This lesson is full of integration of art as well as multiple subjects! The lesson is based on a book I found while browsing Amazon's children's book section (my new favorite hobby since taking a Children's Literature course). The book is called, "Math Attack" By: Joan Horton and Illustrated by: Kyrsten Brooker. It is about a young girl who has anxiety while learning her multiplication tables, and how she overcomes these "math attacks". It teaches a great lesson on the nervousness that some students feel towards math, as well as giving some math related references. Aside from the subject of the book and the story, the illustrations are interesting. They are a mixture of paint and actual images. This mixed media, inspired me to do some research on Kyrsten Brooker and learn a little more about illustrating. I realized this would be a great idea for the students to do to! So, here is a quick lesson write up on "Math Attack". This can be used with students 2nd grade and up as a supplement, or as an activity in addition to the learning of multiplication.
Photo Credit: Me:)
Lesson:
1. Openly talk about anxiety and what anxiety is in regards to the school environment. Let them brainstorm and share stories of times they felt anxious. Reassure them and help them understand that it is normal to feel anxious.
Use this website as a resource when explaining this:
http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/anxiety.html
2. Read "Math Attack" to the students the first time just reading the book.
3. Read the story again. This time tell them to focus on the pictures and in their math journals (in previous post!) have them write about what they see. If possible give them time to look closely.
4. Read the story ONE last time! This time having them do any math work that is talked about in the book. (The inside cover is full of multiplication facts!).
5. Reflect on what they saw and read. Reflect on the anxiety that the girl in the story feels.
6. Have the students come up with ideas for her on how to battle this anxiety. Write these ideas on the board. Explain that these are ideas they could use as well when they feel anxious.
7. Next, come back to the illustrations that were shared. Go through and ask the students to point out different aspects they found interesting about the art. Define the job of an illustrator and discuss Kyrsten Brooker.
Use these links to talk about her and her use of mixed media.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/kyrstenbrooker
http://www.createmixedmedia.com
8. Lastly, to finish up this lesson they will work on a worksheet where they illustrate using mixed media a time when they were anxious in math. It must include at least one math fact!
Here's a worksheet to guide the students!
1. Openly talk about anxiety and what anxiety is in regards to the school environment. Let them brainstorm and share stories of times they felt anxious. Reassure them and help them understand that it is normal to feel anxious.
Use this website as a resource when explaining this:
http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/anxiety.html
2. Read "Math Attack" to the students the first time just reading the book.
3. Read the story again. This time tell them to focus on the pictures and in their math journals (in previous post!) have them write about what they see. If possible give them time to look closely.
4. Read the story ONE last time! This time having them do any math work that is talked about in the book. (The inside cover is full of multiplication facts!).
5. Reflect on what they saw and read. Reflect on the anxiety that the girl in the story feels.
6. Have the students come up with ideas for her on how to battle this anxiety. Write these ideas on the board. Explain that these are ideas they could use as well when they feel anxious.
7. Next, come back to the illustrations that were shared. Go through and ask the students to point out different aspects they found interesting about the art. Define the job of an illustrator and discuss Kyrsten Brooker.
Use these links to talk about her and her use of mixed media.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/kyrstenbrooker
http://www.createmixedmedia.com
8. Lastly, to finish up this lesson they will work on a worksheet where they illustrate using mixed media a time when they were anxious in math. It must include at least one math fact!
Here's a worksheet to guide the students!
math_attack_wks.docx |
Hope this lesson is fun for you and your students! Enjoy!!