Let's Get Creative!

Grade Level: 2nd
Common Core Standard for Mathematics: Geometry K-5; 2G (Recognize and draw shapes having specified attributes, such as a given number of angles or a given number of equal faces.  Identify triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, hexagons, and cubes)

Lesson Idea:  Since the common core standard requires that second grade children be able to identify five different geometric shapes, break the class up into five groups.  Once in groups, explain to the children that each group is going to be given a shape and a little detective work is going to need to be done on their shapes.  They are going to be given a list of questions and they need to find out the correct answers based on the shape they were given (i.e., provide the students with the appropriate pages in their math textbooks so they will be able to find the answers).  Once they have the correct answers, have the groups create a glogster for their shape, putting all the important information that they found on it.  Let them know that these pages will be given out to everyone in the class as their review guides for the test they will be taking, so make sure everyone does an excellent job. 

Please see below link for example handout for project made on glogster:
http://boykstac.edu.glogster.com/mathdetectives/
(if you are unable to see the glogster by clicking that link, please check out my website (click link of tech-tac-toe) as there is an example of it on there: http://snboykin.weebly.com)

Comments:  I enjoyed working with glogster.  I used the education version and found that there were a lot of pre-made templates that were great for the school setting.  I found it easy to use, however; I'm not sure if it would be a suitable tool to use with the younger students as it does take some mouse control to adjust pictures, text, etc.  I thought there were great preloaded pictures to use and enjoyed scrolling through them.  Overall, I think it would be a nice tool to use for teachers to make interesting hand-outs and for older students to use once fine and gross motor skills were more refined.