Let's Develop Some Concepts!

Concept Development is a great way to introduce a new topic, and do a pre-assessment to see how to guide my lesson planning.

1. Ancient Rome - What do you know about Ancient Rome?
Using answergarden.com, with a partner, have students brainstorm everything they know, or think they know, about Ancient Rome. Put those ideas into categories with my help. Label these categories. Now make a new padlet and regroup them, seeing if they can put them into better categories. They will need to turn in both. Synthesize what the big idea is, what we want to, and will, learn about Ancient Rome. Have them synthesize in one or two sentences on their padlet. Share with the class. Turn in.  Look at their padlets to find out what kids already know, and what they really want to learn.

2. Seasons
Using answergarden.com, with a partner, have student discuss what they know, or think they know, about why we have seasons. Give the students some categories. Have students put those ideas into the categories. Now make a new padlet and regroup them, seeing if they can put them into better categories, or just show a different way to group them. They will need to turn in both. Synthesize what the big idea is about why we have seasons. Have them synthesize in one or two sentences on their padlet. Turn in padlets to make sure they did both groupings. Look at their padlets to find any misconceptions I need to fix during the unit. Have the students make a one page ppt with their one or two sentences and share with the class.

3. Heat, Light, and Sound Waves
Brainstorm ideas about what heat, light, and sound all have in common. Have pairs list them on padlet. Have students put them into categories. Label the categories. Discuss these categories as a class. Have students make a new padlet and put them into new categories that might work better, or just show a different way to group them. Have them synthesize in a sentence or two on their padlet. Turn in padlets to make sure they did both groupings. Look at their padlets to find any misconceptions I need to fix during the unit. Have the pairs make a glog about their big idea and share with class.


Notes to self for future references
Steps:
Listing (brainstorming, prior knowledge)
grouping (identify characteristics)
labeling (can combine/switch steps 2 and 3)
regrouping (other ways to group) (have students turn in both, the original group and regroup)
synthesize (summarize the big idea)

Use for a pre-assessment, assessment; when something might have lots of parts to it.
Benefits include deeper understanding; learn students' background knowledge; see that there are many different ways to group things
Disadvantages - time, glitches with tech
Grouping students - put high and low level kids together; do on paper first then make one on padlet

***This also might be good for introducing Phases of the Moon***