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Sample Lesson Plans
Using Literature to Teach Elementary School Math and Science
University of Illinois at Chicago College of Education
ED312, Spring 1996; Professor Maria Varelas
Lesson by Michelle Wantroba
- K-2 grade level
- The story contains a lot of repeated words, phrases, and sound effects. I also like the variety of winter activities which the sheep are engaged and the differences in appearances of the sheep in the illustrations.
- Related to both subtraction and addition of single digit numbers. It illustrates the concept of the inverse relationship between addition and subtraction.
I would begin a lesson with this book by reading it aloud to children with a lot of expression and enthusiasm, and I would have them focus on the well-illustrated pictures so that they would comprehend the basic story grammar. The pictures show the six sheep (sometimes playing or sometimes crashing into the snowbank), and the children would be able to count that the subtraction of as sheep from the play area and the addition of a sheep to the snowbank is not changing the fact that there are six sheep.
Next, I would have the children one at a time read a page of the book aloud. Before reading I would tell them that we are going to make a chart to keep track of where each sheep is. I would group the students in pairs and pass out a chart to teach pair, and they would be responsible for recording the information. After a student would read, I would pause and give them time to write down what they found out. Therefore, we would be reading as a whole class, but working in pairs. If students had problems with how to begin I would give them an example on how the first sheep who landed in the snowbank would be represented. I would encourage the chidlren to fold the paper in half and draw pictures at each stage of the story of the sheep on the playing side and sheep on the snowbank side.
I would hope to see a chart similar to the following:
sheep playing in snow sheep landing
in snowbankall sheep playing 6 0 sheep #1 on sled 6-1=5 0+1=1 sheep #2 on skates 5-1=4 1+1=2 sheep #3 on skis 4-1=3 2+1=3 sheep #4 on snowshoes 3-1=2 3+1=4 sheep #5 on saucer 2-1=1 4+1=5 sheep #6 with shovel 1-1=0 5+1=6 sheep #6 rescues the five
sheep in the snowbank6 sheep sit near oven drinking cocoa. Next, I would have each pair join another pair to discuss their data. I would review each groups drawings and charts to check that they understood when and why to add or subtract a sheep. I would also try to guide them to figure out why their information may be different from others. Then I would call the class back to a large group discussion. I would have the students pay special attention to the answers in their charts. i would ask them to notice any patterns or uniqueness about the answers in the "sheep playign in the snow" column and the"sheep landing in the snowbank" column. I would direct the discussion to focus on the following points:
- the first column counts backward from 6 to 0 and the second column counts forward form 0 to 6.
- the sum of the answer from each column in each situation is always equal to 6 (i.e.)5+1=6, 4+2=6, 3+3=6 etc. Thus, when 1 is subtracted from one side but added to another side, the original number of sheep, 6, remains constant. I would use these points, therefore, to illustrate the inverse relationship between addition and subtraction.
The end of the story leaves the reader with six sheep warming up in front of the oven. This is a great time for the chidlren to creat a sequel or anotehr adventure the sheep have. I would have them create their own story using words or pictures and mathematical expressions to illustrate it.
As another assignment, I would change the scenario of the Six Snowy Sheep and would call it ten Snowy sheep. In my story I would have the sheep falling into the snowbank 2 at a time instead of 1 at a time. I would ask the children to work in pairs again to make a similar chart (as we did with the original story) using either pcitures or mathematical expressions to show the changing location of the sheep. I would give them classtime to work on the assignment and I would ask the question, "how do the answers differ when only 1 sheep tumbles into a snowbank and when 2 sheep at a time tumble into the snowbank?" I would tell them to write down on a shee of paper any patterns, similarities, and differences the two charts have and explain why these conditions or thoughts exist. I would then review the students papers to check for understanding of concepts. Perhaps, in our next class I would discusss how the activity relates to counting by 2's.
The activities I would do related to this literature would not be assessed with points, letter grades, nor scores. This is simply an enrichment activity. I would provide feedback orally and written based on the childrens' understanding and application of subtraction and addition. Druign and after activities, I would keep the class open for comments on the literrature, concepts, and difficulties. Based upon my observance of the children working in groups, the work the chidlren submit, and what the children themselves say about the lesson, I would evaluate the success of the experience. Six Snowy Sheep would be a source for students' application and understanding of addition and subtraction to be used to organize events in a story. This lesson would not be a test but rather an opportunity for chidlren to use math to explain a fictional story.
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