Project-Based Learning Unit Plan Overview

Unit Title: Integers in Our Daily Lives

Grade: 6^th Grade Math

Unit Essential Question(s): What are integers and where can we find them in our daily lives?
Guiding or Unit Questions: How do you multiply and divide integers? When do you need to multiply and divide integers in your daily life? How do you add and subtract integers? When do you need to multiply and divide integers in your daily life? How is a negative integer different from a positive integer? What does a negative integer mean?
Massachusetts State Standards: GENERAL STANDARD 19: Writing 19.16 Write brief research reports with clear focus and supporting detail. 19.17 Write a short explanation of a process that includes a topic statement, supporting details, and a conclusion. GRADES 5–6 LEARNING STANDARDS: Number Sense and Operations 6.N.6 Find and position integers (both positive and negative) on the number line. 6.N.7 Compare and order integers (including negative integers) 6.N.9 Select and use appropriate operations to solve problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and positive integer exponents with whole numbers 6.N.13 Accurately and efficiently add, subtract, multiply, and divide (with double-digit divisors) whole numbers. 6.N.15 Add and subtract integers, with the exception of subtracting negative integers. ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY BENCHMARKS AND OUTCOMES FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS Understands words and phrases of grade-level academic content, including technical and abstract terms. (S.1.25) Creates media production using images, text, sound, and/or graphics. (W.5.13) Writes short accounts of personal or familiar experiences, including academic topics. (W.2.7a) Writes brief research reports with clear focus and supporting detail. (W.2.8f) Participates in classroom discussion and other academic interactions using basic and and complex sentence structures (S.3.65)
Factual Knowledge What is an integer?	Students will know: the definition of an integer the difference between positive and negative integers Places where integers are in real life
Procedural Knowledge Computing operations using integers Writing a personal narrative Word Processing	Students will be able to: add, subtract, multiply and divide both positive and negative integers write a personal narrative including mathematical equations and scenarios in which they encounter integers in their daily lives participate in the writing process by brainstorming, pre-writing, drafting, editing, writing a final draft, word processing and commenting online on peers' papers
Conceptual Knowledge When are products, quotients, sums or differences positive or negative?	Students will understand: Integers are an important part of mathematics and all throughout our daily lives. A negative integer is the opposite of a positive integer A negative sign indicates direction of movement, moving left on the number line or numbers below zero A positive added to a positive is a positive A negative added to a negative is a negative A positive multiplied or divided by a positive is a positive A negative multiplied or divided by a negative is a negative A positive multiplied or divided by a negative is a negative A negative multiplied or dived by a positive is a negative Subtracting a positive is the same as adding a negative
Technologies Word processing Blogging Online comments	Students will use: The HP laptop cart to type the stories on Microsoft word. This will give them opportunities to practice typing and digital editing using formatting and spell check. Students will also use the “track changes” function during their edits so the teachers can see their edits. Teachers will also use the “comments” option to give the students feedback on their writing Blogger.com to upload their integer stories to our classroom blog (6thgrademathsgs.blogspot.com) The website as a home-school connection, to be able to share their stories in print at home with their families on the internet The comment function on the blog website to respond to one peer's story (sign in as “studentmswaughsclass” to maintain anonymity.)
Assessments Formative and Summative Tools Rubric Drafts “My Life as an Integer Assignment Checklist”	Students will be formally assessed using a rubric from 0 to 4 as a summative assessment tool. They will be expected to include each operation (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) in their integer story, in addition to positive and negative numbers. The story needs to be a creative narrative and not an expository essay. The students will be assessed on their mathematical computations in addition to their error-free prose. Students will be expected to submit drafts and to edit these drafts. They will edit the drafts on the computers at school or at home using the “track changes” function. Students will be expected to print their document including their tracked changes that show their edits, in addition to a final version to be graded. These drafts will stand as formative assessments and will guide future instruction if re-teaching of certain concepts is necessary. Students will assess themselves upon completion of the assignment and complete the “My Life as an Integer Assignment Checklist” prior to submitting the final draft to the teacher. There will be frequent “check lists” and check in's as the students complete their writing assignment. These checklists will allow students to monitor their own progress in addition to allowing the teacher to progress-monitor.
Number of Weeks: 4 weeks Week 1: Introduction to the assignment including brainstorming and first drafts Week 2: Rewriting and drafting process including conferencing with the teachers Week 3: Word processing and editing Week 4: Blogging and commenting on peers' posts