Social Justice Lesson

Green Corn Puzzle Social Justice Lesson - (This is designed as a Notebook file so this format isn't nearly as interesting or complete because there are no interactives available in Blogger like there are in Notebook.)

Specific Expectations

Social Studies - Mapping

Math - Patterning & Measurement

The Arts - Visual Art

Native Language & Culture

Timeframe: If done properly, this lesson should take an entire day. Examples and introduction can be done early in the day to get students involved in "Minds On" activities. Also, depending upon their painting skills, this portion could even extend into the next day. Be prepared for frustration. This lesson is not easy. But it's so worthwhile and lots of marks can be assigned because it's cross-curricular.

Note to Teachers: This is designed to be a cumulative lesson to be completed at the end or near-end of having taught all of these previous curriculum lessons. 

Also, since this lesson is designed for Six Nations students, I chose to use Six Nations and surrounding area as the example of scale using a map (plus, the maps are free which always helps). 

For the visual art portion of this lesson, I chose to use the theme of Green Corn since it plays a vitual part of Rotinonhson:ni culture. 

By having the students see themselves in the educational learning and curriculum, it helps them to relate and identify with the material being taught and it has a longer lasting impact. 

Lesson Overview 

1. Review the importance of Corn to the Rotinohnson:ni from our previous lessons on the Ohenton Karihwatehkwen and lessons on Green Corn ceremonies. 

2. Review what is scale? 

3. Read definition from math text. 

4. Observe Six Nations map.

5. Green corn puzzle introduction.

6. Activity time! Start planning, then start painting. 

Materials: 

-Grade 5 social studies text (or any text that has examples of scale)

-24 Six Nations maps (these can be obtained for free at Six Nations Tourism or any Six Nations Parks & Recreation building) 

-Green Corn Puzzle instructions handout 

-coloured and black & white photos of the puzzle

- teacher sample square (draw and paint a sample square)

- 16 squares the same size as teacher square

-16 individual student grids, calculators, rulers, scissors, paint, paint brushes, palettes (styrofoam plates), palette knives (plastic butter knives)

-8 wash cups for brushes 

Note: Depending on the number of students in your class, you will need to create more or less sample squares since the corn photo must be divided into equal square parts ie. 4x4=16 or 5x5=25. This makes it easier for grade 5 students to divide. (Even though it could really be divided into anything but that would be a nightmare!)

Instructions:

1. We will be creating a Green Corn Puzzle using social studies, math, and arts skills.
2. Explain what our day’s project will be by going over the specific expectations required for their assessment. (Show the following 2 slides then continue with lesson.) 
3. Check out the following blog for further lesson explanation. http://www.mrsbrownart.com/5th.htm  
4. 
   1. 
      
   2. Can anyone tell me what scale is? 
   3. Read scale definition in grade 5 social studies text. 
   4. Compare Maps at Different Scales. Have students notice the 2 different size maps of the Great Lakes as 2 examples of scale. One small, one blown up bigger. 
   5. Direct students to look at their map of Six Nations back page to enlarged photo of South Western Ontario. Point out how the lack of detail in Btfd and SN. Our estimated scale for this map could be 1cm=50km
   6. Flip map over to compare it to the map on the left and notice that there’s more detail to Btfd and SN. Our estimated scale for this map could be 1cm=5km
   7. Ask what the 2 road names we can see in Btfd (Erie Ave and Colborne Street). Our estimated scale for this map could be 1cm=1km
   8. Direct students to find both roads on the above map and notice how there’s even more detail as the map gets smaller in scale.  
   9. Redirect focus to Btfd/SN map and notice the shape and colour of SN. Compare that to the enlarger map of SN and notice how there’s even more detail in map because the scale is getting smaller. Our estimated scale for this map could be 1cm=0.75km
   10. Turn map to the back to see how the map of Ohsweken is the smallest in scale and has the most detail. Our estimated scale for this map could be 1cm=100m
   11. 
       
   10mm=1cm
   100cm=1m
   100m=1km
   
   
   1. 
      
   2. 
      
   3. Explain we will be doing the same thing with making a small scale bigger only instead of enlarging a map, we will be enlarging a puzzle one piece at a time. 
   4. 
      
   5. Each student will be responsible for creating one piece of our 16 piece corn puzzle like I have done. 
   6. 
      
   7. You will start by continuing to divide your graph from it’s current 4x4 stage and turning it into an 8x8 graph.
   8. 
      
   9. Demonstrate how to divide your page into a graph: Who can tell me what is the length and wide of your paper in mm? What is a quarter? If I wanted to divide my paper into quarters what would I do? Sixteenths? Have students divide their own pages into sixty-fourths. 
   
   
   Math Minds On

   1. What does each fraction look like?

   2. What is the pattern for the fractions?

   3. Measure each section of the grid. How many mm is a whole page? 

   4. Using your calculator, how would I figure out how much is a quarter of a page? Sixteenth of
   a page? Sixty-fourth? What is my pattern for finding the measurement?

   
   

   You might get handed the black and white version of the top left corner piece and that is what you have to recreate. Or you might get the bottom right corner piece. It's up to you to recreate your 1" x 1" small square, black & white puzzle piece and enlarge it onto an 8" x 8" square of paper and then paint it accordingly. 

   
   

   Painting your puzzle piece

   
   

   Also, be aware of which colours you choose to mix. If you make a blue green and everyone else uses a yellow green your piece will stick out. 

   
   

   Shade: a colour, especially with regard to how light or dark it is or as distinguished from one nearly like it : various shades of blue | Maria's eyes darkened in shade.

   
   

   Tint:  a shade or variety of color : the sky was taking on an apricot tint.

   
   

   Wash: a layer of dilluted paint spread thinly on a surface : the paper was covered with a pale lemon wash.

   
   

   
   

   1.  If I wanted to make my green darker, what colour would I add?

   2. If I wanted to make my green lighter, what colour would I add?

   3. Using your palette, palette knife, and paints, experiment mixing different shades of green and
   yellow. 

   4. When you think you've found the correct colour, begin painting your square carefully. 

   
   

   ***REMEMBER YOU CAN ALWAYS ADD MORE PAINT BUT YOU CANNOT
   REMOVE WHAT YOU'VE ALREADY PAINTED!***