Reply To: Lesson 2-1 Discussion

[Noel McMillin]

The video really got me thinking about a lesson I use for surface area. The name of the activity is “Dandy Candies”. It is a Dan Meyer lesson. The gist is calculating the surface area of boxes that hold 24 candies (similar to the toothpick perimeter problem). I love the video, I find it mesmerizing. But I don’t think I am doing it correctly after watching your lesson. I do not allow time for any “wonder/notice” nor do I withhold information. We watch the video, usually three times, and then I tell them to find the box with the least amount of surface area and the greatest amount of surface area. This year I will walk the students through the 4-step process (especially withholding information). I think it will make a good activity great. I keep coming back to the notion that I need to get out of the way of my students’ learning.

Another reflection is when I do the “Dandy Candies” lesson, I know I have about 45 minutes from start to finish. How often do I design a lesson or activity based on getting it completed within the allotted time? That generally means I am in charge and I will drive the car. I feel like it is a disservice to my students and their learning.