Dahm

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 * = = || Polygon Playgrounds ||

Driving Question
**How can shapes help you build things?** ==

Project description:
Work Samples: http://mrsdahmsclass.wikispaces.com/Polygon+Playgrounds

**Student Learning**
They see polygons all over and understand that depending on the space, different shapes will fit. The use of vocaroo as my assessment tool also added a new twist to my project. As you'll notice, even my verbally challenged student spoke very well through this assessment. He agreed to post his thoughts and felt really good about what he said and did. This is a child who generally will not speak in his classroom and yet after listening to himself agreed to have his thoughts shared through my wiki!

**Driving Question**
It helped me by having a focus and keeping true to my topic. Students will often get sidetracked and this structure gave them a purpose and end point. I did find it useful to have a driving question. This encouraged the students to look for the ways in which polygons were used in everyday life and make a connection to the topic they were asked to learn.

**Impact on the Culture of Learning**
I think for the students, they saw the end and also kept it in mind. They were able to envision their own product and were not limited by my opinions. As long as they could describe their project and were working with polygons, the actual playground was perfect. They were engaged and felt accomplished at journey's end.

**Assessment**
Presentation needed to be varied to reach my learners. You will see examples of the ways in which questions were asked in my attachment. Some could describe and name, some needed to match their answers. I also needed to adjust what materials they used to build their plagrounds.

**Tech Piece**
We utilized several geometry websites, the students took pictures to be uploaded and they were also assessed using vocaroo. I have better learned how to put the pieces together to support each other. Utilizing the technology and hands on materials to engage the learner. Beginning with the end in mind helped to drive every lesson and keep me on track to work towards the end. It enabled me to remember that it wasn't the "how" but the "what" at the end that we were reaching for.

**Other Comments**
Thanks for all your support Andy...you made it easier to pull this off... The use of vocaroo as my assessment tool also added a new twist to my project. As you'll notice, even my verbally challenged student spoke very well through this assessment. He agreed to post his thoughts and felt really good about what he said and did. This is a child who generally will not speak in his classroom and yet after listening to himself agreed to have his thoughts shared through my wiki!