The Content Imperatives Presented by: Susan Davidson, Teacher, Myford Sharon Maeda, GATE Program TOSA

Level 2 of Icon Thinking Tools Developed by Dr. Sandra Kaplan Parallel Parallel Paradox Paradox Contribution Contribution Origin Origin Convergence Convergence Content Imperatives

Just as keys unlock a door, the content imperatives are terms that “unlock meaning” of an area or topic of study Just as keys unlock a door, the content imperatives are terms that “unlock meaning” of an area or topic of study Each content imperative provides students with a prompt to initiate inquiry about a subject matter Each content imperative provides students with a prompt to initiate inquiry about a subject matter Or the content imperatives can provide a deeper and more meaningful re-examination of the subject matter Or the content imperatives can provide a deeper and more meaningful re-examination of the subject matter Students focus the investigation or study from a broad, general area to a more structured, specific one Students focus the investigation or study from a broad, general area to a more structured, specific one

PARALLEL – How ideas or areas of a study share common characteristics Related Terms: Related Terms: Similarity Similarity Comparability Comparability Analogous Analogous Correspond Correspond Match/matching Match/matching Repetition of features Repetition of features Non-converging Non-converging

PARALLEL -Sample Tasks What evidence can we cite to show that some ideas, characteristics, or events are parallel? What evidence can we cite to show that some ideas, characteristics, or events are parallel? Prove with evidence that a system of the past parallels a system of today. Prove with evidence that a system of the past parallels a system of today. Identify attributes of parallels among two or more subject areas. Example: parallels between the arts and politics of an era or period. Identify attributes of parallels among two or more subject areas. Example: parallels between the arts and politics of an era or period. Compare and contrast parallel patterns in the two novels or stories that were written in different eras, genres or that are found in different themes of HM. Compare and contrast parallel patterns in the two novels or stories that were written in different eras, genres or that are found in different themes of HM.

PARALLEL More ideas … Students discuss parallels between adding and multiplication. Ideas are recorded. Students discuss parallels between adding and multiplication. Ideas are recorded. Students parallel two stories from different themes Students parallel two stories from different themes Students then add to list of parallels that the continue to find in solving new math problems. Students then add to list of parallels that the continue to find in solving new math problems. Students look at parallels between events of different time periods Students look at parallels between events of different time periods Parallel invention or author study Parallel invention or author study

ORIGIN – How things were started or began Related Terms: Related Terms: Beginning Beginning Root Root Source Source Foundation Foundation Basis Basis Causation Causation Catalyst Catalyst

ORIGIN -Sample Tasks Trace the origins of our numerical system Trace the origins of our numerical system Identify the origins of computer hardware and software Identify the origins of computer hardware and software Prove with evidence the origin of cultural trends related to a group of people Prove with evidence the origin of cultural trends related to a group of people Analyze the origins of the Constitution Analyze the origins of the Constitution Evaluate the origins of scientific theories Evaluate the origins of scientific theories Compare and contrast the origins of fairy tales Compare and contrast the origins of fairy tales

ORIGIN may appear in the study of… ELAMath Social Studies Science Character analysis Number systems Events in history Astronomy Story settings StatisticsExploration Space exploration Letter writing Elements of geometry Origins of civilizations Technological innovations; inventions

CONVERGENCE – How ideas meet to form a new or different idea; the coming together or meeting points of an idea Related Terms: Related Terms: Merging Merging Concurrence Concurrence Intersection Intersection Meeting Points Meeting Points Joining Joining Union Union Conjunction Conjunction Coming together Coming together

CONVERGENCE -Sample Tasks Prove with evidence that convergence of ideas and events led to the American Revolution. Prove with evidence that convergence of ideas and events led to the American Revolution. Sequence the details that converge in several chapters to form climax, solution, and conclusion. Sequence the details that converge in several chapters to form climax, solution, and conclusion. State and test assumptions about the details and operations which converge in the solution of a math problem. State and test assumptions about the details and operations which converge in the solution of a math problem.

CONVERGENCE may appear in the study of… ELAMath Social Studies Science Characters with similar roles in different novels Problem solving Historical events Emerging knowledge: DNA, genes, the Universe Comprehension skills: drawing conclusions Algebraic and other equations Elements of disasters; wars New technology Shared words, roots or rules of grammar measurementCommunities Solar system

Note the differences in these two examples…. Students will investigate different elements of weather related to farming. Students will investigate different elements of weather related to farming. Students will investigate the convergence of different elements of weather on farming. Students will investigate the convergence of different elements of weather on farming.

CONTRIBUTION – The benefit or effect of some action or attribute Related Terms: Related Terms: Effects Effects Value Value Impact Impact Achievement Achievement Perseverance Perseverance Significance Significance Creativity Creativity Participation in Participation in

CONTRIBUTION -Sample Tasks Use the language of the disciplines to describe the contributions over time, of two important figures in history. Use the language of the disciplines to describe the contributions over time, of two important figures in history. Prioritize the relative contributions of medicines developed from plants of the rainforest. Prioritize the relative contributions of medicines developed from plants of the rainforest. Choose the “most important early mathematician” and support your choice with evidence of his/her contributions. Choose the “most important early mathematician” and support your choice with evidence of his/her contributions. Judge with criteria the impact (contribution) of the protagonist and antagonist on a story’s plot. Judge with criteria the impact (contribution) of the protagonist and antagonist on a story’s plot.

CONTRIBUTION may appear in the study of… ELAMath Social Studies Science Famous authors Early mathematicians Explorers and pioneers Space travel Story settings Concepts building on each other Activists/ Freedom fighters Contributions of weather on farming Interesting adjectives/adver bs technology Within communities Experiments

PARADOX – how things simultaneously can pose opposing or contradictory ideas Related Terms: Related Terms: Contradiction Contradiction Incongruity Incongruity Opposites Opposites Dilemma Dilemma Irony Irony Illogicality Illogicality Juxtaposition Juxtaposition inconsistencies inconsistencies

PARADOX -Sample Tasks PARADOX -Sample Tasks Judge the authenticity of the PARADOXES related to war, civil rights, or use of the rain forest. Judge the authenticity of the PARADOXES related to war, civil rights, or use of the rain forest. Differentiate fact from fiction to determine the paradoxes in “Aesop Fables” and other folktales. Differentiate fact from fiction to determine the paradoxes in “Aesop Fables” and other folktales. How does the author or novel make use of a paradox? How does the author or novel make use of a paradox? Collect and describe examples of paradoxes in fractions or decimals Collect and describe examples of paradoxes in fractions or decimals Design a cartoon illustrating a paradox Design a cartoon illustrating a paradox Develop criteria for deciding what makes a paradox in the plant and animal kingdom Develop criteria for deciding what makes a paradox in the plant and animal kingdom

Some Examples… What are the parallels between addition and multiplication? What are the parallels between addition and multiplication? What are the origins of democracy? What are the origins of democracy? What factors converged to solve the problem in this story? What factors converged to solve the problem in this story? How does heat contribute to density? How does heat contribute to density? Identify a paradox in this character’s actions and thoughts. Identify a paradox in this character’s actions and thoughts.

Icon-Based Questions and Prompts May Be Used… Within the lesson Within the lesson After reading assignments After reading assignments During discussions During discussions Within literature circles Within literature circles In math reviews In math reviews As summary activities As summary activities As comparison-contrast activities As comparison-contrast activities On tests As essay prompts As formative assessment Within independent studies Within comprehension questions As a part of Extension Menus Etc….

Application of the Content Imperatives Popcorn