When creating Animated Step-by-Steps, every effort has been
made to embed a ‘math agenda’, in addition to the obvious literacy agenda.
This may take the form of survey
chart where opinions or choices are charted and tallied (data and measurement
agenda), or it may be realized in the simple task of ‘clicking out’ a requested
number of items (counting and cardinality agenda).
As you are well aware, stars in the text indicate where and
when a supporting animation is inserted.
A ‘star
…’ icon indicates that more than 3 clicks are required. For example, 5 clicks
are required to introduce the 5 snowmen in the Five Little Snowmen poem;
a series of four clicks are needed to bring in the 4 eggs necessary for making Pink
Cupcakes and 10 clicks are required to make 10 feathers magically materialize
in the craft, Pine Cone Turkeys.
Although we could depict the exact number of stars required,
the ‘star …’ icon is a more efficient use of limited space and leaves it to the
child to determine just how many clicks are required to fulfill the requested
number. Quite simply, it requires a deeper understanding of number equivalency.
A ‘star …’ icon may also be used when depicting a series of
connected events. For example in the craft, Jack-o-Lantern, the
option exists for toasting the seeds, feeding them to the birds or growing
another pumpkin. The ‘star …' is then
used to ‘click’ students through the life cycle of the pumpkin … first the seed
… then the sprout … the mature plant ….
the yellow flower …. the small green pumpkin … the orange pumpkin and
finally, coming full circle, more seeds to grow more pumpkins.
Whether you are addressing a literacy agenda or a math agenda, Animated Step-by-Steps are an excellent way to provide differentiated instruction within 'mixed ability' classrooms.
... ’til the next post …
© 2015 Carol Goossens’, Ph.D.
canadiangoosse@gmail.com
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