Beacon Lesson Plan Library

Give Me Your Vital Statistics

Debbie Hartley

Description

This is a great first week of school activity that allows students to get to know one another while giving them the opportunity to practice their logical thinking skills.

Standards

Florida Sunshine State Standards
LA.B.2.3.2.6.1
The student logically sequences information using alphabetical, chronological, and numerical systems.

Florida Process Standards
Information Managers
01 Florida students locate, comprehend, interpret, evaluate, maintain, and apply information, concepts, and ideas found in literature, the arts, symbols, recordings, video and other graphic displays, and computer files in order to perform tasks and/or for enjoyment.

Numeric Problem Solvers
03 Florida students use numeric operations and concepts to describe, analyze, communicate, synthesize numeric data, and to identify and solve problems.

Critical and Creative Thinkers
04 Florida students use creative thinking skills to generate new ideas, make the best decision, recognize and solve problems through reasoning, interpret symbolic data, and develop efficient techniques for lifelong learning.

Materials

-Complete list of students' names, birth dates, and age (in random order); one copy for every student
-Vital Statistics Chart; one copy for every student (see Attached Files)
-Vital Statistics Chart Overhead (see Attached Files)
-Overhead markers
-One highlighter for every student

Preparations

1. Compile a list of students including first and last names, birth dates, and age (in random order). Duplicate one for every student.
2. Duplicate one Vital Statistics Chart for every student.(See Attached Files)
3. Complete your own Vital Statistics Chart to use as a key for scoring. (See Attached Files)
4. Make an overhead of the Vital Statistics Chart. (See Attached Files)
5. Gather other materials. (See Materials list).

Procedures

Session 1: Give Me Your Vital Statistics
1. Before the students arrive, arrange the desks in groups of 4.

2. Engage the students by telling them this activity will reveal some vital statistics of their classmates.

3. Hand out copies of class lists and the Vital Statistics Chart. (See Attached Files)

4. Explain their first task: Using the class list, they are to complete the first column of the Vital Statistics Chart. (See Attached Files) They are to write down their classmates' names, alphabetically, by the last names. Model this by doing the first few for them using the overhead of the Vital Statistics Chart. Instruct them to use the highlighter to highlight the names only on the class list. Make sure there are no questions before they get started.

5. Circulate as the students work. At the end of the period, instruct them to complete the first column if necessary.

Session 2: Give Me Your Vital Statistics
1. As the students enter the class, instruct them to sit with a different group of students. Instruct them to take out the class list and their Vital Statistics Chart. (See Attached Files)

2. Instruct them on how to complete the rest of the chart. In column 2, students' names are to be arranged by birth date, starting with January 1 and so on. Column 3 is to be arranged by age, oldest first. Model the first few using the Vital Statistics Chart (See Attached Files) overhead. Make sure you instruct them to write down the names and the birthdate and age in the appropriate columns and to highlight the information as they use it.

3. Circulate as the students work, providing feedback.

Session 3: Give Me Your Vital Statistics
1. Before the students arrive, arrange the desks back into rows.

2. After the students arrive, give them time to complete the work from session 2 independently. Make sure you leave 15 minutes at the end of the period.

3. When 15 minutes are left, collect all the papers. Review these for formative assessment.

4. Next, tell the students that it's time for introductions. Introduce the students alphabetically, and have them come to the front of the room, standing shoulder to shoulder, as they are introduced.
**Variation: Knowing how we love to sit them alphabetically at the beginning of the year to make it easier to learn their names, you could have all of them come to the front of the class first. You could then have them sit down as you call them, creating a seating chart and introducing them at the same time!

Assessments

1. Use the completed Vital Statistics Chart (See Attached Files) to formatively assess the students' ability to logically sequence information using: alphabetizing, chronological order, and numerical systems. (LA.B.2.3.2.6.1)

Extensions

The Vital Statistics Charts (See Attached Files) can be used:
1. as a jumping off point for student interviews.
2. to make Birthday Calendars to display in the classroom.
3. for math instruction in graphing, charting, ratio, etc.

Attached Files

A Vital Statistics Chart. File Extension: pdf