicit previous knowledge. The aim of the lesson plan is for children to be enabled to explore, extend and create patterns and sequences based on the picture book story ‘What the Ladybird Heard’. With the use of Sphero Indi they will design and make a map of the story. The children will respond to the maps created in the class by talking about their work, as well as the work of the other children. The child should be enabled to discuss the idea of sequencing in relation to a story and collaborate with their group to create a map based on the story ‘What the Ladybird heard’, putting it in the correct sequence, using Sphero Indi. The child should be enabled to look at and describe the map that they created using Sphero Indi.
In order to develop the STEM skill’s the teaching methodologies utilised will enable the children to:
Talk and Discuss: Discuss idea of sequencing, what happens if things are not in the correct order and how this is linked to coding
ICT: Show Video of the story, use Sphero Indi to create a map and record the work through an e-portfolio on a chromebook
Pair Work/Group work: Working collaboratively to plan and design their map
Inquiry based learning/Problem solving: Figuring out how to use Sphero Indi to design their map
Evaluation: Looking at and talking about his/her work and the work of other children and reflect on their work.
In groups the children must discuss the importance of sequencing and how it relates to this story. The teacher will ask the children for some real-life examples, whilst adding some humorous ones herself. The teacher will introduce math’s language based on this story. Once all the maps have been completed pupils will reflect on their own work – identifying what worked well and anything that could be improved.
They will each get a chance to look at the maps the other groups did and see if Sphero Indi worked.
The teacher will conclude with the following discussion: What do you bring to this task? Was it difficult to do?Did the use of Sphero Indi make the task more interesting?What did you learn about sequencing during the course of this task? Do you feel that the use of technology enhances your understanding of how to sequence?
After the discussion, the children will then fill out their self-assessment rubric and load a video of Indi completing the designed map and this will be added to the children’s e-portfolio. This lesson plan will help children with the STEM skills of problem solving, creativity, critical thinking, team work, curiosity, computer literacy and mathematical logic.