1. SchoolScapers A NSF SPONSORED MSP PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY THROUGH GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY Laura MasonCatherine HwangPine Spring ElementaryFairfax County Public Schools Jason Ver PlanckMichael Hunt Westbriar Elementary Fairfax County Public Schools Fairfax County Public Schools Jaime GadleyJennifer McGough Hunters Woods Elementary Fairfax County Public Schools Brandi Cuffee Halle Elementary Fairfax County Public Schools

2. Making the Best Use of Space Through Math The purpose of this research lesson is to identify opportunities to establish or improve school gardens or outdoor classrooms through mathematical modeling.

3. GMU COMPLETE Center The Essential Mathematics Learning goals and big mathematical ideas Students will use their understanding of mathematics to redesign a space. How will students mathematize their environment by engaging in process goals mathematical problem solving, communication, reasoning, connections, and representations? What are students ideas about reasonable magnitude of measurement? Virginia Mathematics Standards of Learning 2.11 The student will estimate and measure length to the nearest centimeter and inch 2.7 The student will estimate and measure length and identify equivalent measurements between units within the US Customary system and within the metric system.

4. GMU COMPLETE Center Research focus: How do students take a socially-global issue and translate it into a mathematical issue? Research lesson question: Our school is looking to make the best use of our outdoor space. How might we take an environmentally friendly/conscious approach to improving our space? (Pine Spring- Butterfly Garden, Halley-Butterfly Garden, Westbriar- Future Courtyard, Hunters Woods-Garden)

5. GMU COMPLETE Center ENGAGE: Posing the Math Modeling Task Mr. Peri’s and the Butterfly Garden The Research Lesson

6. GMU COMPLETE Center EXPLAIN: Assumptions and Constraints What assumptions do you make? What are the constraints that help you define the problem? Possible barrier is new vocabulary: eco-friendly design measurement quantities habitat metamorphosis Monarch Butterfly milkweed Some misconceptions: their wants are also needs understanding that some plants cannot be planted with others that they are even doing math when they design what are a designer’s responsibilities

8. Hunt: Future Courtyard

9. Building Solutions Hunt: Future Courtyard

10. GMU COMPLETE Center Evaluation: Justify Conclusions Hunt: Future Courtyard

11. Building Solutions Ver Planck: Future Courtyard

12. GMU COMPLETE Center EXPLORE: Information Gathering

13. Making Assumptions McGough & Gadley: Garden

14. Building Solutions McGough & Gadley: Garden

15. GMU COMPLETE Center Evaluation: Justify Conclusions McGough & Gadley: Garden

16. GMU COMPLETE Center Sharing the outcomes Hunters Woods 4th grade students were engaged in doing mathematics through: ●Process goals of communication, problem solving, reasoning, connections and representations ●Considering reasonableness of estimates for distance and cost ●Computation ●Measurement ●Money ●Scale measurements

17. GMU COMPLETE Center Reflection and Evaluation Student understanding could be evaluated through a checklist of look fors or a rubric

18. GMU COMPLETE Center REFLECTION “We have completed two Mathematical Modeling tasks before this, and it helped us understand measurement more…It is easier to apply our knowledge and use it faster. It helped us understand how big something really is and how to use prices.” – 4 th grade student, Westbriar Elementary School