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Music: John Williams

Problem Based Learning &

Conceptual Understanding

Whitfield County SchoolsGrade 8

October 5, 2017

http://mikewiernicki.com @mikewiernicki

Music: John Williams

Problem Based Learning &

Conceptual Understanding

Whitfield County SchoolsGrade 8

October 5, 2017

http://mikewiernicki.com @mikewiernicki

Problem Based Learning &

Conceptual Understanding

Whitfield County SchoolsGrade 8

October 5, 2017

Music: John Williams

http://mikewiernicki.com @mikewiernicki

http://mikewiernicki.com @mikewiernicki

Goals for today:

• Explore problem-based lessons & decide when it is best to use them.

• Discuss the power of teaching conceptually using these lessons and other strategies.

• Explore instructional best practices.• Leave with ideas, resources and practices

you can put to use tomorrow.

http://mikewiernicki.com @mikewiernicki

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What Does it Mean to Teach Conceptually?

http://mikewiernicki.com @mikewiernicki

Five Principles of Extraordinary Math TeachingDan Finkel - TEDx Rainier

http://mikewiernicki.com @mikewiernicki

1. Start with a question.

2. Students need time to struggle.

3. You are not the answer key.

4. Say yes to your students’ ideas.

5. Play.

Five Principles of Extraordinary Math TeachingDan Finkel - TEDx Rainier

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Where are you now?

Where do you want to be?

How are you going to get there?

Pentagonal Corners

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Game Time!

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Break

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What is the same? What is different?

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What is different?What is the same?

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Directions: Using the numbers -5 to 5 at most once each, write an expression that will have the greatest (or least) absolute value.

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Lunch!

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Source: @mr_stadel

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Estimate

Too LowEstimate

Too HighEstimate

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What information do you need?

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Source: @mr_stadel

Source: @mr_stadel

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Source: @mr_stadel

http://mikewiernicki.com @mikewiernicki

In a particular condominium community 2/3 of all of the men are married to 3/5 of all of the women.

What fraction of the entire condominium community are married?

The Condominium Problem

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GA-400 Toll Robbery

Earlier this morning a man held up a GA-400 toll booth. His stolen getaway car broke down and he is now on the run with

a 58 lb. bag of quarters.

– The Morning X Radio Show 99x - Nov. 10, 1999

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How much money is that? How big is the bag?

How many quarters is that?

How far can he run with a 58 lb. bag of quarters?

Which is more (money), 58 lbs. of quarters or 58 lbs. of nickels?How tall would the quarters be if they were stacked?

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Source: United States Mint

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Game Time!

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8th

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8th

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Sources for Problems Worth Solving

Open Middle

Desmos

http://mikewiernicki.com/whitfield-6th-grade-teachers

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The Ins and Outs of Desmos

teacher.desmos.com

student.desmos.com

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Presentation Resources:

https://goo.gl/VAw5C9