Ideas+for+High+School

High School I-Block Ideas:

|| use || Science || Is a site that has a 20 minute **movie** about the consumption process in our world. It is very interesting and provides information worthy of a good "green" discussion with kids. Also has a list of 10 things to do to make a better world. If you have a blog or discussion post, having students discuss online while they watch this would be a great activity. Also, if you do not have technology readily available, do a **3, 2, 1 activity** with the kids. As they watch, they write 3 things they learned, 2 things they thought were interesting and 1 question they have. When the movie is done, have them discuss in groups or as a class. || English || Dana Delker shared this one: ||
 * idea
 * [|www.storyofstuff.com]
 * Teaching Genre
 * Baseball Math || Here is a link to a math lesson I did with a group of 10th graders at LHS during i-block 9-12, numbers and operations http://www.thefutureschannel.com/dockets/algebra/ballpark/#balllessons

(optional) if you have a projector, play the 2 minute video for the kids. The video features a USA Today Sports writer talking about her job following baseball. She talks about how she uses math in her job to figure out averages.

Print the lesson for batting average. Put the students into teams of 3-5. Have them do the top part of the worksheet. Following the formula they need to figure out the batting averages for eight players. When they are done figuring out averages reveal the following scenario to them (you can print and pass out, or write on the board and uncover when ready):

//    It is the bottom of the 9th, 2 out, bases loaded, we are losing by 1 run. (SS) Roger is scheduled to bat, he is 0-4 in the game. The other team has brought in a new pitcher. The new pitcher has struck out 9 of his last 10 right handed batters. His last two left handed batters hit home runs off of him.. Ila and Mickey are available to pinch hit. Willie is also available to pinch hit, he is 5-10 off of this pitcher lifetime. It has just started to rain lightly. Carita is available to pinch hit. Statistically he is a .400 hitter in the rain. The other three batters are on the bases. OK coach, what do you do to win the game and why? justify your decision with facts. // Have each team announce their decision and justification. Allow for group discussion. Try to change their minds. Final Answer?

Extension-after discussion pass out a six sided die to each group. Roll once, odd number =a hit, even number=out, game over you lose. If they roll for a hit have them roll again, 1=single, tie game. 2=double, you win by 1. 3=triple, you win by 2. 4=Home Run, you win by 3. 5=walk, tie game. 6=hit by pitch, tie game. || Science http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/bamzooki/make/ || This came from a coach on my listserv:
 * Creature Creator

Hello all,

I was searching for a free "creature creator" site/app for an upcoming genetics unit for one of my science teachers, and stumbled across BAMZOOKi. I downloaded it and tried it on the Lenovo, and it works smoothly! It's a free option for creating 3D digital creatures, and is clearly built for the kiddos. After building a Zook (creature), you can test its movement.

If you have more than one Zook (imagine a class of kids sharing their digital creatures on a network drive!), you can challenge them to races, mazes, and so forth - and the races are even recorded, and can be played back later for closer scrutinization!

Now THIS is the biology class my kids want to be in! "Game" is definitely not a four-letter word here, dagnabbit. || Math || Steve Bower (Art Teacher, Liberty) used Texas Hold em as a method for teaching probablity to one of his i-block groups. I don't know all of the details, but I'm sure he'd share: sbower@southerntioga.org ||
 * Cards anyone?
 * Creative Writing || If you have access to computers, put the students in groups of two or three and have them use google docs to co-write a story. Perhaps you could provide a first line such as "As I crawled out of the darkness....." Give them instructions such as: Student 1 writes the story, student 2 follows behind adding action verbs to the writing, student 3 follows adding adjectives, then go around again in different roles. If you want to take it to another level, go to [|www.toondo.com] and have them turn the story into an online comic story. ||