Lesson Plan #2
Valentine
Candy Count
Duration: 1 day
Objectives:
Students will:
- observe, predict, sort, and classify
- develop graphing skills such as counting and equations
- gather and record data
- interpret data
- apply and generalize data
Materials:
- 12 oz. bag of small "Valentine Conversation Hearts"
- clear glass or plastic decanter (large enough to hold all of the hearts)
- small cups (1 cup for every 4-6 students)
- pencils
- crayons (1 crayon for each color of Valentine Candy)
- prediction graph (created on the blackboard or chart paper)
- final result graph (created on the blackboard or chart paper)
- Valentine name tags (teacher-created, with students' names written on
them)
- Printable
Name Tags
- sorting/classifying sheets
- student recording sheet (1 for each group of 4-6 students)
- glue stick for attaching the initial predictions to the prediction graph
- Sample Graph
Key Vocabulary:
Classify, graph, predict, sort, results, cinquain, noun,
adjective, synonym
Procedures:
- The teacher brings to class a glass or plastic decanter full of a 12 oz.
bag of small "Valentine Conversation Hearts."
- Students predict which color candy they think will be found most
frequently by placing their name Valentines on the appropriate color
valentine on the prediction graph. (total class)
- Students then sort and classify a cup-full of Valentine Heart Candy
according to color on their sorting/classifying sheets. (small groups)
- Next, the students record their color counts on the student recording
sheet. (one member of the group records the counts while the rest of the
group counts)
- Students finally graph their results on the final results graph. (graph
one color at a time - one student from each group graphs one color - all
students will have a turn to graph a color)
Discussion:
a. How many (color) Valentine Hearts
did we find?
How many
.....?
b. What color did we find more of
than any other?
c. Did the prediction that you made
turn out to be true?
d. What if we bought a new bag of
candy - would we find the same number of
each color of candy? Why? Why not?
Tying it all together:
- Distribute the "candy hearts" for eating!
- Have the children figure out number sentences about the graph. Post their
ideas on a chart near the graph.
- Challenge the children to think of questions to ask "you" about
the graph they have just created. Many will find it is much more difficult
to "ask" a question than it is to answer one!
- Display the prediction graph and the final graph for the school to
see...it will draw a lot of interest from adults as well as other students.
- Encourage all students to share the results of this activity with their
parents/guardians.
- Students can create graphs using Appleworks.
- Directions for
making all types of graphs.
Assessment:
Student response to questions, questions generated by students and computer
generated graphs.
Home Learning:
An extension activity for another lesson might be to have the students work
in teams to recreate a graph pertaining to weather, favorite colors, types of
pets, etc. The possibilities are endless!
Extension Activity:
CINQUAIN POEM
Line 1: Write a noun.
Line 2: Write two adjectives describing the noun on Line 1;
Line 3: Write 3 words ending with -ing (action words) that describe what the
noun on Line 1 might do;
Line 4: Write a phrase describing the noun on Line 1; and
Line 5: Write a synonym of the word on Line 1.
Example: "My Wonderful Valentine"
Mother
kind, helpful
caring, loving, sharing
- a special person in my life
friend
2. Cut out a red-construction paper heart. Write the cinquain on white-lined
paper and cut it out in the shape of a heart, a little smaller than the
red-construction heart.
3. Glue the white-lined paper, with the poem on it, onto the red-construction
paper heart.
4. To give the valentine some pizzazz, glue on a white, paper doily onto the
back of the red-construction paper heart.
5. On the back, write the date, a closing, and signature.
THIS CUPID'S VALENTINE WILL BE A SURE HIT!