Choose a topic you commonly teach, and find at least two resources outside of your subject area that you could utilize to enlarge, broaden, and enrich understanding. How would you use them? What are the challenges and value of interdisciplinary teaching and learning? You must include the appropriate links and/or files.
One topic I teach in Geometry that can lead to many fun activities is finding the surface area, ratio, and volume of solids (3-dimensional figures). The solids I cover are prisms (two polygonal bases), pyramids (one polygonal base), cylinders (two circular bases), cones (one circular base), and spheres (circles in space). If you click on the following link, you will find that I've provided two activities. Since the blog did not allow me to attach WORD documents, I had to post them on my Teacher WebQuest (which still works after 6 years).
http://teacherweb.com/CA/SMC/MrPang/photo7.aspx
The first activity gives students the opportunity to select a product (i.e. cereal box, bottle of lotion, carton of milk) and change the design (the shape or the dimensions of the original solid). Once they have changed the design, they need to make an oral presentation and convince the Founder, Owner, President, or CEO of that product why their design is much better than the original one. Students can work by themselves or with a partner to work out the proposal and details. This allows the students to get a dose of what to expect in the business world.
The second activity is a lengthy worksheet that allows the student to investigate how solids can relate to science and economics. Here the students can see why calculating ratios of the solids is relevant to cell biology and the economy rate.
I haven't personally done either activity, but the first one seems intriguing and worthwhile for the students. I just may assign this project for my Geometry classes this year.
My main concern is if I had English Learners in the class. Both these projects will pose as a big challenge to them since they are in the process of mastering the English language. Just look at the text and the instructions of each activity. I think they would be overwhelmed.
I read the blogs of Christina Baronian, Alex Iwaszewicz, and Mary D'Arcy.
I responded to MJ's blog. mjdarcy.blogspot.com
I love the geometry lesson idea of changing the dimension of a cereal box and then explaining why the new design is better than the old one. Like you said, it not only gives students the opportunity to explore geometry in a less abstract, more contextual way, but it also provides students with the opportunity to practice their interpersonal skills, develop and present a coherent argument, and practice real-life, business world situations.
ReplyDeleteThis is the true definition of the interdisciplinary approach. Great lesson idea, Wilson! I hope you try it in your classroom.