Unit Project Presentation Mr. Simons Enfield Middle School 6th Grade Math Fractions Unit

Unit Summary This unit is designed to build students’ conceptual understanding of fractions. In this unit, I will be able to uncover student misunderstandings about fractions and address weaknesses in the way they think about fractions. This unit will prepare students to solve problems that require them to perform math operations later on. Specifically, students will be able to create visual representations of fractions and use those representations to identify least common multiple, greatest common factor, least common denominator, and divisibility rules. Students always struggle with fractions, so I’m going to attempt to do some serious re-wiring of student brains to get them to develop a deep conceptual understanding of fractions and their use in the world.

Guiding Questions Essential Question: Does accuracy REALLY matter in the real world? Unit Questions: Are fractions important or would we be better off without them? How are fractions used on the job and are they needed to get the job done right? How can understanding fractions make your life easier NOW and LATER?

My Vision for This Unit By the end of this unit, students will have developed a deep and meaningful understanding of fractions and their place in our world. Students will have created their own understanding through engaging hands-on activities and a self-directed project. As a teacher, I hope to take a more hands-off role as a facilitator of student learning and gain experience helping students create their own understandings through self-directed projects.

Gauging Student Needs Methods: I will gain information about student needs through directed questioning, targeted brainstorming activities, reading student journals, examining student work, and examining student- created graphic organizers. Depending on what I find: I will revise the activities that lead students to success on the unit project. If need be, I can be more intentional about directing brainstorming activities and more specific with the project checklist and other things.

Project Components As a result of this project, students will create: A newsletter describing our classroom activities and new understandings that will be shared with THEIR parents. An engaging, effective presentation detailing what they have done and learned. Periodic video presentations describing what they are working on and what they are excited about learning. Visual representations of fractions that can be displayed around the room.