10 Performance-Based Projects for the Math Classroom: Grades 3-5
Mindprint Rating
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Skills
Mindprint Expert Review
Pros
- Offers ten activities that teachers should be able to integrate relatively easily into the existing curriculum.
- Combines math instruction with development of a variety of 21st century presentation skills using real-world problems.
- Gives teachers a framework for different types of project-based learning assessments which they can use in other projects.
Considerations
- Activities require a variety of skills and knowledge of subject areas beyond math, which can be engaging for many but an additional challenge for others.
- The pre-activity lessons might be insufficient for the math topic and teachers will want to integrate these activities into other instruction.
- These are more activities with specific guidance rather than projects that give students a lot of choice.
Mindprint Expert Review
This teacher's math workbook is part of the 10 Performance-Based Projects series which provides good opportunities for advanced learners to integrate their math learning with other 21st century skills, including flexible thinking, collaboration and presentation. The projects are designed for 3rd to 5th grade math students with overlapping themes related to science, social studies, and everyday experiences, such as using fractions when following a recipe. The ten chapters are organized around the type of presentation (role playing, essay, debate, etc.) rather than by mathematical concept, so teachers should not expect to follow this book chapter by chapter, but rather draw upon it as they teach specific concepts. Each chapter includes a suggested calendar, mini-lessons related to the activity, activity instruction hand-outs for students, and rubrics to assess student performance. The workbook provides teachers most, but not all, of what they need to teach the lesson. For example, in the lesson to build a bridge teachers are instructed to provide their own examples of different types of bridges. The projects range in complexity from simply discussing their observations and completing a worksheet to planning a trip and showing your map and budget, to building a bridge out of cardboard and toothpicks. Teachers might need to modify these units or provide more support for different groups of students, including some direct instruction and helping with project planning and execution. For teachers interested in adding some additional hands-on activities to their math curriculum, this workbook can be useful resource to use with some classes of students.
Academic Benefits
Improves academic skills
- Provides sufficient and varied types of practice problems to maximize understanding and generalization of the targeted skill/concept
- Manufacturer claims alignment with Common Core/Known Standards
- Presents educational concepts accurately
- Explains answers so students can learn from mistakes
- Better for teaching the skill to new or struggling learners
- Better for practicing or refreshing the skill
- Skills are practiced through authentic, meaningful problems (not just rote practice)
Fun
Engaging for the Mindprint recommended age range
- Appropriate for a broad age range to use and enjoy
- Subject matter and problems are relevant, interesting and authentic to students
- Includes reward stickers
- Visually stimulating and appealing (uses student-centered pictures, colors, and themes)
- Graphics and overall feel of the workbook is appropriate for the target age range
- Relative to most workbooks, fun to use from a child's perspective
- Offers ongoing, progressive challenge
- Overall - Enjoyable. Given the option, students would choose this option
Easy to Use
Understandable for children in the Mindprint recommended age range
- Provides teaching guidance for adults to support the child and set appropriate goals
- Student should be able to use independently after first use
- Specific topics/lessons are easy to find
- Presents information in multiple formats (voice over, pictures and text, etc.)
- Overall - Easy to use
Cognitive Concerns
May not be advisable for students with the following cognitive needs
- Abstract Reasoning
- Directions may be confusing for students using independently
- Word problems assume additional knowledge (conversion factors, formulas, symbols, etc.)
- Flexible Thinking
- Directions may be confusing for students using independently
- Organization
- Age inappropriate amount of work which could overwhelm or discourage students
- Directions may be confusing for students using independently
- Verbal Reasoning
- Directions may be confusing for students using independently
- Assumes specific knowledge or vocabulary without "look-up" options
Manufacturer Description
Each book in the 10 Performance-Based Projects series provides 10 ready-made projects designed to help students achieve higher levels of thinking and develop 21st-century skills. Projects are aligned to the Common Core State Standards, allowing students to explore and be creative as well as gain enduring understanding. Each project represents a type of performance assessment, including portfolios, oral presentations, research papers, and exhibitions. Included for each project is a suggested calendar to allow teacher scheduling, mini-lessons that allow students to build capacity and gain understanding, as well as multiple rubrics to objectively assess student performance. The lessons are presented in an easy-to-follow format, enabling teachers to implement projects immediately.