"Ms. Willis, this is hard!"
I was looking for a way to cement my students' learning in geometry, one that would include exploring spatial relationships, patterning, and translations, rotations, and reflections (slides, flips and turns). I also wanted to explore this using visible thinking routines because I find that every time I use these routines, my students take ownership of their learning. This was a 4-day process. I hesitated because of the amount of time I knew it would take up, but I'm so glad I pushed forward with my idea. The rewards were well worth the time.
Day 1
I began by showing examples of tessellations. I used a mini-definition poster that I created to explain what a tessellation is and then gave each student a tessellation photo card. These tag cards are photos from nature and man-made structures, as well as computer-generated patterns, and they all are examples of tessellations, except for one card. I used that card to challenge students to use the mini-definition poster to determine whether or not it was a tessellating pattern. They determined that it isn't, and they would be right! Each student received a numbered card. We spent some time looking at each other's cards.
After using the response sheet, students sat in groups of three to share their thoughts, questions, and observations.
Day 2
Day 2 was eagerly anticipated by my students. I issued "the challenge" to them: Create your own tessellating pattern using pattern blocks; your tessellation MUST include rotation, reflection, and translation. I gave each student a paper on which to create so they had boundaries for their tessellations.
I allowed students time to explore with the pattern blocks while I watched. One of the things I noticed that the majority of them were struggling with is that they began to make pictures instead of patterns. I approached many students, asking them the question, "What comes next?" When they couldn't answer the question, it was a tip off for them that they were not creating a pattern.
Day 3
This took all of our math session for day 3. As I walked around monitoring, I reminded students to keep their rubric in sight so they would remember the learning targets.
Day 4
Day 4 was spent writing about our tessellations. I provided a writing page on which students recorded their thinking and descriptions of their tessellating patterns. They were required to use math vocabulary from a word bank in their explanations. This gave students another opportunity to practice using math vocabulary in their writing. It also allowed me to check, once again, for their understanding.
Finally, I asked students to take out their rubric sheets and self-assess their tessellation projects and writing.
I am very please with how this project went. One of my students who has high math ability gave me the ultimate compliment. He said, "Ms. Willis, this is hard!" What is always interesting to me is WHO finds this project difficult. Many of my students who are average or lower skilled math students loved this project and found it to be "just right" for them. Some of my very high math students were challenged by it! I love this. That same student told me that "open-ended assignments are harder" for him. I love that he knows this about himself. Projects like this leave room for everyone to succeed, don't they? I saw very complicated patterns over the four days of this project, but I also saw very simple patterns. Project-based learning allows for flexibility with differentiation and gives us, as educators, a window into students' thinking that we might not see otherwise.
Another student asked at the end of the fourth session, "When can we do another math project, Ms. Willis?" I can hardly wait. I've got coordinate geometry and Van Gogh on my brain.
If you liked reading about this interdisciplinary project, then you should check out the links below! Simply click on the pictures. They're great sanity savers for your end-of-year lessons.

Be sure to check out these other awesome posts from the Teacher Talk community. You won't be sorry!
This looks like a fun PBL! I think the open-ended assignments are the best for bringing out the creative side of students.
ReplyDeleteIEEE Final Year projects Project Centers in Chennai are consistently sought after. Final Year Students Projects take a shot at them to improve their aptitudes. IEEE Final Year project centers ground for all fragments of CSE & IT engineers hoping to assemble.Final Year Projects for CSE
DeleteSpring Framework has already made serious inroads as an integrated technology stack for building user-facing applications. Spring Framework Corporate TRaining .
Specifically, Spring Framework provides various tasks are geared around preparing data for further analysis and visualization. Spring Training in Chennai
The Angular Training covers a wide range of topics including Angular Directives, Angular Services, and Angular programmability.Angular Training
What a wonderful activity, you are so creative. I just love reading your posts for your insightful ideas.
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas. I think the kids would love this.
ReplyDeleteI love this so much! I always teach tessellations, but not like this; I'm going to try it this year!! You have THE BEST ideas!!
ReplyDeleteThe overall legitimacy and acknowledgment of this specific endorsement makes it important to get familiar with its root and how to apply for it.ExcelR PMP Certification
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post. I’ve been thinking about writing a very comparable post over the last couple of weeks, I’ll probably keep it short and sweet and link to this instead if thats cool. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteExcelR pmp certification Bangalore
Such a very useful article. Very interesting to read this article.I would like to thank you for the efforts you had made for writing this awesome article.
ReplyDeletepmp certification
This was really one of my favorite website. ExcelR PMP Certification Please keep on posting.
ReplyDeleteI will really appreciate the writer's choice for choosing this excellent article appropriate to my matter.Here is deep description about the article matter which helped me more.
ReplyDeletePMP Certification
The information you have posted is very useful. The sites you have referred was good. Thanks for sharing. ExcelR PMP Certification
ReplyDeletePMP Certification
ReplyDeleteIt's really nice and meaningful. it's really cool blog. Linking is very useful thing. You have really helped lots of people who visit blog and provide them useful information.
I must say you are very skilled at persuasive writing if you can convince me to share your views. I am very impressed by your excellent writing abilities. Please keep up the good informational writing.
ReplyDeleteBest Data Science training in Mumbai
Data Science training in Mumbai
Good.
ReplyDeletePMP Certification in malaysia
pmp course in malaysia
pmp training in malaysia
It's so great to know you are a writer that cares about the information you provide. This is smartly done and well-written in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteBest Data Science training in Mumbai
Data Science training in Mumbai
I think this is a really good article. You make this information interesting and engaging. ExcelR PMP Certification You give readers a lot to think about and I appreciate that kind of writing.
ReplyDeleteVery good points you wrote here..Great stuff...I think you've made some truly interesting points.Keep up the good work.
ReplyDelete360digitmg
I will really appreciate the writer's choice for choosing this excellent article appropriate to my matter.Here is deep description about the article matter which helped me more.
ReplyDeletePMP Certification Pune
Great tips and very easy to understand. This will definitely be very useful for me when I get a chance to start my blog.Great post i must say and thanks for the information. Education is definitely a sticky subject. However, is still among the leading topics of our time. I appreciate your post and look forward to more.
I'm highly dazed with the quality of the content which you have penned down. This is a splendid article! Your article has all the necessary information on the respective topic.
ReplyDeleteData Science training in Mumbai
Data Science course in Mumbai
SAP training in Mumbai
Big data is on the rise and so is the requirement for professionals with skills. The training enables folk to pursue an interesting career as a Data Scientist. To analyze largely complicate data requires training in the use of sophisticated data analysis tools, like SQL or Python or R. data science course syllabus
ReplyDeleteVery nice blog and articles. I am realy very happy to visit your blog. Now I am found which I actually want. I check your blog everyday and try to learn something from your blog. Thank you and waiting for your new post.
ReplyDeletedata science course in India
Awesome blog. I enjoyed reading your articles. This is truly a great read for me. I have bookmarked it and I am looking forward to reading new articles. Keep up the good work!PMP Certification
ReplyDeleteI like viewing web sites which comprehend the price of delivering the excellent useful resource free of charge. I truly adored reading your posting. Thank you!PMP Certification
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteExcelR provides . PMP® certification. It is a great platform for those who want to learn and become a PMP®. Students are tutored by professionals who have a degree in a particular topic. It is a great opportunity to learn and grow.
PMP® certification
I have a mission that I’m just now working on, and I have been at the look out for such information ExcelR Data Analyst Course
ReplyDelete