“Pirate Gold:” An Oceans Theme Lesson

By Mike Clarke

Course: Mathematics—Patterns and relations/ Shape and Space

Strand: PR-1.1.2, S.S.-Vii.1.2

Grade: 2

Source: Lesson Composed by Megan Grywachejlci, former student of Dr. Sandy Margetts,

Adapted for an Ocean/Pirate Theme by Mike Clarke

Book: Excerpt from Treasure Island

By Robert Louis Stevenson

Learning Outcomes:

SLO: Patterns and Relations: Sorts objects and shapes, using one or two attributes, and identifies attributes and rules in pre-sorted sets. Shape and Space: Recognizes all Canadian coins and bills to $10.00 and creates equivalent sets of coins (using pennies, nickels and dimes up to $1.00.

Assessment:

Students will be grouped and will use manipulatives to sort correctly using two attributes. Assessment will then be done by teacher observation using a prepared rubric. After group work, students will record their findings on a sheet and hand them into the teacher. This will then be assessed by the teacher according to a rubric developed for individual student work.

Connection to Last Lesson: This lesson builds on the concept of single attributes and teaches children how to sort objects using two given attributes.

Flexible Grouping: Students will be randomly grouped by numbering them off so that there are five groups as an end result.

Activating Strategies: Preparing for Learning

• Discuss what they know or think they know about pirates and pirate treasure/gold. Some may have seen movies like Treasure Island, Pirates of the Caribbean, or Peter Pan.
• Tell the class that they will read part of a story about pirate treasure called Treasure Island.

Acquiring Strategies: Integrating and Processing Learning

1. Read the excerpt of Treasure Island about finding the gold.
2. After reading the story, ask the class what they would do with all that gold.
3. Show the students that you have brought: pennies, representing pirate gold, nickels and cut–out pirates and/or pirate ships of various shapes, sizes and colours (pirates and ships are easily obtained, sized and coloured through internet clip-art programs). It is important that the coins—in this case pennies and nickels—are of different sizes and that the pirates and/or pirate ships be of two different sizes and 2 different colours. Shapes: some pictures will be on triangles, others on circles, squares, etc. of various sizes.
4. Exemplar: Have a pre-drawn Venn diagram on the board labelled small and big or narrow and wide shaped. Also, have a small bit of tape on the back of each pirate or pirate ship. With the students (who do not yet have those manipulatives at their tables), sort and place the large shaped pirates and/or ships on the Venn diagram. Repeat the exemplar, this time using pictures that are on a square, triangle, etc.
5. Group the students into 5. Each group will get a bag of manipulatives: pennies & nickels, and pirates/pirate ships of various shapes, sizes and colours. First, hand out the cutout ships and/or pirates. Let them have fun with that. Then, add the pirate gold bags later, after they have sorted the pirates and/or ships. This will avoid confusion or distraction from having too much to play with.
6. Have the groups sort out their manipulatives and place them correctly onto the Venn diagrams that will be handed out to them: one for each group.

Applying Strategies: Consolidating Learning

Handout sheet to students for them to answer according to their results of their group project. If there is time, the students can add illustrations to help explain their answers.

Extensions:

These manipulatives can be used in subsequent lessons on making AB patterns or in lessons where students use self-determined attributes to sort out objects. They could also be used in a lesson on numbering: addition, subtraction, etc.

Source:

This lesson plan was substantially adapted/modified, by Mike Clarke, for this ocean math theme unit, from a lesson plan composed by Megan Grywachejlci. Megan, in turn, was influenced by reading the book, “100 School Days,” by Anne Rockwell and also from activities suggested by Sandy Margetts. I was, likewise, influenced by Sandy Margetts.

Learning Resources:

• Copy of the book, “Treasure Island” or the Muppet Treasure Island picture book.
• Pre-drawn Venn diagram on the chalkboard.
• Manipulatives: Pennies, nickels, cut-out pirates and/or pirate ships
• Tape
• Drawings of Venn diagrams, one for each group.
• Prepared sheets for students to record and illustrate their answers.

Different Ways of Learning:

Interpersonal: working in groups.

Intrapersonal: recording on individual worksheets.

Verbal: discussion amongst group members

Visual: students may use illustrations to help describe how they sorted attributes.

Tactile: Using manipulatives to sort attributes.