Aluminum Cans Lesson Report

To Whom This May Concern:

I would like to recommend this lesson from NCTM Illuminations called “Aluminum Cans.” The link to this lesson is: https://illuminations.nctm.org/Lesson.aspx?id=853 . This lesson builds on prior knowledge with the ability to bring the outside into ones classroom. They are able to participate in groups, but also work individually. Here I am going to break down the unit to show the importance of why I recommend this lesson plan.

Here is short description of the lesson: “Aluminum Cans” by NCTM Illumination, “Students participate in an activity in which they investigate data in connection with recyclable materials and develop plans to help the environment. Students collect data about aluminum can usage and graph that data

“Aluminum Cans” lesson uses problem solving by monitoring and reflecting on the process of the mathematical data that is found. Reasoning and proof is dealt through the selecting and use of various types of reasoning and methods of proof. By the end of the lesson the student will communicate their mathematical finding clearly to their peers and the teacher. My favorite part of this lesson is how the students will be able to make a connection by recognizing and apply mathematics in context from the outside. Lastly, each student will be able to select, apply, and translate mathematical representation to solve a problem our world is striving to deal with daily. Multiple NCTM Content Standards are used in this lesson which are Number & Operations, Algebra, Measurement, and Data Analysis & Probability. Teachers are able to build on prior knowledge with each of these content areas. The Arkansas State standards that I would use for this lesson is

o What did they learn about the mean as compared with individual numbers in their data sets?

• Have students work individually or in small groups to discuss and write plans for conserving aluminum. A committee should post examples of the plans; alternatively, have students report the plans to the class.

These are great formative assessment, but I don’t not believe the assessment is 100% line up with the Arkansas State standard. If you make stipulations in the plan like the students will write up a plan for conserving aluminum using and showing the data with graphs, or line plots and not to use any decimals only fractions and whole numbers.

Our goal should be to scaffold this lesson to reach the needs of each student, help them to use high order thinking, and problem solving skills. I want to engage the students further and would like this lesson to be after we visit a recycling facility. This will help them understand the need to recycle and how their community is contributing. Then I would keep the beginning of the lesson the same with a discussion about aluminum which leads into their classroom activity of how much aluminum cans of soda is used in their home a day. Lastly I would like to change up the formative assessment by having the students to work individually or in groups of two to discuss and write a plan for conserving aluminum. The student need to compose their plan into a book, brochure, public