Lesson Plan | Teachy Methodology | Variables and Unknowns

Objectives

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

This stage aims to present the learning objectives of the lesson clearly and objectively, providing students with an initial understanding of the fundamental concepts of variables and unknowns. Additionally, it defines learning expectations to guide subsequent activities.

Main Objectives

1. Understand the concept of variables and unknowns.

2. Recognize the representation of variables and unknowns through letters.

Side Objectives

1. Develop skills to apply the concept of variables in different contexts.
2. Foster the ability for abstraction and mathematical generalization.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

This stage aims to warm up students to the topic of the lesson, utilizing the connectivity and digital reality they are accustomed to. By seeking interesting facts and sharing among themselves, they will begin to connect what they previously studied with practical applications, preparing for deeper and more interactive engagement during the class.

Warming Up

To start the class, explain to students that variables and unknowns are concepts we often use, even outside the classroom. Ask them to use their phones to look for an interesting fact related to variables and unknowns in the context of their daily lives, social networks, or any practical application they can find. Encourage sharing this fact with the class.

Initial Reflections

1. What did you understand about variables and unknowns when you studied at home?

2. How do you think we use variables in everyday life, besides mathematics?

3. Can you share examples of where you have encountered or heard about variables and unknowns?

4. Why do you think it is important to understand these concepts in our increasingly digital world?

Development

Duration: (65 - 75 minutes)

This stage aims to engage students in practical and interactive activities that connect the concept of variables and unknowns to their digital everyday life. Through playful and modern scenarios, students will be encouraged to apply what they have learned in a contextualized manner, developing problem-solving, collaboration, and critical thinking skills.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended that only one of the suggested activities be carried out

Activity 1 - 🕵️‍♂️ Enigma of Digital Influencers 🕵️‍♀️

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Apply the concept of variables and unknowns in a modern and interactive context, developing problem-solving and communication skills.

- Description: Students must imagine they are digital influencers participating in a puzzle game on a fictitious social network. They need to use variables and unknowns to uncover clues and solve problems presented as posts and stories. Each student group will create a profile on Instagram (fictitious) and share their solutions through stories and posts, explaining the reasoning used.

- Instructions:

• Divide students into groups of up to 5 people.

• Each group must create a fictitious Instagram profile (using paper sheets, design apps, or digital presentations to simulate it).

• Provide each group with a series of posts and stories that contain mathematical puzzles involving variables and unknowns.

• Students must solve the puzzles and post their solutions on the created profile, explaining the reasoning behind each answer.

• At the end, groups should view and comment on each other's posts, evaluating and discussing the different approaches.

Activity 2 - 🎮 Gamification: The Programmer's Challenge 🎮

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop programming skills and apply the concept of variables and unknowns in a digital and playful context.

- Description: In this activity, students will become programmers of a digital game. They will need to use variables and unknowns to develop small snippets of code that solve mathematical problems presented in the game's storyline. Using a basic programming platform, such as Scratch or Code.org, students will create and share their solutions.

- Instructions:

• Divide students into groups of up to 5 people.

• Provide each group with a mathematical problem involving variables and unknowns.

• Using simple programming platforms, such as Scratch or Code.org, students must create a code that solves the problem.

• Groups should document the process of creating the code, explaining each step and the use of variables and unknowns.

• At the end, groups should share their codes and documentation, and discuss the different approaches and solutions adopted.

Activity 3 - 🌐 Investigation of Social Networks 🌐

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Understand the application of variables and unknowns in social media algorithms and develop data analysis skills.

- Description: Students will explore how variables and unknowns are used in social media algorithms to personalize content and ads. They should analyze the data collected from their own accounts and simulate adjustments in the variables to see how it alters the behavior of the social network. Using tools like Google Trends and data analysis, students will create graphs and reports.

- Instructions:

• Divide students into groups of up to 5 people.

• Each group must access their social networks and collect data about the type of content they view most frequently.

• Using tools like Google Trends, analyze how different variables (age, location, interests) influence social media algorithms.

• Simulate adjustments in the collected variables to observe how this changes the behavior of the algorithms.

• Each group should create graphs and reports detailing their findings and present them to their peers.

Feedback

Duration: (20 - 25 minutes)

🔍 Purpose: This stage aims to consolidate students' learning through sharing experiences and collective reflection. The group discussion allows students to perceive different perspectives and approaches, while the 360° feedback promotes a collaborative environment and continuous improvement. Additionally, it helps the teacher assess the overall understanding of the class and the skills developed during the lesson.

Group Discussion

💬 Group Discussion: After the practical activities, gather all students for a group discussion. Start the session by asking each group to share their experiences, the challenges they faced, and the solutions they found. Use a script like: 1. 'What were the main challenges you encountered when working with variables and unknowns in the activities?', 2. 'How did you resolve those challenges?', 3. 'What did you learn about variables and unknowns that you didn't know before?'

Reflections

1. How can the understanding of variables and unknowns be applied in other areas of knowledge? 2. In what way has the use of digital technologies, such as social networks and programming, helped to better understand mathematical concepts? 3. What do you think you could improve in your approaches and why?

360° Feedback

🔄 360° Feedback: Guide students to conduct a 360° feedback step, where each member of the group must give and receive feedback from the other members. Instruct students to be constructive and respectful in their observations, emphasizing strengths and areas for improvement. Suggest they use phrases like 'I liked how you...', 'I think you could improve in...', and 'You helped me a lot when...'.

Conclusion

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

🎯 Purpose: The purpose of this stage is to consolidate learning by reviewing the main points discussed in a fun way and connecting the studied concepts with their current relevance and practical applications. This closure helps students internalize the content and recognize the importance of what they have learned beyond the school context. 🌈

Summary

🔍 Lesson Summary: Let's think of today's lesson as an episode of a favorite series! 🎬 We started with an introduction to the main characters: the variables and unknowns. These characters appeared in various scenarios, such as posts and stories from digital influencers and programming codes. Each student group took on the role of detective and programmer, collaborating to solve mysteries and overcome challenges. In the end, they shared their experiences and learnings, giving that sense of mission accomplished! 💡📚

World Connection

🌐 In the World: The lesson showed how variables and unknowns are fundamental parts of the digital tools we use every day. From algorithms that determine what we see on social media to codes that make our favorite games possible, these mathematical concepts are everywhere! Interaction with the digital world not only made the lesson more interesting but also helped us understand the relevance of these concepts in our daily lives. 📱💻

Practical Application

📊 Applications: Understanding variables and unknowns is crucial for deciphering not only mathematical puzzles but also for understanding and creating algorithms that drive the digital world. Whether personalizing our social media feed or programming games, these concepts allow us to explore, analyze, and influence the world around us effectively and intelligently. 🌟