5th Grade Third and Fourth Visit (September 21st and 28th)

I’m really impressed with this group of 5^th graders!

Mrs. Meiners is sending me her weekly parents email with info about what she’ll be working on with the students each week, so I can line up my lesson with what she’s already working on. This week she was teaching the students about conductors and insulators, so I thought it would be really fun to do a kind of process drama that reinforced student’s learning about conductors and insulators while also teaching them about physicality. This lesson was designed to be split into two parts, so I taught half of the lesson last week and the second half of the lesson this week.

Here’s my lesson plan:

__________________

Conductors and Insulators Process Drama:

5^th Grade Lesson Plan

Science Objective: Students will demonstrate an understanding of what types of objects are conductors and what types are insulators by labelling them on a map created through participation in a process drama.  

Theatre objective: Students will demonstrate an ability to use physical attributes to communicate a character by participating in a map-making process drama.

National Theatre Standards:

TH:Cr.3.1.5.b. Use physical and vocal exploration for character development in an improvised or scripted drama/theatre work

TH:Pr.4.1.5.b. Use physical choices to create meaning in a drama/theatre work.

UEN Science Standards:

Standard 4 Objective 2.c: Generalize the properties of materials that carry the flow of electricity using data by testing different materials.

Standard 4 Objective 2.d: Investigate materials that prevent the flow of electricity.

PreText:

Show the students an image of some spies. Ask the students to think of the ways a spy acts and moves. Have the students knit and weave around the room. Have them show you how a spy moves. Fast or slow? Smooth or choppy? How do they move through a field of corn? Through an empty room? Through spaghetti?

Have the students come together again.

We have a mission, class. Agent CoolMan, from the FSB, Federal Spy Bureau, needs some help rescuing a kidnapped agent, Agent Meiners, (Mrs. Meiners).

When I put on this suit coat, I will become Agent CoolMan and you will all become spies. Are you ready?

Process Drama: The Rescue of Agent Meiners

Agent CoolMan:

First things first. Our radio is the most important way we can communicate with each other. Because we are doing some super stealthy spying, we’ll need to maintain COMPLETE radio silence at all times UNLESS I specifically ask you any questions. If, at any time, you hear me over the radio say FREEZE, what do you think you should do? That’s right, freeze.

Alright, Crew, we don’t have time to debrief until we get you on your way to the destination. We’ve got a stealth jet waiting outside to take you to your mission destination. Let’s start by grabbing our spy gear from against the wall over there. On this mission you’re going to need your spy clothes on, you rubber spy boots on, and your spy mask on as well.

·      What other spy gear are you putting on?

Now that we’re on the spy jet, we can talk about the mission.

I’m not going to lie to you, this is a dangerous mission. But I know that you are the right men and women for the job. I would do this myself, but as you can see I’ve got a bad leg and am not allowed on physical missions anymore. However, I will be here over my headset directing you along the right path. Your teacher told me that you have learned this week about conductors and insulators, and that knowledge is going to be imperative to our plan.

·      What is a conductor? Can you think of any examples of conductors?

·      What is an insulator? Can you think of any examples of insulators?

Great! I’ve been notified that Agent Meiner is being held in a building not far from here. However, we’ll have to get through three rooms filled with some kind of obstacle in order to get to her and rescue her. Don’t worry, though, I’ll be there with you every step of the way to help you get out of this alive.

Alright crew, the jet is landing. You may have noticed some of the turbulence. Our landing is going to be just a lot bumpy. As we exit, pay close attention to your surroundings and move slowly and spy-like. I’ll walk you through your surroundings.

Walk through:

·      It’s night-time now, very dark. Activate the night goggles from your belt.

·      You see a huge warehouse in front of you. This is where Agent Meiner is being held.

·      One of you tries the door. It’s locked.

o   Someone tell me a possible way you could get thrgouh or around the door. Do that.

·      Enter the next room slowly. It’s very brightly lit, blinding, even! Just a few feet in front of you it looks like the entire floor and walls and ceiling are covered with gold. And the only way to the door on the other side is to cross. You take a few steps forward. But wait! You see a wire spouting off sparks all over the gold floor.

o   What does this mean?

o   What types of materials would insulate you? Do you see any lying around?

o   What can you do to cross? What else? Do one.

·      Enter the next room slowly. A few feet into this room and everything seems to be made of rubber Again, there is a wire leaking sparks on the floor?

o   What does this mean?

o   What can you do to cross. Do it.

·      Wait! There’s a huge puddle in the middle of the floor and the water also has a loose wire with sparks coming out of it.

o   What does this mean?

o   What materials would insulate you? Do you see any?

o   What can you do?

·      Enter the next room slowly. A few feet into this room is a giant metal slide, also with a wire attached to it. At the bottom of the slide you can see Agent Meiners, tied to her chair. Next to you are some sleds made of different materials to slide down with. One is glass, one is dry wood, one is soaking wet wood, one is plastic, one is metal.

o   Which sleds can you use? Do it.

·      Rescue Agent Meiners. It looks like there is a secret back exit, we’ll send the jet to pick you up there. Hop in the jet, you’re safe!

Assessment: (10 minutes)

·      Have the students create a map of the three rooms they went through. Have them label the items on their maps as either insulators or conductors. Have them put both their “agent name” and student name at the top of the map.