Lesson Plan | Teachy Methodology | Perfect Squares

Objectives

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

This step aims to clearly establish the learning objectives, providing both the teacher and the students with a clear understanding of what will be achieved during the lesson. By outlining the specific skills that students should master, this section guides the planning of activities and ensures that everyone is aligned with the expectations of the lesson.

Main Objectives

1. Write the remarkable product of perfect squares.

2. Recognize if a number is a perfect square.

3. Write an expression as a perfect square.

Introduction

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

This step aims to warm up and engage the students for the lesson, connecting them to the topic in a practical and contextualized way. The use of cell phones to search for information motivates students to utilize digital tools and initiates a dynamic discussion about perfect squares, preparing them to deepen their knowledge and apply what they have already studied.

Warming Up

To start the lesson, explain to the students that perfect squares are integers that can be expressed as the square of another integer. Then, ask the students to use their cell phones to search for an interesting or curious fact about perfect squares. This can include real-world applications, historical or mathematical curiosities, or famous examples.

Initial Reflections

1. What is a perfect square?

2. How can we identify if a number is a perfect square?

3. What is the difference between perfect squares and other remarkable products?

4. Did anyone find an interesting fact about perfect squares that they would like to share?

5. Why is it useful to recognize perfect squares in mathematical problems?

Development

Duration: 70 - 80 minutes

This step aims to provide students with a practical and immersive experience that will solidify their knowledge of perfect squares. By working on collaborative and digital activities, students engage more deeply and meaningfully with the content, applying mathematical concepts in modern and fun contexts.

Activity Suggestions

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

Activity 1 - 🔍 Perfect Square Mission: Mathematical Investigators

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Develop recognition and use of perfect squares through an investigative and collaborative activity, promoting teamwork and the use of digital tools.

- Description: Students will be challenged to solve a mathematical mystery involving perfect squares, using a storytelling and gamification approach. Each group will receive a digital 'dossier' with clues that must be deciphered using perfect squares.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Distribute to each group a digital 'dossier' (this could be a PDF document or a Google Slides presentation) containing clues and puzzles related to perfect squares.

• Students should use their cell phones and/or computers to research and decipher the clues. Some puzzles may require mathematical calculations, while others may need the identification of perfect squares in everyday situations.

• Encourage groups to document their findings and solutions using an online collaborative tool, such as Google Docs or Trello.

• Each group should prepare a final report presenting their findings, explaining how they arrived at their solutions, and summarizing the investigative process.

Activity 2 - 🎮 Mathematics Influencers: Perfect Square Challenge on Instagram

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Consolidate knowledge about perfect squares in a creative way, contextualizing learning in the use of social networks and digital content creation tools.

- Description: Students will be challenged to create content related to perfect squares in a typical social media format. They must create an Instagram post explaining the concept and providing examples of perfect squares, using creative images and videos.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Explain that each group will be responsible for creating a post for a fictional 'Instagram account,' elucidating the concept of perfect squares.

• Groups should plan and produce their content digitally, using photos, videos, and graphics. Tools such as Canva and InShot may be suggested for content creation.

• Students should focus on making the concept of perfect squares accessible and interesting to followers of all ages, using clear language and visually appealing formats.

• Each group will present their final post to the class, explaining the creative and mathematical decisions behind the content.

Activity 3 - 🕹️ Perfect Squares: The Digital Game Show

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Promote the recognition and application of perfect square concepts through an interactive and competitive activity, stimulating learning in a digital and collaborative environment.

- Description: Students will participate in a virtual game show, where they will answer questions and solve challenges involving perfect squares. The competition will be held via an online quiz platform, such as Kahoot or Quizizz.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Create an interactive quiz on a platform like Kahoot or Quizizz, with questions and challenges related to perfect squares.

• Explain the rules of the game show and how students should use their cell phones or computers to participate.

• Groups will compete against each other to achieve the highest score, answering questions about the identification of perfect squares, calculation of remarkable products, and more.

• After the quiz, review the questions and answers with the class, discussing any questions and deepening the understanding of the concepts covered.

Feedback

Duration: (20 - 25 minutes)

This step aims to consolidate learning, promote the sharing of experiences and reflections, and develop social and communication skills through constructive feedback. By reflecting on the challenges and solutions encountered, students reinforce their understanding of the concepts of perfect squares and realize the importance of collaborative work and digital tools in the learning process.

Group Discussion

[Group Discussion] Promote a group discussion with all students, where groups share what they learned while conducting the experience and their conclusions. Here is a brief script that can be used to introduce this discussion:

1. Start the discussion by asking groups to briefly share their findings and solutions from the activities.
2. Encourage students to compare the methods and approaches used by different groups.
3. Ask students how the use of digital tools influenced their problem-solving and understanding of concepts.
4. Stimulate reflection on how the topic of perfect squares connects with other areas of mathematics and general knowledge.

Reflections

1. What were the main challenges encountered when solving the perfect square puzzles? 2. How did group collaboration and the use of digital tools aid in understanding perfect squares? 3. In what ways can perfect squares be applied in everyday situations or in other subjects?

360° Feedback

[360° Feedback] Instruct students to carry out a 360° feedback step, where each student receives feedback from the other members of the group they worked with. Guide the class to follow this process for constructive and respectful feedback:

1. Each student should share something positive about each colleague's contribution in the group.
2. Follow with suggestions for improvement in a polite and constructive manner.
3. Ensure that feedback is specific, mentioning concrete behaviors or actions.
4. Conclude with reflections on what each student learned from giving and receiving feedback, encouraging open and respectful communication.

Conclusion

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

🎯 Purpose of the Conclusion: This final step wraps up the lesson by consolidating learning, connecting the discussed concepts with the real world and their practical applications. By revisiting the topics in a playful and creative manner, students better internalize the knowledge acquired and realize the relevance of perfect squares in their lives. The conclusion helps ensure that students leave the lesson not only with a theoretical understanding but also with a practical and motivating perspective on the content.

Summary

🚀 Animated Summary: Let's fly through perfect squares! Imagine you are a mathematical detective uncovering numerical mysteries. Perfect squares are like the clues that lead us to the solution: integers raised to the square, like 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, among others. They are fundamental for solving various mathematical puzzles and can be recognized by their unique properties. In this lesson, you decoded codes, created amazing content, and competed in an epic quiz, always using the power of perfect squares!

World Connection

🌍 Connection with the Modern World: Perfect squares are everywhere, even if we often don't notice them. In the digital age, they are used in encryption algorithms that protect our online information, in computer graphics and animations, and even in the games we love so much. Being attuned to these mathematical concepts makes us better prepared to understand and innovate in the technological world.

Practical Application

🔧 Practical Applications: Understanding perfect squares is essential for solving complex problems in mathematics, engineering, and computer science. In everyday life, we can apply these concepts when dealing with proportionality, resource optimization, and even financial planning. Every time we identify a perfect square, we are closer to mastering skills that are valuable in various professions and everyday situations.