Interdisciplinary Lesson

Plans
For
ABE/GED/ESL
Instructors
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
For
ABE/GED/ESL Instructors

The lesson plans in this book are designed to foster critical thinking skills through teaching
across the curricula. Each lesson plan contains at least three of the five areas tested on
the GED test; additionally, each lesson has an activity designated to math or science.
Graphic organizers, timelines, charts, reading samples, and realia are also basic
components of the lesson plans.

Plans have been scripted to facilitate teacher use and also to lessen prep time for teachers.
Each lesson also contains the following relevant information:
1. The cognitive skill level of the activity using Bloom’s taxonomy.
2. A debriefing/evaluation activity.
3. A real-life connection activity which explains how people in real life would use the
skills taught.
4. An extension activity which allows the students to expand the skills developed
through the activity.
5. Accommodations for adults with special needs.
 ABE/GED Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans

Discipline
Math Science Social Language Language
Studies Arts Arts
Reading Writing
Lesson Title

1 Bob the Builder: Getting Ready to Carpet A Room √ √ √

2 Solving Percent Problems √ √ √

3 Perimeter √ √ √

4 Wheel of Fortune (Probability and Statistics √ √ √

5 Area Code Math √ √ √

6 Constructing A Simple Line Graph √ √ √

7 The Tree √ √ √

8 Only the Strong Survive √ √ √

9 Spring Has Sprung √ √ √ √

10 The Flask – Multi-Disciplinary Problem Solving √ √ √ √ √

11 Coming to America By Way of the North Pole √ √ √

12 Cloning √ √ √
 ABE/GED Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans

Discipline
Math Science Social Language Language
Studies Arts Arts
Reading Writing
Page Lesson Title

13 The Right to Vote √ √ √

14 The Space Shuttle √ √ √ √ √

15 Traveler’s Advisory √ √ √

16 A Comparison of Mississippi’s Campgrounds √ √ √ √ √

17 Plan A Trip (Within the United States) √ √ √

18 Traveling the State √ √ √

19 Got Milk? √ √ √ √
Buyer Beware:
20 How Hidden Messages In Advertising Affect Purchases √ √ √

21 Shopping for Supper or Menu to Meal √ √ √ √

22 Money/Money Management √ √ √
 ABE/GED Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans

Discipline
Math Science Social Language Language
Studies Arts Arts
Reading Writing
Page Lesson Title

23 Life Skills – Usefulness of Consumer Products √ √ √

24 Reading Pictures √ √ √

25 The Biological Clock Can Affect Student Performance √ √ √

26 Getting the Most for Your Money √ √ √

 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
Area/Skill Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
Science, Math, Language Arts- Comprehension, Application, Cheryl Smith Rankin County Schools ABE
Writing Analysis, Evaluation
Materials/Texts/Realia/Handouts
Activity Title: The “Biological Clock” Can Affect A Student’s Performance (per student)
Handout sheet of instructions
Goal/Objective Deck of cards
Science - Use an activity to determine how “task” performance can differ during the day. Watch or clock with second hand
Math - Calculate the average rate of each time measurement. Graph results for three days. Chart to record times
Writing - Record test results and analysis in student journals. Graph paper
Pencil
Lesson Outline Student journal
Students will use research skills to collect data. Students will organize the data and average the results of
time measurements. Students will graph the results for each day. Students will record and analyze the
collected data to form conclusions.

Introduction
External factors affect our daily lives, but there is also an internal factor, our “biological clock”, which Extension Activity
determines our performance each day. Add a 2:00 a.m. measurement time
one night to compare the differences
Activity in performance.
Students will need a deck of cards, a clock/watch with a second hand, graph paper, and a chart with the
headings – morning, midday, afternoon, and bedtime. Procedure—Shuffle the cards well. Time how long Repeat this lesson using different
it takes to sort the cards into the four suits. Immediately repeat this procedure two more times. Average types of activities (ex. Higher level
the three scores (time measurements) together and record the average score on the chart. Repeat this cognitive drills) to determine other
procedure for three days, with each day having four measurements recorded. Small groups will create factors that might influence the
graphs from the information on the charts, discuss findings and analyze how this information might be productivity of ABE students.
helpful. Students will record results in their journals.

Debriefing/Evaluation Activity
Students will discuss the procedures they used in this activity. Conclusions will be judged for validity and ESE Accommodations
accuracy. Students will predict how this information could change their methods of time management in Group students for activities when
the future. needed.
Allow students to pick an “at-home”
Real-Life Connection partner.
Have students discuss how understanding their own biological clock would be helpful in preparing for the Have calculators available.
GED. Have students create a list of daily activities they would schedule for peak performance times and
brainstorm on ways to avoid their “scheduled” performance slumps.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans - Script
Area/Skill Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
Science, Mathematics, Comprehension, Application, Cheryl Smith Rankin County Schools ABE
Language Arts-Writing Analysis, Evaluation

Activity Title; The “Biological Clock” Can Affect a Student’s Performance

Introduction
Say: Many external factors affect our daily lives, but within us lies a major force that determines how we performance each day. We are usually
not even aware of the “biological clock” that determines our “rhythm” through the day.

Main Activity
Say: For the next three days you will be experimenting with your “biological clock” to determine how it affects your daily life. Each student will be
collecting and analyzing data to see how they might make better use of their peak performance times.

Hand out instruction sheets to the class and discuss the directions. Hand out other materials required for the lesson. Ask if there are any
questions.

Conduct a brief discussion around the following questions:

When you graph your measurements for the 3 days do you predict that the daily graphs will be similar? Why?
Do you already have an idea of how your daily graphs will look?
What factors in your daily life will affect your measurements?
Why do you think you need to take three measurements each time you perform this activity and calculate an average measurement?
How do you average a set of three numbers? If there were five numbers, what would you do differently?

Closure/Conclusion
Ask students to share journal entries about their measurement results.
Ask students how these results could be used to obtain better study habits and test scores.
Ask students to share ideas about how they plan to change their daily routines to take better advantage of performance peaks.

Follow-up Lessons/Activities
Students enlist a family member or friend to try the activity. Students can show the friend how to design a graph and how to average numbers.
Students report on actual changes accomplished in their daily routines and the effects of those changes
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
Area/Skill Mathematics, Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
Language Arts Reading, Comprehension, Application, May LeFlore MS Dept. of Corrections
Language Arts Writing Synthesis Pre-Release Program
Materials/Texts/Realia/Handouts
Activity Title: Reading Pictures
Magazines, Tape, Scissors, coloring
Goal/Objective: Language Arts, Reading: Use pictures from the Newspapers or Magazines. Have students to find the pencils, butcher paper
main idea (main point) by finding the details and tell what is the implied meaning from the picture. Newspapers
Worksheets
Language Arts, Writing: Students will complete a handout with three columns: Detail, Main Idea, and Implied. This Paragraph development
information is also placed on the blackboard for the feedback session where students may add other students’ Rubric Scale to evaluate the paragraph
comments. For each picture shown, allow the students time to complete the information on handout. Then conduct a Rubric Scale to evaluate the pictograph
feedback session with the students. After the feedback session, have the students to write a paragraph stating the Transparency of various pictures
main idea, detail, and inference from one of the pictures. Source: Real-Life Reading Activities for
Grades 6-12, Silver, James F. pp.123-
Mathematics: Pictograph usually takes the form of a horizontal bar graph. Pictograph uses pictures or symbols to 143.
present statistical information. By using pictures, it makes it easy to understand the data and make immediate Graph Attack! Understanding Charts and
comparison. In a pictograph, there is a symbol and the symbol might represent people, barrels of oil, automobile, and Graphs. (Cambridge) pp.71-78
etc. Whatever the symbol, it will most often look like the subject the pictograph. If you have any doubts about what Survey
that subject is, look at the title of the graph.
Extension Activity: The skills learned from
Lesson Outline: Students (prisoners) will use utilized pictures from newspapers and magazines to complete the Reading Pictures can be used in
worksheet and write paragraphs. Students will also research and organize a simple pictograph graph showing the interpreting cartoon in science and social
number of prisoners from the house areas that were under the influence of alcohol or drug when their crime occurred. studies.

Introduction: During the commission of a crime, researchers have found that many individuals are under the influence Survey Questions:
of alcohol and drug. Alcohol impairs one's ability to think rational or give them a false sense of confidence. Alcohol is 1. When you committed your crime(s),
a drug and it is the number one abused drug. Drugs are substances that alter the central nervous system. Show the were you using alcohol? ___ Yes, ___No
class pictures accidents of drunk drivers. 2. When you committed your crime(s),
were you using drug? ___ Yes, ____No
Activity: The student will be divided into four groups and a packet of information will be provided: instructions, several 3. When you committed your crime(s),
magazines and newspapers, and worksheets. Students will develop a simple survey with three questions and were you using drug and alcohol?
organizing information for the pictograph. The students will be assigned to groups according to the one of four ___ Yes, ___ No.
housing zones that they live on. A bottle will be the symbol for alcohol, and a cigarette will be the symbol for drug.
Another pictograph will show those that may have been under the influence of alcohol and drug when the crime
occurred. Students will organize the collected data and graphs to present findings. Students will analyze their graphs ESE Accommodations: Picture may be
to draw conclusions. used in the beginning as method of
teaching sight words.
Debriefing/Evaluation Activity: Students will briefly discuss how pictures affect our lives and how they are used to
speak to us. Students will also discuss the development of pictograph and the results of data collection.

Real-Life Connection: There are specific designs that are used nation wide to identify restroom, telephone, money,
music, no smoking area, handicapped parking, railroad cross, the red and gold arch, and others are useful for
everyday survival.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans - Script
Area/Skill Mathematics Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
Language Arts Reading, Comprehension, Application, May LeFlore MS Dept. of Corrections
Language Arts Writing, Synthesis Pre-Release Program

Activity Title: Reading Pictures

Introduction:
Say: A picture is worth a thousand words. Nothing makes a greater impact than a visual impression of something that you are reading.
Just as a paragraph has a main idea. The main idea is a general statement that tells you the major point of a passage. At least every picture has
one main idea. With a picture it is possible to determine the main idea from one glance. Another characteristic of a paragraph is that there are
supporting sentences that support the main idea. There are details in a picture that supports the main idea of the picture. One of the purposes of
reading for details is to collect enough information to decide what is the main idea or inference. An inference is an opinion that one forms after
discovering one or more details from the reading or the reviewing of the picture.

Main Activity:
Say: Today, students (prisoners), we will review some pictures to create a visual and mental understanding of certain objects to obtain the main
focus and the inferred meaning of the pictures.
In reviewing pictures to find the main idea, ask these questions:
• What are the details? (Notice every detail of the picture.)
• Look at each character. Who are they? What are they saying? Who do they represent?
• Read every word and study the labels and descriptions.
• Are there any symbols? What do they mean? (Look for symbols and their meaning.)
To determine the inference of a picture, ask these questions:
• What is being implied?
• What are some predictions that can be made from the facts shown?

From the information gathered while reading the pictures, the students will write a paragraph.
Say: Pictures are used in all walks of life, and we will learn how pictures are used in making graphs. This type of graph is called pictograph.

Closure/Conclusion: Ask students to name and give the meaning of some symbols used daily.
Ask students how these symbols impact our lives and affect our thinking.

Follow-up Lessons/Activities: Divide the class into four groups. Allow each group to draw or develop their own picture from newspapers or
magazine clippings. Each group will present its picture to the class, and explain the main idea and inference. Each group will also explain how the
main idea and inference were determined.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
Area/Skill Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
Mathematics, Language Arts, Comprehension, Application, Robin Clements Gulfport School District
Reading, Social Studies Analysis, Evaluation
Materials/Texts/Realia/Handouts
Activity Title: Life Skills (Usefulness of Consumer Products)
Products Chart
Goal/Objective: Container and Units chart
Students will learn the purpose and usefulness of consumer products in every day real-life skills. Posters: “At the Store” and “Products
You Can Use”
Lesson Outline: Sample Pack: Crest, Folgers, Old
Students will be given a chart, pronunciation suggestions, cultural notes, and student activities that provide Spice Deodorant, Tide, Downy, Day
real-life skills. Quill, Pepto-Bismol, Dawn, and a
shopping pad.
Introduction:
As a consumer, it is important to be able to read product labels for product information, its ingredients, its
warnings, and directions for usage.
Extension Activity
Activity: Have students bring in a product
(1) Discuss the importance of being able to read product labels. Students will use the Products Chart and with a caution or warning label and
discuss what each product is for and how or why it is used. answer the following questions:
(2) Discuss the importance of knowing container and unit measurements when purchasing products. (Use What is the product? What are the
Container and Units Chart in Student Edition to determine correct measurements. warnings? What should people do if
the product is used incorrectly? Is
Debriefing/Evaluation Activity: Ask students why it’s important to be able to read product labels. there a phone number the on the
label for questions or comments?

Real-Life Connection: Have students bring in a product that they use or have used such as: cough
medicine, aspirin, or sinus medicine. Have each student explain the label and discuss what could happen ESE Accommodations
if directions are not followed. Team students with various
functioning levels. Discuss and
locate information on the product
label. Example: What ingredients
are in this product?
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans - Script
Area/Skill Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
Mathematics, Language Arts- Comprehension, Application, Robin Clements Gulfport School District
Reading, Social Studies Analysis, Evaluation

Activity Title: Life Skills (Usefulness of Consumer Products)

Introduction:
Say: Today we are going to talk about purchasing products for our everyday use and why we need them. We are also going to talk about the
importance of knowing how to read the product label.

Main Activity:
Say: What are some products that you buy that are essential to everyday. How do you use these products and why do you need them? Do
you read the labels of the products you buy to what’s in them? Pass out Products Chart and Student Workbook.

Say: Today we are going to talk about products we buy for everyday living and how these products are are useful to us. We are also going to talk
about the importance of reading labels on products that we buy.

Say: Look at your Products Chart and let’s talk about each product and how and why it is used. Discuss the chart.

Say: Look at your Container and Units Measurement Chart and tell me why it is important to know the measurements of the ingredients in the
product. Discuss the chart.

Closure/Conclusion:
Discuss with students why it is important to be able to read and understand labels on products. How is this relevant to real life skills?

Follow-up Lessons/Activities:
Each student will write a short essay on how to read a product label and why it’s important to be able to do so. Students may use vocabulary on
page 12 of the Student Workbook to write their essay.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
Area/Skill Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
Mathematics, Social Application Ann Holland Pascagoula School District
Studies, Language Arts,
Writing
Activity Title: Money/Money Management Materials/Texts/Realia/Handouts
Newspapers
Goal/Objective: Steck-Vaughn Pre-GED Reading, p.
To develop students’ skills in money management and ability to solve ratio/proportion problems. 95
Steck-Vaughn Connections, p. 97
Math: Student will use provided statistics to calculate percent of increase in cost of living. Graphic organizers
Information sheet of statistics
Social Studies: Using statistics, students will construct line or bar graphs. Calculators

Language Arts Writing: Students will write essay on topic related to money.

Lesson Outline Extension Activity

Introduction: Focus on helping students become aware of the value of money, how they can manage Math: Use proportion to
finances better, the money management principles involved, and how math skills (particularly percents and demonstrate comparison shopping
graphs) can help them with financial management. (price per unit); also good activity for
developing calculator skills
Activity:
1) Discuss the cost of living and the drastic change through the years. Using statistics from internet and
interviews, students will compute percents of increase and construct graphs to depict the changes.
2) Discuss the related economics and the social aspects of money management, especially the use and ESE Accommodations
misuse of credit cards. See separate lesson on shopping

Debriefing/Evaluation Activity:
Ask students to define inflation and give examples of the impact of economics on their own lives.

Real-Life Connection:
Bring in money management techniques, such as those related to credit cards, budgeting, coupon clipping,
and comparison-shopping.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans - Script
Area/Skill Math, Social Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
Studies, Language Arts Writing Application Ann Holland Pascagoula School District

Activity Title: Money/ Money Management:

Students will learn about the value of money and how they can better manage their money.

Introduction:
Ask students about the current price of a movie ticket, candy bar, gallon of gas, etc. Then, ask students what they think they could have bought
thirty years ago for a dollar. Next, assign students to read “Back When a Dollar Was a Dollar” (Steck-Vaughn’s Pre-GED Reading, p. 95, or
Connections Reading (Steck-Vaughn, p. 97). Question for understanding and ask for details.

Main Activity:
Lead group discussion of the cost of living, comparing current prices (housing, food, transportation, for instance), with prices for designated years
or periods in the past. Suggest that students use the internet for research and also interview parents and grandparents for their memories of
changes in the cost of living. Use older members of the class as special resources for this activity. Provide statistics for students to use as part of
the activity.

Math: Have students calculate percentages of increase in prices using a math formula and a calculator. Have students construct line or bar
graphs comparing costs of living for the current year and a specified past year.

Social Studies: Ask students to define inflation/recession and discuss reasons for economic changes. Have them identify components, such as
moral/social values and political differences which impact economic change. Offer kinesthetic learners the opportunity to draw political cartoons
illustrating economic concepts.

Language Arts Writing: Have students discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using credit, using a double bubble map for brainstorming
and charting ideas. Then have students write an essay about the use and abuse of credit cards.

Closure/Conclusion: Talk about the importance of money management for consumers. Ask students to recommend how they might manage their
money to meet financial demands. Talk about credit. Follow up with an additional math lesson centered on the high cost of credit card interest
and have students compute the total cost of specified items when typical credit costs are added to the original purchase cost.

Follow-up Lessons/Activities:
Math: Encourage students to make a budget after recording expenditures. Suggest such money-saving strategies as clipping coupons and
comparison shopping (good source for lessons on proportion). Invite guest speakers (home demonstration agents, power company reps, for
example) to make presentations. Compare/contrast effects of being thrifty and encourage students to apply good money management principles
in their personal lives. Language Arts Writing: Invite students to dream and write an essay entitled If I Had a Million Dallars, I Would………
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
Area/Skill Cognitive Skill Level Correlation to Framework Location
ESL/Intermediate Comprehension/Application/Synthesis/ Ann Holland Pascagoula School District
Evaluation
Materials/Texts/Realia/Handouts
Activity Title: Shopping for Supper or Menu to Meal
White paper, play money,
Goal/Objective: Students will learn about shopping in supermarkets and increase their markers, food containers (pint,
vocabulary of related words. quart, gallon, liter bottle, box, jar,
can package, bag), food sections
Lesson Outline: Focus on the need of ESL students to make adjustments to shopping in our and ads from newspapers (clip
country and the need to become familiar with supermarkets and our currency. pictures of food with prices),
brown bags for classifying
Introduction: Display drawing of food sections in a supermarket. Provide food containers pictures, cooking utensils.
for display.

Activity:
1. Plan menu for a meal. In small groups or individually, have students make a shopping list. Extension Activity
Classify food items. 1. Include science lesson by
2. Individually or in small groups, have students calculate the cost of the shopping list and providing copies of the food
count out play money to give to the teacher who will check figures and/or give change. pyramid for lessons on proper
3. Dictate recipe for menu item. nutrition.
4. Cook the recipe dish. 2. Develop a similar plan for
5. Describe the dish orally and/or in writing. shopping for clothes.
Debriefing/Evaluation Activity: ESE Accommodations:
Discuss becoming better shoppers through making a grocery list, comparing prices at While this lesson is designed
different stores, and using coupons. explicitly for ESL students, it can
be adapted to the proficiency
level of the student. It can also
Real-Life Connection: Students will be able to increase English language skills through the
be used effectively with the lower
practical activities of shopping and cooking.
functioning non-ESL students.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans - Script
Area/Skill Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
ESL/Intermediate Comprehension/Application/Synthesis/Evaluation Ann Holland Pascagoula School District

Activity Title: Shopping for Supper or Menu to Meal

Introduction:
Display a diagram of a supermarket drawn on large sheet of white paper attached to wall. Discuss the different food sections and
develop working vocabulary. Have sample items (visual/tactile): pounds, pint, gallon, liter, quart, ounces, bunch, head, can, bag,
box, jar, carton, bottle, package, etc.

Main Activity:
(Math, Reading, Writing)--Plan menu for meal. Have students create a shopping list and classify items as (1) meat/produce/dairy/
bakery-bread/pasta/ condiments/ canned items, and (2) as count (4eggs, for example) or non-count item (a pound of butter, for
instance). Supply pictures of food items and have students classify them and place in labeled bags attached to supermarket
diagram. For a math lesson, have students figure the cost of the shopping list using a calculator and pictures of food with prices
and pay the teacher using play money.

Closure/Conclusion:
(Reading, Math)--Have students cook one of the menu items. Alternately, the teacher can cook and bring the item to class. (Our
teacher baked a cake to share, which was kept out of sight until the end of the activity.) Dictate recipe for students to write down.
Display baking pans, measuring items, ingredients, and demonstrate steps in cooking. Use a flow chart to show sequence of
baking. Invite students to eat menu item they or the teacher has cooked.

Follow-up Lessons/Activities:
(Writing)--Have students write description of the cooked menu item. Use a bubble chart to list adjectives to describe the cake.
Use picture dictionary to introduce foods that students may not be familiar with. Encourage students to make a native dish and
share with the group, using above procedures.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
Area/Skill Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
Mathematics, Social Studies, Knowledge, Comprehension, Jan West Itawamba Community College
Language Arts Writing Application, Analysis, Synthesis,
& Evaluation
Materials/Texts/Realia/Handouts
Activity Title: Buyer Beware – How Hidden Messages in Advertising Influences Our Purchases
Newspapers and Magazines
Goal/Objective Scissors
Social Studies: Consumer Information – Use multiple strategies to construct, examine, and extend meaning Calculators
of techniques used in advertising Information Sheet 1: Advertising
Math: Represent data graphically; convert numbers into percentages; calculate probability. Techniques
Language Arts Writing: Use Analysis Chart to write paragraphs consisting of a well developed topic sentence and at Information Sheet 2:
least three supporting sentences. Formula for Calculating Percentages
and Probability
Lesson Outline Analysis Chart
Introduction: As a wise consumer, it is important to be aware of the psychological and emotional tactics used in
printed and electronic media. This lesson will examine the different types of advertising techniques and explore how Extension Activity
they influence our purchases.
Investigate a popular company’s website
Activity such as Nike (www.nike.com), Pepsi
1) Discuss the eight major concepts used in advertising (Information Sheet). Divide the class into groups of four. Ask (www.pepsi.com),
each group to cut out ads from newspapers and magazines, decide which concept the ad uses, and sort ads into 8 Pillsbury (www.pillsbury.com), etc.
stacks. Identify the advertising technique used
2) Have students construct a graph of how frequently each technique was used. Have students convert these and the audience targeted. Do you think
numbers into percentages and construct a pie chart showing results. Discuss findings. Using the number of ads the technique used is effective? Why or
collected, ask students to find the probability of drawing a “testimonial ad” from the stack. why not? As a consumer, what
3) Have students select one ad from any stack and complete the questions on the Analysis Chart. suggestions would you make to the
Each question should be answered in a paragraph containing a topic sentence and at least for supporting sentences. company?

Debriefing/Evaluation Activity:
Ask students to list ways that advertising might influence their purchases.
ESE Accommodations

Real-Life Connection: Pre-written list and descriptors of

advertising techniques
Have students select one product which they regularly purchase. Ask them to explain to the Calculator
class: (1) how the packaging and promotion of the product affects their purchases and (2) what audience the ad targets Cooperative Learning Groups
and why.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans - Script
Area/Skill Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by: Location
Mathematics, Social Studies, Knowledge, Comprehension, Jan West Itawamba Community College
Language Arts Writing Application, Analysis, Synthesis, &
Evaluation
Activity Title: Buyer Beware – How Hidden Messages in Advertising Influences Our Purchases

Introduction
Say: What comes to your mind when you hear the statement, “Choosy mothers choose Jif” or L’Oreal ads that boast, “I cost more but I’m worth it”? What does
Tiger Wood’s face or other celebrities’ faces on a Wheaties box with the slogan, “Breakfast of Champions” suggest? Many factors influence our purchasing
patterns: cost, attractive packaging, popularity of product; however, the emotional and psychological subtleties of advertising affect us as well. Today, we will
examine how advertising uses specific techniques to influence our purchases.

Main Activity
Say: Let’s examine the eight most commonly used advertising techniques. (Refer to the Information Sheet and allow time for discussion.)

Divide the class into groups of four and pass out newspapers, magazines, and scissors.

Say: Cut advertisements out of your newspapers and magazines. Sort them into stacks by advertising technique. Try to find at least one add for each of the
advertising techniques.

Consumer Information
Say: Now that you have sorted the ads into stacks, answer the following questions: Which advertising technique was used most often? Why do you suppose it
was the most prevalent? For each ad, was one particular audience targeted more than others? To which ads did you react emotionally? Which products would
you purchase because of packaging, popularity, and cost? Why? Will the consumer information you now have affect your purchases in the future? How?

Math
Say: What kinds of math problems might we be able to solve using our ads? Refer to Information Sheet 2. 1) Using your eight stacks of ads, construct a graph
showing the frequency of each technique. 2) Convert the numbers from your graph into percentages and construct a pie chart indicating the results. 3) Using the
total number of ads collected by your group, determine the probability of drawing a “testimonial ad” from the stack on the first try.

Language Arts Writing

Say: Select one ad from all the groups and answer the questions on the Analysis Chart. The answer to each question should be a paragraph with a well
developed topic sentence and at least four supporting sentences.

Closure/Conclusion
Ask students to name a product they regularly purchase and identify the advertising technique used in promoting the product. Ask students how the advertising
technique influenced their decision to purchase the product.

Follow-up Lessons/Activities
Each group will create a “product” and design an ad persuading others to buy their product. Each group will present its ad to the class, identify the intended
audience, and explain why the group chose that particular advertising technique to promote their product.
 Information Sheet 1 – Advertising Techniques

• Bandwagon Join the crowd; do what everyone else is doing

• Glittering Generalities Uses vague and general words to influence;

doesn’t really say anything

• Testimonial Using a well-known figure to endorse a product

or speak out against a product

• Name-Calling Attaches negative words to a product to create

an unfavorable view. The idea is to cause us to
react by emotion rather than logic.

• Transfer Good feelings, ideas, looks, etc., transferred to

the person for whom the product is intended

• Compare & Contrast Indicates that “my product” is better than “this
one” although no real proof is shown

• Repetition Using the product name over and over again

• Emotional Words Using “feel good” words to evoke positive

feeling in the buyer
 Information Sheet 2

• Converting the numbers from your line graph into percentages

Determine the total number of ads collected. This number becomes the denominator of the fraction.

The numerator of the fraction will be the total number of ads in a particular stack.

Multiply the fraction by 100 to convert it into a percentage.

Example: Group A collected a total of 60 ads. Of the 60 ads collected, 12 were

testimonial ads. The fraction would be 12/60 or 1/5 if reduced.

1 X 100 = 20%
5

• Calculating Probability

Probability is the likelihood that a particular event will occur. Probability is written as a ratio
(fraction) of what you would like to happen (desired outcome) to the number of possible outcomes.

Example: Group A collected 60 ads all totaled. Of these 10 were Compare & Contrast ads.
10 is the desired outcome. 60 is the possible outcome.

10 = 1
60 6
Therefore, the probability that a Compare & Contrast ad would be pulled from the stack of all ads is
1 out of 6 or approximately a 17% chance.
 Analysis Chart
____________________________________________________________________________
What person or organization is the source of the ad?

____________________________________________________________________________
What audience do you think the ad is trying to reach?

____________________________________________________________________________
What position have the people who placed this advertisement taken?

____________________________________________________________________________
What kind of opinion or action are they hoping to get from readers?

____________________________________________________________________________
Can you determine from the ad what other views people might have on this subject? Explain.

____________________________________________________________________________
Do you recognize any advertising techniques you’ve seen in other advertisements? Explain.

____________________________________________________________________________
What attention-grabbing and/or persuasive words did the advertisers use?

You may download, print and make copies of this page for use in your classroom, provided that you include the copyright notice
shown below on all copies. Copyright © 1997 Houghton Mifflin Company. All Rights Reserved.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
Area/Skill Language Arts Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
Writing & Reading, Science, Math Knowledge, Comprehension,
Application, Analysis, Synthesis, Nora Newbill MS Gulf Coast Community College
& Evaluation

Materials/Texts/Realia/Handouts
Activity Title: GOT MILK? Paper
Pencils
Goal/Objective: The student will demonstrate the ability to compare/ contrast, examine, construct graphs & evaluate Markers
nutritional values of food products. 2 oz. cups
Milk ( Whole, Skim, 1%, 2% )
Lesson Outline: Chalk/Chalkboard & Erasers
Introduction: Introduce guest speaker to reinforce the importance of proper nutrition and the necessity for reading label Flipchart & Easel
and to compare vitamins and nutrients. Speaker will also discuss with the students the recommended daily allowance Milk Labels
based on weight and gender. Various Cereal Labels
Transparencies of labels
Activity 1 Overhead projector
1) The students will receive copies of the content lists of the various cereal labels. Graphic organizer (comparison alley,
2) The students will be instructed to examine the different labels noting the similarities and differences. Bridges & Venn)
3) Students will divide into groups and discuss the similarities and differences of the labels. They will then
utilize the graphic organizers to organize the information. The students will select a group spokesperson Extension Activity
to present their group’s findings. Investigate selected websites such as
(www.pillsbury.com) and
Activity 2 (www.greengiant.com) and use these
1) Have students take a piece of paper and fold it into quarters. Then instruct them to sites to identify nutritional values of their
label the quarters accordingly as A, B, C and D. products. What suggestions would you
2) Then pass out 2 ounce cups. Have students label the 2 ounce cups using the letters A, B, C, and D. make to the company regarding sodium,
3) Have 4 students distribute the liquid samples of the various types of milk. They should check to make fat, and sugar content?
sure the milk from their container corresponds with the appropriate lettered cup.
4) The students will then be instructed to taste sample A and then write what they liked or disliked about ESE Accommodations
the sample on the quartered page. Once this is completed the student will then proceed to the Pre-labeled paper and cup
remaining samples and write down their responses. (The students will dispose of the cups used for the Calculator
taste sample.) Cooperative Learning Groups
5) The students will be divided into groups to discuss their answer and compile the results of their groups Student Scribe
taste sampling.) Each individual in the group will design a graph to represent the results of the taste
test. A student spokesperson will be appointed by the group to present the results of their group’s
findings.
6) A class scribe will help compile the information presented by each of the group responses. The students
will discuss the accumulated information and its results.
7) Students will then calculate the percentage of students who preferred the A, B, C, or D sample.
Students can formulate conclusions based on the information.

Debriefing/Evaluation Activity:
Students will recall the activity in their own words and tell how it relates to their individual lives. Students
will use acquired information to create a graph of the nutrient list comparison; Write about the importance of proper
nutrition and their health.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans - Script
Area/Skill Language Arts: Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Lesson Number
Writing& Reading, Science, Knowledge, Comprehension,
Math Application, Analysis, Synthesis & Nora Newbill MS Gulf Coast Community
Evaluation College
Activity Title: Got Milk?

Introduction
Say: We live in a world in which taste preference is everything. We are bombarded with an abundance of products that are quite similar in their
shape, size and ingredients. Not all foods we eat based on taste are the best choice to maintain a healthy body. I have been told before, “If it
taste good then it can’t be good for you.” Today, we will examine various food products and compare their nutritional values.

Say: We have a guest here today to help us become more aware of the nutritional values of foods and become better consumers. (Dr. Judith
Edwards, Stone County Extension Director, MS State University) This individual will talk briefly about the food pyramid, vitamins, and minerals and
how to determine how much of each you need based on your age.

Activity 1
Say: It is important to be aware of the differences in the foods we eat. We will examine and evaluate these differences in similar food items.
Divide the class into 4 groups and pass out the cereal labels and graphic organizers. Tell the group to choose a spokesperson to summarize their
group’s findings.

Activity 2
With taste being important in your choices of food, let’s distinguish what is truly a healthy choice in the milk we drink. Pass out paper cups and
distribute milk samples. You will categorize the samples based on taste and nutritional value. Each group will devise a graph to relate the
information gathered in their particular group. A group leader will be selected to relate the information. You will then use your calculators to
convert the information to represent your group’s answers in percentages. One person will compile the class statistics for evaluation of the class.
We will discuss the class findings.

Closure/Conclusion
Ask the students to express in their own words evaluate how this information can be utilized in their daily life. Ask who would benefit from the
being aware of the nutrient list of products. Why is this important?

Follow-up Lessons/Activities
The student will create their own comparison graphic organizer using label of foods that they consume. Students will evaluate the nutritional value
of the product and write to the corporation and relate their personal findings.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
Area/Skill Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
Mathematics, Social Studies, Application GED 2002 National Training West Virginia
Language Arts Reading Institute Participant – Tyann
Douglas
Materials/Texts/Realia/Handouts
Activity Title: Traveling the State
Map
Goal/Objective Park pamphlet
LAR – Read, interpret, respond to and apply information from written materials. Worksheets
Math – Perform multiple operations using decimals; solve problems using math to compute travel time, gas Paper/pencil
consumption, and travel cost. Calculators
Social Studies (Geography): Interpret data from charts, graphs, tables, and maps.

Lesson Outline
All students receive a map of the state and pamphlets describing state parks. Students will use the Extension Activity
materials to plan a trip to a state park. Role-play contacting a park to make
reservations for a one-week stay.
Introduction
The state has many state parks that are ideal for family vacations, reunions, and conferences. Because Compare activity results with
the parks are very different, each appeals to a different group of people. You will select a state park based Internet site www.mapblast.com
on personal preferences and individual interest and plan a trip for family or friends, including cost for food,
lodging, and recreational activities.

Activity ESE Accommodations

A packet of information will be provided each student that will include: instructions, map, pamphlets, and Team students to accommodate
worksheets. Small groups will research and report to the whole group about one park. Each individual will various functioning levels to
plan a one-week trip to a selected state park. Using the worksheets, students will identify pertinent complete the activities.
information about the park they have selected; compute mileage and cost of gasoline, cost of lodging and
food, and cost of activities. Allow use of calculator for
computations.
Debriefing/Evaluation Activity
Students will briefly discuss their choice of a state park and the total cost for planned trip. Math estimations Provide pre-written information.
and computations for costs will be evaluated for accuracy.
Allow for hands-on activities
Real-Life Connection
Discuss the importance of budgeting for vacations well in advance to be certain to have enough money to
enjoy the experience.

Our state has a lot to offer and can be less expensive than a trip to the beach or Disney World.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans - Script
Area/Skill Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by: Location
Math, Social Studies, Application GED 2002 National Training West Virginia
Language Arts Reading Institute Participant-Tyann
Douglas

Activity Title: Traveling the State

Introduction
Say: Vacations can be a very enjoyable time. However, vacations need preparation in order to be successful. Today we will plan a vacation in the
state. Students will be divided into groups and review each of the state parks. These groups will make a report to the whole group. Then each
student will decide which park they wish to visit on vacation. Each student will receive a map and park pamphlets and an activity packet to assist
in their vacation planning.

Main Activity
Say: Let’s look at the map, pamphlets, and activity packet. In order to understand the requirements for this project, locate your activity sheets.
Sheet 1 will require you to choose a park and answer some questions about that park. Sheet 2 is a mileage data sheet to assist in calculating
transportation expenses and an estimating worksheet to assist in estimating the total cost for vacation. Using overhead transparencies of each of
the activity sheets, discuss each item on each activity sheet.

Using overhead transparencies of each activity sheet, discuss each item on each of the activity sheets.
Say: Do you have any questions?

Closure/Conclusion
Complete the items in the activity sheets.
Ask: Students to briefly discuss their choice of state parks and the cost of their travel.
Ask: Does this information provide incite value for planning your family vacation?
Ask: Students to discuss the importance of budgeting for vacations and having enough money to enjoy the experience.

Follow-up Lessons/Activities
Say: After you have completed the activity, you may want to compare your findings with the findings found on the web site www.mapblst.com
Name _______________ Date _______________ Page 1

TRAVELING

Park Data Sheet

1. Which park have you chosen for your trip?

____________________________________________________________

2. Where is the park located?

County ______________________________________________________

Nearest Town _________________________________________________

Region of State ________________________________________________

3. What types of lodging are available?

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

4. Which type of lodging have you chosen for your visit?

_____________________________________________________________

5. Cost of lodging per night? ________________________________________

Cost of lodging per week ________________________________________

6. Are pets allowed at the facility? ____________________________________

7. Are facilities handicapped accessible? _______________________________

 Page 2

TRAVELING

Transportation Data Sheet

1. Make and model of your car? ______________________________________

2. EPA Fuel Mileage for your car? ____________________________________

3. What was your point of origin (home)? _______________________________

4. What is your destination (park)? ____________________________________

5. Estimate how many miles you will travel one way. ______________________

6. Estimate how much fuel this trip will take. ____________________________

7. What is the price per gallon of grade of gasoline you use? _______________

8. Estimate how much fuel will cost for the round trip. Show computation.

______________________________________________________________________

Estimation Worksheet

Plan the trip so you won’t have to come home early because you ran out of
money! Show computations on all estimations!

9. How many people are going on this trip with you? ______________________

10. Estimated cost of fuel: ___________________________________________

11. Estimated cost for food: __________________________________________

12. Estimated cost per lodging: _______________________________________

13. Estimated cost for entertainment, admissions, souvenirs, and other

miscellaneous expenses: _________________________________________

TOTAL ESTIMATE FOR TRIP: ____________________________________________

ESTIMATED AVERAGE EXPENSE PER DAY (7 DAYS): _______________________

 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
Area/Skill Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
Social Studies, Mathematics, Knowledge, Comprehension, GED 2002 National Training Kansas
Language Arts Writing Application, Analysis, Synthesis Institute Participant – Krista
Clay-Lieffring

Materials/Texts/Realia/Handouts
Activity Title: Plan A Trip (Within the United States)

Goal/Objective
Students will be able to read maps and interpret information given as well as applying to real life situations.

Lesson Outline
Introduction
Read and interpret map. Formulate a travel and plan and a travel route. Incorporate geography, history,
mathematics, and research in project. This exercise may be done in groups or individually.

Activity Extension Activity

Plan a trip, having students access the internet or encyclopedias to determine their destination. Use class
site as a home base. From the internet or encyclopedia information, have students write a short report on
their destination using practical, historical, or geographical information in report. Distribute copies of an
atlas or maps. Discuss map symbols and distance gauge. Have students manually calculate the distance
from home base to destination. Then calculate fuel needed to make a round trip and the estimated cost at
current fuel prices. Give specific information about the vehicle and current fuel price. Round to the nearest
cent. Check mileage calculated manually with mileage calculated from www.mapquest.com . See how the
two compare.
ESE Accommodations
Debriefing/Evaluation Activity
Were the students able to understand the road map? Would they be able to apply this knowledge to
different scenarios using different vehicles and different prices per gallon on fuel? Have students keep a
record for a week on the differences in fuel prices and bring to class.

Real-Life Connection
This is an activity that reflects everyday life. The ability to read a map means that a person also has the
ability to understand symbols, follow directions, and calculate basic math.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans - Script
Area/Skill Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by: Location
Social Studies, Mathematics, Knowledge, Comprehension, GED 2002 National Training Kansas
Language Arts Writing Application, Analysis, Synthesis Institute Participant – Krista
Clay-Lieffring

Activity Title: Plan A Trip (Within the United States)

Introduction
Say: Having the ability to read and interpret information on maps is a valuable like skill. People use maps to plan vacations, re-locate, plan a
commuting route, etc. This activity incorporates math, geography, research, and writing in solving real life situations. Using maps from the atlas,
you will determine the distance between your home base here at the adult ed. Cent and your selected destination. For this activity, choose a
destination that can be reached in one day (500 miles or less – based on an 8 hr. day at 65/mph). You will use the internet to research your
destination, gathering important geographical and/or historical information to include in a one page, double-spaced report. Give reasons in your
report why you are choosing this destination. You will calculate the distance in miles and determine that amount of fuel you will use. For this
exercise, your vehicle will be a 1998 Nissan Sentra, which gets 35/mpg. The current price for unleaded fuel is $1.79/gallon.

Main Activity
Say: Use the internet or encyclopedias to determine destination and gather information for an informative paper. Using historical and geographical
information, state reasons why this destination has been selected. Next, using the atlas, discuss map symbols and mileage chart and gauge.
Determine mileage using mileage table from map or, for an internet exercise, go to www.maquest.com. This site allows you to calculate mileage
to a destination round trip or one way. It will also give you the best route to travel. Next calculate the fuel usage at $1.79/gallon for the determined
mileage. Divide total miles traveled by the 35/mpg your auto gets. Remember, this is a round trip calculation.

Closure/Conclusion
Recheck math figures; Did the student remember to double the mileage for a round trip? Are the decimal points in the correct place?

Do you think you will be able to use this exercise information to plan a road trip in the future?

Try this exercise with different destinations and different vehicles. Compare the cost of the trip traveling in a Suburban vs. the Sentra.

Follow-up Lessons/Activities
1. Estimate how much money you will need for fuel if you must commute 40 round trip miles to work every day. You weekly salary is
$325/wk.
2. You’ve been offered a job in town for $280/wk. Is it profitable for you to continue to commute or would you benefit from taking less pay
and not commuting?
 Student Information Page

Plan a trip; access internet or encyclopedia to determine your

destination. From this information, write a short report on why
you selected your destination using practical, historical, or
geographical information.

Find a map of your travel route from the atlas or state map.
Calculate the distance using your center as a home base to
your destination. Then calculate fuel needed to make a round
trip and the estimated cost of the fuel. Your vehicle will be a
1998 Nissan Sentra, which averages 35/mpg. The current
price for unleaded fuel is $1.79/gallon.

Use the following formulas:

Calculate the number of miles round trip (miles one way x 2)

and divide by the mpg your auto gets.

Take the answer and multiply by the current cost of fuel per
gallon.

Round to the nearest cent.

Check your mileage calculation on www.mapquest.com. How

did your manual mileage calculation compare with the internet
calculation?
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
Area/Skill Science, Social Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by
Studies, Math, Language Comprehension, Application, Kim Wilson-JPS; Lisa Hatfield-EMCC; Donna Jenkins-
Arts Writing Analysis, Evaluation GCLC; Linda Malbrough-GCLC; Julia Floyd-ICC
Materials/Texts/Realia/Handouts
Activity Title: A Comparison of Mississippi Campgrounds
ABC’s Of It All Worksheet
Goal/Objective: 1. Gather Information; Park Pamphlets
2. Use Charts and Maps; Rand McNally Atlas or website
3. Use Measurement and Distance. A Golden Nature Guide; A Guide to
Familiar American Trees
Lesson Outline Comparison Alley Worksheet
Introduction:
Mississippi’s best kept secret is its beautiful state parks and campgrounds. This lesson will help students
become more familiar with these assets by determining how much they already know. Students will be Extension Activity
required to compute calculations of distance and gas required, read maps, and design an itinerary for Create a classroom display of
organizational skills. specimens collected at parks.

Activity: Design an advertisement for one of

1. Students will visit two state parks in their geographic area to obtain information pamphlets. the two parks visited.
2. Students will gather specimens (leaves, pine cones, etc.) and label items by type and area in which the
items were collected.
3. Students will complete the Comparison Alley Worksheet.
4. Students will write a comparison and contrast essay on the two parks. ESE Accommodations
5. Students will compare prices and facilities available.
Check on handicap accessibility to
Debriefing/Evaluation Activity: the parks. If it is not feasible to
Compare and discuss the students’ results. Create a classroom display using the specimens collected. physically visit the parks, have
Design and advertisement for one or both of the parks visited. students write a letter asking for
informational pamphlets or research
websites for information. Complete
assignment in class.

Calculator

Real-Life Connection: Cooperative Learning Groups

Plan for future vacations.
Preservation of our parks.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans - Script
Area/Skill Science, Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by:
Social Studies, Math, Comprehension, Application, Kim Wilson-JPS; Lisa Hatfield-EMCC; Donna Jenkins-
Language Arts Writing Analysis, Evaluation GCLC; Linda Malbrough-GCLC; Julia Floyd-ICC
Activity Title: A Comparison of Mississippi Campgrounds

Introduction
Say: Mississippi has numerous state parks. There are many things we can learn from a visit. We are going to compare and analyze data from
two parks. We will be visiting two state parks so let’s begin by first deciding what we hope to learn using the ABC’s Of It All Worksheet. Let’s plan
our itinerary and calculate the distance and supplies needed. (Allow student time to complete the ABC’s Worksheet, choose two parks and make
calculations.)

Main Activity
Say: Now we’re going to visit the parks. The park ranger/official plans to tour us through the grounds. Remember, you need to be very attentive
and gather you specimens following the park official’

Upon return say: Now we’re going to discuss our experience in a group. While discussing, let’s list the things learned and what we’ve seen. We’ll
use this list in a writing activity to compare and contrast our two visits. (Allow students time to complete the Comparison Alley Worksheet.)

Closure/Conclusion
I hope this has been a great experience for you. You’ve learned some valuable experiences that can help you later in life. For instance, at some
point you may want to plan a family vacation. Also, you hopefully are more aware of the need to preserve our parks, forests, and wildlife.

Follow-up Lessons/Activities

Let’s use the specimens collected to design and guild a classroom display to help us remember these trips.

Let’s also break in groups and develop an advertising brochure for each of the parks for future visitors to utilize in planning their visits.
 COMPARISON ALLEY
Compare/Contrast

Subject:

_____________________________________
_____________________________________

Comparison Alley
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
Differences
Similarities

Differences
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________

Subject:
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
Area/Skill Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
Mathematics, Social Studies, Comprehension, Application, Lucille Jordan Jackson Public Schools
Science, Language Arts-Reading Analysis, Synthesis, Evaluation ABE/GED

Materials/Texts/Realia/Handouts
Activity Title Traveler’s Advisory U.S. Map
Road Map
Goal/Objective Prices for modes of transportation
Participants will use their math skills, social studies and science knowledge, and writing abilities to plan a Calculator
vacation which includes interruptions and rescheduling. Brochures
Checklist
Lesson Outline

Introduction Individuals who travel or who take vacations must be aware of unexpected situations that
may occur that will cause an interruption in travel arrangements. This lesson will examine options that one
may consider when completing travel plans. Extension Activity
Compare taking the trip during
Activity various seasons of the year.
1) Have participants identify states and vacation sites that are located in each geographical area –
Northeast, Southeast, Northwest, Southwest, and Central.
2) Have participants compare and contrast modes of transportation.
3) Have participants plan a vacation—to include transportation, lodging, weather needs, food, site-
seeing, and unexpected circumstances

Debriefing/Evaluation Activity
Ask participants if they would recommend trip to someone else and what did they learn that they didn’t ESE Accommodations
already know. Calculator
Provide pre-written information

Real-Life Connection
Invite a travel agent to come to discuss with the class what is involved in the detailed planning of a trip
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans - Script
Area/Skill Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by: Location
Mathematics, Social Studies, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Lucille Jordan Jackson Public Schools
Science, Language Arts-Reading Synthesis, Evaluation ABE/GED

Activity Title Traveler’s Advisory

Introduction Say: When you start thinking about taking a vacation, visiting a relative, a friend, or even attending an event in another state or
section of the country, many factors influence our decision: time, dates, weather, distance, transportation, and cost. Today, we will plan our
favorite vacation from start to finish.

Main Activity Say: Today, let us examine the five sections of the U.S. –Northeast, Southeast, Northwest, Southwest, and Central. We will also
examine popular tourist attractions in each section.

Divide the class into five groups.

Say: Let us compare and contrast modes of transportation; be sure to include cost, convenience, travel time, etc. in choosing your mode of
transportation.

Closure/Conclusion
How did planning your trip affect your choice of travel and accommodations?

Follow-up Lessons/Activities

Bring brochures and present them to the rest of the class.

 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
Area/Skill Science, Social Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
Studies, Mathematics, Language Knowledge, Comprehension,
Arts Reading, Language Arts Application, Analysis, Synthesis, Kim Smith Northeast MS Community College
Writing & Evaluation
Materials/Texts/Realia/Handouts
Activity Title: The Space Shuttle
1) World Book Encyclopedia, “Space
Goal/Objective: Exploration: Space Shuttles”
Students will demonstrate a general understanding of space exploration using the space shuttle. 2) www.space.about.com “A NASA
Tragedy: The Space Shuttle Challenger
Disaster
Lesson Outline: 3) Fly the Space Shuttle by Carole Stott,
Introduction DK Publishing, Inc.
As Americans, we have enjoyed the marvels of space over the last few decades. Occasionally, we need to 4) The Amazing Pop-Up Pull-Out Space
stop and research all the contributions that space exploration has made to us in our everyday lives. This Shuttle by David Hawcock, DK
lesson will help us to examine the workings of a space shuttle and to realize the importance of it. Publishing, Inc.
5) USA Today, “Debate Raged Night
Activity: Before Doomed Launch,” January 22,
1) Divide the class into groups of three. Each group should read the shuttle material provided. Then 1996
Construction Paper, Scissors, Glue
each student should describe a space shuttle launch that they have seen. Graphs
2) Each group should construct the space shuttle using the model available. Students may make Handouts
their own pieces or use the puzzle available to make pieces. Activities inside Fly the Space Shuttle
3) Each student should diagram and label the flight profile of a space shuttle.
4) Each student should read the articles about the Challenger Disaster and write a paragraph entitled, Extension Activity
“Of what importance is the Challenger Disaster to me?” 1) Eat dehydrated food and discuss the
5) Each student should construct a graph using times and speeds as outlined on the handout. nutritional value.
2) List the criteria fro the personal items
Debriefing/Evaluation Activity: that are allowed on the shuttle.
Ask students to explain space exploration using a space shuttle and give reasons that we should study the 3) Compute the area of the fuel tanks
shuttle. and the rocket booster.
4) Compare and contrast space
sickness with a sickness on earth.
5) When you reach space, imagine the
Real-Life Connection: view. Describe what you see.
Have students go to www.teachersfirst.com and launch a space shuttle. Then research on the web to find 6) There are six people on the shuttle.
something that we use that is a contribution of space exploration. Devise a schedule of daily activities so
that someone always on duty.

ESE Accommodations
Handouts
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans - Script
Area/Skill Language Arts Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by: Location
Reading, Language Arts Knowledge, Comprehension, Kim Smith Northeast MS Community College
Writing, Math, Science, Social Application, Analysis, Synthesis,
Studies Evaluation

Activity Title: The Space Shuttle

Introduction:
Say: Have you ever watched TV and seen the Space Shuttle launch? Have you ever been to the Kennedy Space Center? Space, rockets,
shuttles, and satellites have become such a part of our lives that we really don’t think that much about them. We need to think about space
exploration and what it means to us. Today we will examine the space shuttle and learn more about the reasons we need space
exploration.

Main Activity: Divide the class into groups of three and pass out books and supplies.
Say: Each group should read the books provided. You may either read them silently or read them aloud to one another. (Some may finish early;
give them a break until the others finish.)
Say: Using this model as your guide, I would like for you to construct the space shuttle. You may make your own pieces, or you may use the
puzzle available to make pieces. (This may take several class sessions.)
Say: Now that you have constructed a space shuttle, using the books provided, diagram and label the flight profile of a space shuttle. (This may
also take more than one session.)
Say: Do you remember the Challenger Disaster? The anniversary of that disaster is January 28. On that date, 17 years ago, the Challenger
Shuttle, which carried a female teacher named Christa McAuliffe, exploded in flight. Do you remember that day? Let’s read some articles
about that disaster.
Say: Now that you have read about the disaster, I would like for you to write a paragraph of sever complete sentences entitled, ”Of what
importance is the Challenger Disaster to me?”
Say: New let’s see what kind of math we can learn from these lessons on the space shuttle. Take out your graphs, your books, and your
handouts. Using the takeoff + times in the book, I want you to describe the times that the space shuttle reaches the speeds on your
handouts. Then graph your answers.

Closure/Conclusion
Review the main working of a space shuttle and talk about the benefits.

Follow-up Lessons/Activities
See list of extension activities.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
Area/Skill Social Studies, Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
Language Arts Writing, and Math Comprehension, Application, Beverly Messemore Jones County Junior College
Analysis and Evaluation ABE/GED

Activity Title: The Right to Vote Materials/Texts/Realia/Handouts

Goal/Objective: Information/Activity packet

Social Studies: Read, interpret, and analyze constitutional amendments: Construct a time line of historical Paper/pencils
events relating to voting; Evaluate the responsibilities of voters. Worksheets
Language Arts-Writing: Construct a paragraph that properly develops an idea and contains a topic Rubric for writing evaluation
sentence, supporting details, and a conclusion.
Math: Calculate the percentage of a number; Construct a circle graph.

Lesson Outline: Students will read, discuss, and analyze constitutional amendments related to voting and
will construct a time line of important historical events relating to voting. They will also interpret voter
responsibilities and qualifications and complete a voter registration application.

Introduction: As an American citizen, we have the right and responsibility to vote. Students will study the Extension Activity
constitutional amendments that provide the right to vote, research the qualifications of voters, and learn
how to register to vote. Technology link: Have students
explore various web sites to
Activity: A packet of information will be provided which will include constitutional amendments, voter determine the voting rights and
registration information, historical events, worksheets and web sites. After reading and discussing the responsibilities of citizens in other
constitutional amendments, students will construct a timeline of the history of voting, listing important countries.
events, dates, and persons. Students will complete worksheet on voting history which requires analysis
skills. After studying the voter registration information, students will be able to determine voter eligibility and
describe how a person registers to vote. Language Arts-Writing Connection: Students will write a
paragraph about voter rights and responsibilities (See sample topics). Math Connection: Students will ESE Accommodations
conduct a survey of the class to determine eligible voters and the number of class members who voted in
last election; then students will calculate percentages. Reading tutors to help read
constitutional amendments: word
Debriefing/Evaluation Activity: Students will discuss voting rights and responsibilities and discuss the bank for vocabulary development:
importance of their participation in the voting process. Worksheets and time lines will be evaluated for calculators for math activity.
accuracy; paragraphs will be evaluated by rubric.

Real-Life Connection: Real life relevance can be easily demonstrated by the student’s ability to complete a
voter registration application and return it to the proper authorities; determine his/her voting precinct;
participate in the election process; and show an increased interest in and appreciation of the political
process.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans - Script
Area/Skill Social Studies, Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
Language Arts-Writing, and Comprehension, Application, Beverly Messemore Jones County Junior College
Math Analysis, and Evaluation ABE/GED

Activity Title: The Right to Vote

Introduction Say: As an American citizen, you no only have a right to participate in the voting process, but you also have a responsibility to
Participate. In this lesson we will investigate how these freedoms were given and how to participate in the voting process.

Main Activity Say: The right to vote is one of the most important rights and responsibilities of American citizens. The Constitution of the United
States provides for a democracy in which every citizen will have a voice in determining the course that the country will take.
Today we will discuss the history of voting in the United States and read the constitutional amendments that granted American
citizens the right to vote. We will also investigate the qualifications of persons wishing to vote in the State of Mississippi,
examine a voter registration application, and complete a voter registration form. We will also write a paragraph about voting
history, responsibilities and the voter registration process. Another activity in this unit will be to calculate the percentages of
eligible voters in this class and the percentage of registered voters who voted in the last election.

Closure/Conclusion: Discuss the responsibilities of voters and the responses to the activity worksheet. Determine if each student knows the voter
qualifications, how to register, and where to register.

Follow-up Lessons/Activities: Provide students with information necessary to register to vote, post election dates, names and addresses of
elected officials, and other articles related to voting and elections. Local legislators could also be invited to speak to
students on the topic of how a bill becomes a law. A mock election is another excellent activity related to the voting
unit.
 “The Right to Vote”

Information/Activity Packet
“The History of Voting in the United States”
“The History of Voting in the United States Worksheet”
“Does My Vote Really Make a Difference?”
Sample Topics for the “Right to Vote” Writing Unit
Math Activity for the “Right to Vote” Unit
Mississippi Voter Registration Information
Mississippi Voter Registration Application
Voter Registration Worksheet
Right to Vote Word Bank
Related Web Sites

Student__________________________
Date_____________________________
Class_____________________________
 The History of Voting in the United States

Suffrage, the right or privilege of voting to elect public officials and to adopt or reject
legislation, dates to ancient times. In Greece, all freemen were expected to take part in
the government of their city. In Rome the common citizens, called plebs, were granted the
right to elect tribunes to intercede for them. The idea that the people under a government
should have a voice in selecting the leaders did not gain support until the 17th century.
A major principle of U.S. democracy is representative government in which the people
delegate powers to elected officials. The elected officials represent the will of the people.
The people exercise power through elections. Citizens, with their vote, have the
opportunity to have their voices heard and to influence government. Representative
government must represent all people. Originally, the only people allowed to vote in the
United States were white men who owned property. Voting rights have been extended to
include white men without property, blacks, Native Americans, naturalized immigrants, and
women.
The U.S. Constitution originally specified that each state would determine the
qualifications for its voters; however, amendments to the Constitution have prohibited
states from denying voting privileges on the basis of sex, race, and other conditions.
Some of the major events in the history of voting in the United States are as follows:

1) The 14th Amendment (1868) potentially enlarged the scope of suffrage to all citizens.

2) The 15th Amendment (1870) secured the right to vote for black males.

3) The 19th Amendment (1920) secured the right to vote for women.

4) The 24th Amendment (1964) prohibited poll taxes, literacy tests, and other devices to
determine qualification of voters.

5) The 26th Amendment (1971) extended suffrage to citizens 18 years old.

6) The Motor Voter Act of 1993 required states to make mail-in voter registration post
cards available in motor vehicle, public assistance and military recruitment offices.

NOTE: An excellent web site for this unit is www.pbs.org/democracy/votinginamerica/

References
“Constitution of the United States,” Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2002
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2002 Microsoft Corporation.
"Election," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2002 http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2002
Microsoft Corporation.
“Suffrage," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2002 http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-
2002 Microsoft Corporation.
 The History of Voting in the United States Worksheet
Read the following Constitutional Amendments and summary of other Congressional Acts related
to voting. Refer to this information to answer the questions that follow.

The Fourteenth Amendment— 1868—“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the
jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or
enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State
deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its
jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
The Fifteenth Amendment— 1870—“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or
abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”
The Nineteenth Amendment— 1920—“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or
abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”
The Twenty-Fourth Amendment— 1965—“The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other
election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative
in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax
or other tax.”
The Twenty-Sixth Amendment—1971 —“The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age
or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.”
The National Voter Registration Act of 1993(The Motor Voter Act)-Required states to make mail-in voter
registration post cards available in motor vehicle license offices, public assistance offices, and military recruitment
offices.

1) In 1872 Susan B. Anthony was arrested as she tried to vote in the presidential election because
women did not have the right to vote. In what year were women granted the right to vote and by what
amendment?
A. 1870—The Fifteenth Amendment
B. 1920—The Nineteenth Amendment
C. 1971—The Twenty-Sixth Amendment

2) In 1890 the Mississippi Legislature called a Constitutional Convention that required a $2.00 poll tax.
What was the intended purpose of the poll tax?
A. To prevent women from voting.
B. To help pay for the elections
C. To prevent African Americans from voting.

3) Which of the following groups of people were granted the right to vote first?
A. women
B. African Americans
C. eighteen year olds

4) In the year 1969 which of the following American citizens could not vote?
A. A 19 year old soldier serving in Viet Nam.
B. A 30 year old white woman receiving food stamps.
C. A 50 year old black man working in Jackson, Mississippi.

5) What is the intended purpose of the Motor Voter Act of 1993?

A. To insure that only people who owned a motor vehicle could vote.
B. To make voter registration forms easily available to citizens.
C. To insure that voters would have transportation to the voting polls.

Answers: 1) B 2) C 3) B 4) A 5) B
 Does My Vote Really Make a Difference?

"Just" one vote can and often does make a difference in the outcome of an
election.

EXAMPLES FROM HISTORY

Source: http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/Outreach/civics/pg_13.ht

• In 1645 one vote gave Oliver Cromwell control of England.

• In 1649 one vote caused Charles I of England to be executed.
• In 1776 one vote gave America the English language instead of German.
• In 1839 one vote elected Marcus Morton as the Governor of Massachusetts.
• In 1868 one vote saved President Andrew Johnson from being removed from office.
• In 1923 one vote gave Adolph Hitler leadership of the Nazi Party.

**************************************************************************************

Source: http://www.fec.gov/pages/faqs.htm

EXAMPLES IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS

• In the 1829 election for the U.S. House of Representatives in Kentucky's 2nd District, Jackson
Democrat Nicholas Coleman defeated National Republican Adam Beatty 2,520 to 2,519.

• In the 1854 election for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 7th District of Illinois,
Democratic candidate James C. Allen bested Republican William B. Archer 8,452 to 8,451.

RECENT EXAMPLES IN NONFEDERAL ELECTIONS

• In 1994, Republican Randall Luthi and Independent Larry Call tied for the seat in the Wyoming
House of Representatives from the Jackson Hole area, with 1,941 votes each. A recount
produced the same result. Mr. Luthi was finally declared the winner when, in a drawing before the
State Canvassing Board, a PingPong ball bearing his name was pulled from the cowboy hat of
Democratic Governor Mike Sullivan.

• In 1997, South Dakota Democrat John McIntyre led Republican Hal Wick 4,195 - 4,191 for the
second seat in Legislative District 12 on election night. A subsequent recount showed Wick the
winner at 4192 - 4,191. The State Supreme Court, however, ruled that one ballot counted for
Wick was invalid due to an over vote. This left the race a tie. After hearing arguments from
both sides, the State Legislature voted to seat Wick 46-20.
 Suggested Topics for the “Right to Vote” Writing Unit

Select one of the topics below and write a paragraph stating your point of view. The
paragraph must have a topic sentence, supporting ideas, and a conclusion. Use
interesting details, facts, or other information to support your ideas.

1) “Why Should I Participate in the Voting Process?”

2) “Does My Vote Really Matter?”
3) “Why Is the Right to Vote So Important?”
4) “Every American Has a Right and a Responsibility to Vote”
5) “Voting Determines the Course of America”
6) “The History of Voting in America”
7) “How Did Americans Acquire the Right to Vote?”
8) “What Effects Did the 15th (or the 14th, 19th, 24th or 26th) Amendment Have
on Voting in the United States?”
9) “Why Do Many Citizens Fail to Vote?”
10) “Factors Which Affect Voter Apathy”
 Math Activity for “Right to Vote” Unit

Instructions:

1) Conduct a poll of all students in the class to determine the number of eligible
voters, the number of registered voters, and the number of registered voters who
voted in the last election. ( For an extension of the activity, students may collect
additional information such as age or sex of each class member)
2) Using the information from the poll, calculate the following:

A) What percent of the entire class is eligible to vote?

B) What percent of females/males are eligible to vote?

C) What percent of the entire class has registered to vote?

D) What percent of females/males have registered to vote?

E) What percent of the registered voters voted in the last election?

F) What percent of registered females/males voted in the last election?

3) Using the information from the poll, construct a pie graph which show registered

and non-registered eligible voters in the class.

4) Construct another pie graph which shows the number of registered voters who

voted in the last election as compared to the number of registered voters who did

not vote.

5) Construct a third pie graph which compares the number of registered female
voters to the number of registered males voters or comparing registered voters in
the 18-30 age range to registered voters in the 30-50 age range and voters in the
50 and above age range.
Source: http://www.sos.state.ms.us/elections/voterinfoguide.asp

MISSISSIPPI VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Every U.S. citizen who possesses the following qualifications is entitled to register to vote in Mississippi:

• An inhabitant of Mississippi, except persons judicially declared mentally incompetent; At

least 18 years old (or will be by the date of the next general election);
• A resident of the state, county, and supervisor’s district for 30 days;
• Has never been convicted of any crime listed in Section 241 of the Mississippi
Constitution (murder, rape, bribery, theft, arson, obtaining money or goods under false
pretense, perjury, forgery, embezzlement, or bigamy).
• Once you are registered, you generally remain registered indefinitely, unless you move or
no longer meet one of the qualifications to vote.

WHERE TO REGISTER

You may register to vote either by mail or by visiting your county Circuit Clerk (usually in the county
courthouse) or Municipal Clerk (usually in City Hall).

You also may register to vote when applying for or renewing your driver's license, or when applying for
services at numerous state and federal government agencies.

REGISTERING BY MAIL

Any Mississippian qualified to register to vote may do so by mail. For an application, call your county
Circuit Clerk, or pick one up at the courthouse, public library or other participating government office. Mail-
in voter registration forms are also available from the Secretary of State's Office.

WHEN TO REGISTER

If you register by mail: Your application must be postmarked at least 30 days prior to the election in which
you want to vote.

If you register in the clerk’s office: You must register at least 30 days prior to the election in which you
want to vote. In most cases, Circuit Clerks and Municipal Clerks are required to register voters at any time
during usual business hours of 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

WHERE TO VOTE

After registering, you will be given your precinct name and the location of that precinct’s polling place. The
polls are open 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. each election day.

ABSENTEE VOTING

Some registered voters are eligible to vote absentee because of age, health or work demands, or their
affiliation with the U.S. armed forces. For example, voters who will be outside their county of residence on
election day are entitled to vote by absentee ballot. Please check with your Circuit or Municipal Clerk to
determine if you are entitled to vote absentee and to learn the procedures for doing so.
Absentee voting deadlines come early to help assure your ballot is counted. If you know you will vote
absentee, contact your Circuit or Municipal Clerk at least two weeks before the election. For more
information, consult "Absentee Voting in Mississippi," a publication of the Secretary of State's Office.

IMPORTANT ELECTION DATES

Year Primary Runoff General

2002 June 4th June 25th Nov. 5th
2003 August 5th Aug. 26th Nov. 4th
2004 June 1st June 22nd Nov. 2nd
2005 May 3rd May 17th Jun. 7th

PRIMARY ELECTIONS

Party candidates are nominated through primary elections. A voter may vote in either party’s primary, and
cast a ballot for that party’s nominees to the general election. If no candidate receives a majority of the
votes in a primary, a run-off is held between the top two vote-getters.

A voter who votes in the primary of one party may not "crossover" to vote in the run-off of another party.

By law, primary elections are run by each political party’s county or municipal executive committee with
oversight from the state party executive committees. Circuit and Municipal Clerks also provide support.

GENERAL ELECTIONS

Candidates are elected to office in general elections. The general election ballot contains the names of
the party nominees, plus any independent or third party candidates who have qualified. For most elective
offices, the candidate who receives the highest number of votes is elected. Offices in which candidates do
not run in party primaries (most judicial offices, county election commissioner, some others) require a run-
off if no candidate receives a majority vote in the general election.

By law, general elections are run by county or municipal Election Commissioners with limited oversight
from the State Board of Election Commissioners. Circuit and Municipal Clerks also provide support.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact your Circuit Clerk, Municipal Clerk, Election Commissioner, or the Secretary of State's Office for
further assistance.
 Voter Registration Worksheet

Use the Mississippi Voter Registration Application to answer the following:

1) True or False: The completed application can only be mailed to the Circuit Clerk.

2) True or False: In order to register to vote you must be 20 years old.

3) True or False: You must live in the state and county 6 months before voting.

4) The penalty for false registration is __________________ or _____________________ or

_____________________.

5) What is the purpose of Section 3 of the form?

6) Whom should you contact if you have questions concerning voter registration?

7) What are 4 qualifications necessary to register to vote in Mississippi?

8) What type of address must be used on the voter registration form?

9) In Section 2 what information is optional?

10) What does the paragraph in Section 4 refer to?

Use the Mississippi Voter Information Sheet or other resource to answer the following:

1) How do you register to vote?

2) Where do you register to vote?

3) What is the name and address of your county registrar of voters?

4) Can anyone vote?

5) After registering to vote, when must you re-register?

6) How much does it cost to register and/or to vote?

7) What is absentee voting and how does it work?

8) How long before an election should you register?

9) After registering, how will you know where to go to vote?

10) Name 3 ways you can register to vote.

 Right to Vote Word Bank

absentee ballot
absentee voting
amendment
ballot
campaign
Circuit Clerk
Constitution
county registrar
democracy
election
election returns
electoral college
literacy test
political parties
poll
poll taxes
polling place
primaries
ratified
register
registered voter
run-off
Secretary of State
suffrage
vote
voter registration
voting booth
voting machines
voting precinct
 Related Web Sites

www.sos.state.ms.us/ Click on “Register”, then click on “To Vote”

www.pbs.org/democracy/votinginamerica/ Information about the history of voting

www.fec.gov/pages/faqs.htm Questions about voting

www.fec.gov/pages/elecpg.htm Federal Election Commission

www.usatoday.com/politics/voting/frame.htm Information about voting machines

www.howstuffworks.com/e-voting.htm Information about e-voting

www.easyvoter.org/

www.pbs.org/democracy/buildyourowncampaing/teacher.html

www.fvap.gov/publications/vaginfo.html Voting assistance guide

www.hom.net/~jmurtagh/voting.html Voting and Civil Rights

www.vote-smart.org/vote-smart/states.phtml Voter info

www.myabsenteeballot.com/ Absentee ballot info

www.encarta.msn.com Keyword “election” (History of voting, voter information)

Keyword “suffrage”
Keyword “Constitution of the United States”
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
Area/Skill Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
Science, Math Knowledge, Comprehension,
Language Arts Writing Application, Synthesis, Evaluation Julia Floyd Itawamba Community College

Materials/Texts/Realia/Handouts
Activity Title: Cloning
“Animal Cloning: Facts and Fallacies”
Goal/Objective: 1. Gather pertinent/factual information. 2. Research success/failure rates for cloning. (www,teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-
3. Evaluate a timeframe. 4. Form opinions and be able to explain them. 124.html)

Lesson Outline: “Cloning Milestones Timeline”

Introduction: (www.teachervision.com/lesson-
Talk with the students to determine the extent of their knowledge of cloning. Discuss with them some brief information
about Dolly, the cloned sheep. Tell the students this is a controversial issue today, so we want
plans/lesson-140.html)
to begin with actual facts then form opinions.
“Team to Attempt Human Cloning”
Activity: (www.cnn.com/2001/fyi/news/03/09/human.c
Activity 1: Read the article “Animal Cloning: Facts and Fallacies” found at www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson- loning)
124.html Have Students highlight information they find interesting and want to research further after this lesson.
Double Bubble Map
Activity 2: Using paragraph 6 from the above article, have students calculate the success/failure percentages
encountered when researchers cloned Dolly.

Activity 3: Have students read the article “Cloning Milestones Timeline” found at www.teachervision.com/lesson-
Extension Activity
Have students write an essay describing how our
plans/lesson-140.html Ask students to create a line graph depicting the number of years between each milestone. Add
world might change if cloning humans and
to this graph Dolly’s death in 2003.
animals becomes an accepted practice.
Activity 4: Have students read article “Team to Attempt Human Cloning” found ad
www.cnn.com/2001/fyi/news/03/09/human.cloning Use Double Bubble Map to compare and contrast human and
animal cloning. ESE Accommodations
Cooperative learning
Debriefing/Evaluation Activity
Discuss as a group the highlighted information from activity #1. Encourage students to use the internet to find more Peer tutoring
information to stretch their knowledge of cloning. Discuss the success/failure percentages calculated in activity #2. How
do the students feel about these numbers? Share and discuss Double Bubble differences and similarities. Ask student Calculator
how they feel about cloning now that they have more information.

Real-Life Connection
A member of your family is very sick. A cloned organ transplant has been suggested as a possible cure. What would
you do? Search the internet for articles on the various types and benefits of cloning before you make a decision.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans - Script
Area/Skill Science, Math Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by: Location
Language Arts Writing Knowledge, Comprehension, Julia Floyd Itawamba Community College
Application, Synthesis, Evaluation

Activity Title: Cloning

Introduction
Say: What do you know about cloning? How do you feel about cloning? Are cloning attempts usually successful? What do you know about Dolly,
the cloned sheep? We seem to have lots of ideas and opinions about this. Let’s look at some facts and figures.

Main Activity
Say: Let’s read the article about some facts and fallacies of cloning. Use a highlighter to mark any new or interesting information to you. We can
use these later to research more information. Also, pay close attention to paragraph # 6 because it contains some statistics you will need later.
(Discuss the highlighted information but save it for follow-up activities.)

Now let’s look at the number of sheep cells used. Compare this to the number of embryos produced. Compare this to the number of pregnant
sheep. Compare all this to the one successful birth of Dolly. Do you think these are great odds?

Let’s look at the cloning timeline. Take this information and create a line graph. We want to look at the number of years spanned since cloning
was first envisioned, and look at the number of years between each milestone. Be sure to include Dolly’s death in 2003.

Let’s look at one more article about a team attempting to clone humans. We’re going to use the Double Bubble Map to compare and contrast the
similarities and differences between human and animal cloning.

Closure/Conclusion
We’ve studied a lot of information about cloning. How do you think this technology/research will change in future years? Cloning has great
potential, but so much controversy surrounds it. Let’s follow cloning through the news in the future to keep our knowledge and ideas current. Let’s
see how cloning fits into our lives in the future.

Follow-up Lessons/Activities
Use highlighted information from “Animal Cloning: Facts and Fallacies” to research further into cloning. Have students combine/compare/contrast
their findings and newly formed opinions. Ask them how their ideas/opinions about cloning have changed because of this lesson.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
Area/Skill Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
History, Science, Writing Application Victor Richardson Northwest MS Community College

Materials/Texts/Realia/Handouts
Activity Title: Coming to America by Way of the North Pole
Styrofoam cup and plate
Small paper clip
Goal/Objective: Students will learn how magnetism makes compasses work and the importance of Coin-sized circular disc (4-6 cm
compasses during the Age of Discovery. diameter)
magnet
scissors
Lesson Outline: pencil
Introduction tape
This activity will show how the science concept of magnetism was used by Discovery Age explorers to help water
them cross the Atlantic to the New World.
Extension Activity
Have students enhance their
Activity compasses by
An introductory discussion will serve to define the need for a compass on thee high seas during the 15th 1. including the intermediate
and 16th centuries. Then students will actually make a compass from the materials listed. Final discussion directions
will focus on what makes the compass work. 2. using a protractor to mark off the
multiples of 10º around the outside
Debriefing/Evaluation Activity of the cup.
Write an essay on the topic “What was the importance of the compass to the Age of Discovery?”

ESE Accommodations
Cooperative groups
Hands-on activity
Real-Life Connection
Have students use the Internet as a resource to make a list of how the compass is still used.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans - Script
Area/Skill History, Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
Science, Language Arts, Application Victor Richardson Northwest MS Community College
Writing

Activity Title Coming to America by way of the North Pole

Introduction
Say: During the Age of Discovery, European explorers had to cross the Atlantic to get to the New World. In those days, there was no GPS. On
the wide open sea, there are no landmarks or moss growing on trees. The sun, moon, and stars are helpful for determining directions, but cloudy
skies limited their help. What could sailors rely on to keep them on course? They used a compass. You will make a compass and discuss how it
works.

Main Activity
Arrange students in small groups and distribute materials. Have students trace a circle on the Styrofoam plate using the circular disc. Cut the
circle out. Straighten out the paper clip and magnetize it by stroking its length with the magnet about 10 times. Tape the paper clip to the
Styrofoam circle so that the circle is centered along the length of the paper clip and the paper clip passes through the center of the circle. Cut the
top of the cup off so that the cup stands about 3 cm high and put enough water in the cup to cover the bottom.

Say: Put the Styrofoam circle in the water with the paper clip turned up and watch which way the paper clip points. Pause. Look at others’ paper
clips and see if they are pointing in the same direction. What direction are they all pointing?

The response should be that all paper clips are pointing north.

Say: Let’s see if we can understand why your compass always points north. Every magnet has 2 poles, or ends, north and south. The north end
has an attracting force towards the south end, and vice versa. Anything that is attracted to the north end of a magnet must be like the south end of
the magnet since they both are attracted to the north end. Since they are alike, anything attracted to the north end will be repelled by the south
end. Opposites attract, but likes repel in the world of magnets. Just try to put the south poles of 2 magnets together and you’ll see what I mean.
Well, the earth is a big magnet with a north and south pole, and when you magnetized the paper clip, it became a magnet with a north and south
pole. The north pole of the earth is attracted to the south pole of the paper clip and repels the paper clip’s north pole. The result is that the paper
clip’s north pole points north and its south pole points south.

Closure/Conclusion
Say: We only have identified north and south on our compasses. How can we determine east and west? Pause. East is right of north and west
is left of north.

Follow-up Lessons/Activities
Students could use their compasses in a treasure hunt for school supplies. All students would be provided a list of directions to follow to find the
treasure. The directions would include the starting point and the different distances and directions to pace off to arrive at the treasure.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
Area/Skill Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
L.A. reading/ L.A. writing Comprehension/Application/Analysis Jonathan Moore Grenada ABE
Math/ Social Studies/Science/ Synthesis and Evaluation
Critical Thinking

Activity Title “The Flask” - Multi-disciplinary Problem Solving. Materials/Texts/Realia/Handouts

Goal/Objective Students will use many disciplines to creatively solve problems. “The Flask” taken from “The Cow Of
No Color” by Jaffe & Zeitlin - Henry
Lesson Outline Holt 1998
3 by 5 cards
Introduction Read aloud “The Flask” a riddle story that introduces the Quart Bottles
notion of impossible choices. Bowl
Measuring spoons
Activity 1 Who Should Drink the Water? Water
Divide class into small groups to discuss the dilemma presented. Have each Calculators
Group presents some possible solutions.

Activity 2 Examining criteria

Give each small group different descriptions of their characters on cards:
two brothers, a father and son, mother and child, one rich-one poor, etc., and
see if their solution would change based on additional criteria. Extension Activity

Activity 3 One sip at a time – Time, fractions and diminishing volume. Do an internet search on deserts,
Introduce word problems based on the dilemma. e.g. If one person takes a their climate and the culture of
sip of water ( 1 fluid ounce) every mile, how many miles will they have desert regions.
walked before they run out of water if they begin with a full 3 quart jug? http://members.aol.com/QuestSite/1/
Also if they walk a mile every fifteen minutes, how long will it be before 2.html
They run out of water? If both people shared……? http://www.desertusa.com/
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A077
Debriefing/Evaluation Activity Ask students to write a story describing their escape out of the desert. 8851.html

ESE Accommodations
Real-Life Connection
Do the Math word problems with the aid of quart bottles, bowl, Water and measuring spoons. Calculators,
(messy but fun!) Large-print materials
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans - Script

Area/Skill Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location

Mathematics, Social Studies, Comprehension/Application/Analysis Jonathan Moore Grenada ABE/GED
Science, Language Arts, Synthesis and Evaluation
Reading

Activity Title “The Flask” - Multi-disciplinary Problem Solving

Introduction Say: “Two men are traveling through the desert. One of them carries a flask filled with water. The desert stretches out
before them. Both men know that the closest oasis is a hundred miles away. They also know that there is only
enough water to keep one man alive until he can reach the watering hole. If the owner of the flask keeps the water
for himself, he will reach the oasis with the spring water. If he gives the flask to his companion, his friend will live
and he will die. If they share the water, both will die.
Who should drink the water?” taken from “The Cow Of No Color” by Jaffe & Zeitlin – Henry Holt 1998
This story poses the question of how to make impossible choices. We are going to learn how to think creatively and help
solve problems.

Main Activities Say: We are going to divide into small groups now, and I want you in your group to discuss some possible solutions to the
dilemma. When you have spent some time discussing it we would like to hear the consensus viewpoint from your group.
(Allow the students plenty of time to voice opinions within their group.)

I am now giving each group a 3 x 5 card. On it you will find some additional criteria (relevant information) about this
situation. Apply this new information to the problem and ask yourselves whether this new information changes your
solution in any way.

Now we can construct some interesting Math word problems using this story as inspiration. For example: Supposing a
person was to take a sip of water (about 1 fluid ounce) every mile, how far will they get before they run out of water
if they begin with a full 3 quart jug?

What about this problem?.... If a person walks a mile every fifteen minutes, how long will it be before they run out of
water? (Maybe give students a work sheet containing more similar problems.)

Closure/Conclusion Write a short story describing your escape out of the desert.

Follow-up Lessons/Activities
Give students some more combination word problems in math. Create a display on deserts of the world using multiple sources such as magazine
Internet articles and objects.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
Area/Skill Science, Social Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by
Studies, Math, and Knowledge, Comprehension Edna Lawrence, Lucille Jordan, JPS; Stephanie Smith, Pat
Language Arts Reading Application, Evaluation Mauldin, H.F.E.C; Paula Miller, Jane Jones, JCJC
Materials/Texts/Realia/Handouts
Activity Title: Spring Has Sprung Wordsworth’s poem: “Daffodils”
Trowel/spade
Goal/Objective: To read and understand directions for planting seeds and bulbs. Bulbs/seeds
Rake/Hoe
Lesson Outline Measuring tape/yard stick
Introduction: Fertilizer
This lesson will introduce the students to math, language arts reading, science and social Potting soil
studies activities which can be incorporated into spring planting. Gloves

Activity: Extension Activity

Language Arts Reading: Oral reading and discussion of the poem “Daffodils” by Students will plant flowers at
William Wordsworth; reading and understanding directions from seed packets. their respective homes and
Social Studies: Discussion of plants which can be grown in different regions of the state. furnish fresh-cut flowers for the
Science: Discussion of soil preparation and fertilizers used based on plants selected. ABE/GED center; students will
Math: Measuring the distance that specific flowers are set apart when planting; laying out share their gardening
of flower bed. experiences with others in the
class
Debriefing/Evaluation Activity:
Have someone from a local nursery/greenhouse evaluate the class’s ESE Accommodations
location of beds, whether or not the students chose wisely about the seeds/bulbs Invite a landscape architect to
they planted, and if beds were properly prepared. demonstrate how to select
seeds, prepare soil, and give
step-by-step demonstration on
how to plan bulbs/seeds
Real-Life Connection properly before hands-on
Students will be able to transfer skills learned in this lesson to help beautify their exercise.
respective communities and neighborhoods.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans - Script
Area/Skill Science, Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by:
Social Studies, Math, and Knowledge, Comprehension Edna Lawrence, Lucille Jordan, JPS; Stephanie Smith, Pat
Language Arts Reading Application, Evaluation Mauldin, H.F.E.C; Paula Miller, Jane Jones, JCJC

Activity Title : Spring Has Sprung

Introduction
Say: It is now the season for planting bulbs and seeds and for new growth to begin. We will be discussing the planting of
seeds and bulbs around to building. We will also discuss the utensils necessary for planting, and the plants suited to the
climate and soil of our area.

Main Activity
Say: Let’s begin by reading “Daffodils” by William Worthsworth. (Read poem.)
Say: Describe what you visualized as I read the poem. (Allow time for students’ answers and a discussion of the terms
figurative language, imagery, simile, and metaphor.)

Divide the class into six groups. Have two groups research various plants which easily grow in the area via Internet,
printed materials, or through visiting nurseries and report to class. Have two groups research the soil type and fertilizer
needed for the area and report to class. Have two groups select the areas to be planted and research lay out of beds and
report bed plans to group. The group as a whole will work up beds and plant bulbs and seeds.

Closure/Conclusion
Say: We have planted seeds and bulbs that with proper care will beautify our building. It will be the class’s responsibility
to maintain the beds by keeping the beds weeded and the plants watered.

Follow-up Lessons/Activities

Students will be instructed to use this experience to plant seeds/flowers at home to furnish fresh flowers periodically for
the class site. Students will also be encouraged to use their knowledge to beautify their communities.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
Area/Skill Science, Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by
Language Arts Writing, Application Victor Richardson, Mary Murphy, Laura Williams, Sharlet Huff,
Social Studies Cindy Pierce, Deborah Vega, Geneva Atkins

Materials/Texts/Realia/Handouts
Activity Title: Only the Strong Survive
Steck-Vaughn Science Exercise
Goal/Objective: book
Students will be able to use the terms adaptation, endangered species, and extinction Photos of animals and fossils
to describe the process of natural selection.

Lesson Outline Extension Activity

Introduction:
Natural selection is a natural phenomenon in which species of living organisms either Invite a Forestry Service or
adapt to their environment and survive or fail to adapt and eventually become extinct. wildlife refuge person to speak
This activity explores why some species survive and some don’t. concerning the preservation of
endangered species.
Activity
Assign reading of the section on natural selection in Steck-Vaughn Science Exercises.
Photos of animals and fossils will be used as fodder for discussion about animal ESE Accommodations
adaptations for survival and the lack of adaptations in endangered and extinct species.
Invite a Forestry Service or
Debriefing/Evaluation Activity
wildlife refuge person to speak
Write a paragraph about how nature “selects” living organisms which have adapted to
concerning the preservation of
their environment, thus surviving.
endangered species.

Real-Life Connection
Describe a scenario of an urban group of people who have to live in the wild with no
modern conveniences, and then discuss what characteristics would improve a person's
chances to survive and how these characteristics would lead to dominance in the
survivors and their offspring.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans - Script
Area/Skill Science, Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by:
Language Arts Writing, Application V. Richardson, M. Murphy, L Williams, S. Huff, C. Pierce,
Social Studies D. Vega, G. Atkins

Activity Title: Only the Strong Survive

Introduction
Say: You’ve all read the section on natural selection that you were assigned. Now, let’s talk about how natural selection actually works

Main Activity
Say:
Present to the class a picture of a koala bear. Say: Koalas are interesting animals in the way they look and what they eat. Virtually all of their diet
is the leaves of eucalyptus trees, which primarily grow in Australia. Where do you think most koalas in the wild live? Pause for an answer of
Australia. Because of this restriction, koalas only number about 100,000 in the wild, and their very existence in the wild is threatened partially
because the availability of eucalyptus is somewhat restricted.

Say: What would happen if a few koalas in some way developed the ability to eat another type of food that is available in areas in and outside
Australia? Students should be encouraged and prompted to arrive at these answers: 1) the adapted koala population would likely increase, and
2) the unadapted koala’s existence would remain threatened because of its dependence on eucalyptus. This development in the koalas is an
example of an adaptation. You can see how such adaptations can mean survival of a species.

Present a picture of a common cockroach and mosquito. Say: You’re probably all familiar with the cockroach and mosquito. Man has been
pestered by these creatures for centuries. In the last century, pesticides were developed that were significantly effective in killing these pests. Do
you think that roaches and mosquitoes were in danger of extinction? Discussion. It appears that some mosquitoes and roaches have acquired an
immunity to some pesticides and, so, are not as threatened by these chemicals. This immunity qualifies as an adaptation, and again you can see
how an adaptation helps to make species fit to survive. That’s where we get the expression “survival of the fittest” to describe what natural
selection really is.

Present pictures of a saber-toothed tiger, wooly mammoth, dinosaur, dodo bird, albatross, and a California sword-fern. Say: These species of
animals and plant don’t exist anymore, that is, they are extinct. Can you imagine what led to their extinction? Discussion. Perhaps the tiger’s
elongated teeth, the mammoth’s tusk and size, and the albatross’s inability to avoid the human threat were factors in their extinction. We are not
sure, but related species developed adaptations for survival and now we have elephants, tigers, and a variety of large-sized reptiles to prove it.

Closure/Conclusion
Say: It is a figure of speech to say “nature selects” which species survive. In reality, those species which do not acquire adaptations for survival
will likely become extinct.

Follow-up Lessons/Activities
There is an “unnatural” selection phenomenon that occurs when man does gene engineering, cloning, and cross breeding to design new species
of agricultural crops and livestock breeds which are customized for desirable qualities, including fitness for survival. Have students report on one
or more of these “unnatural” selection methods.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
Area/Skill Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by
Math, Science, Writing, Reading Comprehension, Application, Rankin County Schools
Analysis, Evaluation P. Bridges, C. King, G. Ozier, C. Smith

Materials/Texts/Realia/Handouts
Activity Title: The Tree
Film from the Forestry Commission
Goal/Objective 1. Gather information needed for ratio & proportion. Worksheet #1
2. Perform the ratio and proportion concept. Bubble Sheet
3. Gather information about trees. Measuring Tape
4. Write a paragraph using bubble chart words. Section of a tree

Lesson Outline
Introduction: Show film on trees from the Forestry Commission. Extension Activity
Activity Leaf Collection
1. Do a bubble chart to discover their comprehension level. How weather affects tree growth
2. Write a paragraph or poem using bubble chart information. Measure other objects
3. Count the rings to determine the age of the tree and the note difference in the rings Trip to Petrified Forest
4. Go outside and take measurements of shadows of a tree and another object. Also measure the Concentric circles
height of the object. This information is used to set up the proportion. Radius
Diameter
Area of a circle
Debriefing/Evaluation Activity Circumference
1. Compare and discuss the results of the measurements and proportion. Volume
2. Use Worksheet #1 to evaluate the study of proportion
3. Read paragraphs and /or poems in class and discuss similarities and differences. ESL Accommodation

Cooperative learning
Peer tutoring
Real-Life Connection
The importance of the environment in these disciplines.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans - Script
Area/Skill Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by:
Math, Science, Writing, Comprehension, Application, Rankin County Schools
Reading Analysis, Evaluation P. Bridges, C. King, G. Ozier, C. Smith

Activity Title: The Tree

Introduction
Say: After viewing the film, today we are going to talk about the importance of the tree in our environment. We will be using the tree in our use of
ratio and proportion. We will discuss the biological aspects of trees.

Main Activity
Say: Discuss the film. Then show the section of the tree and discuss growth/age rings.

Each student has been given a bubble chart. In the center bubble put the word “tree”. Fill in the other bubbles with words related to trees. After
students have completed the chart, say: Now use all of the words to create a paragraph or poem.

Go outside. Say: We will measure the height of the mailbox and the length of its shadow. Now measure the length of the shadow of the tall pine
tree. Using these measurements, let’s set up a proportion problem to determine the height of the tree.

Discuss their results and how they can use proportions in other situations.

Give worksheet #1.

Closure/Conclusion

We have discussed how trees are important to our environment. Their biological makeup has also been discussed. We have used math
procedures needed for the GED and discussed how they can be used in everyday life.

Follow-up Lessons/Activities

Have students research weather patterns for the last ten years. Compare these findings to the growth ring on the section of the tree.
Worksheet #1
APPLICATION OF PROPORTION
1. A car travels 96 miles on 8 gallons of gas. How far can he car travel on a full tank of gas that holds 20 gallons?

2. The picture below is to be enlarged. If the width of the enlargement will be 8 inches, how high will it be? If the width of the picture
is 8”, how high will it be?

7” high

5 “ wide

3. At Foster’s Department Store, the ration of managers to sales people is 2:9. If Foster’s currently has 180 salespeople, how many
managers are there?

4. On the scale drawing below, 1/8 inch = 1 foot. If the length of a room on the scale drawing is 2 ¼ inches, how long is the actual
room?

2¼ Key: 1/8 inch = 1 foot

5. Two pancakes contain 120 calories. Ellen had a stack of 7 pancakes. How many calories did she have?
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
Area/Skill Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
Math, Social Studies, Language Analysis GED 2002 National Training West Virginia
Arts Writing Institute Participant – Laura Kiser

Materials/Texts/Realia/Handouts
Activity Title: Constructing A Simple Line Graph
Map
Goal/Objective: Worksheet
Math: Use map skills to calculate distances from a given location. Analyze and draw conclusions from graphs. Paper/Pencil
Social Studies: Use map skills to determine students’ residences from a given point.
Language Arts Writing: Demonstrate proficiency in paragraph development that includes a topic sentence, three
Calculators
supporting sentences, and a closing sentence. Checklist (rubric) to evaluate
Paragraph Development
Lesson Outline Checklist (rubric) to evaluate line
Students will use research and organization skills to construct and interpret a simple line graph. Students will collect graph construction
data to determine the distance each student must travel to attend class. Students will organize the collected data and
graph to present findings. Students will analyze their graph to draw conclusions. Extension Activity
Interpret simple line and bar graph
Introduction used in local, regional or national
Students participating in local ABE programs often travel great distances to attend class. They may live in different
communities and counties. Students will collect information relative to their classmates to create a simple line graph.
newspapers to report current/future
job opportunities, higher-level
Activity education opportunities, stock
A packet of information will be provided to each student that will include the following: instructions, a state map, and market status, census data or other
worksheet. Students will discuss various methods for collecting and organizing information to construct a simple line pertinent information to the life,
graph. Small groups of students will: use data collection strategies and skills to locate communities on the map, work, and/or educational goals of an
compute the mileage from a given location, construct a simple line graph to represent findings, and write a paragraph individual student or whole class.
interpreting their line graphs. The small groups will display and analyze the constructed graphs for the whole group.
Whole group discussions will address any variations in graphing representation and/or analyzed results.

Debriefing/Evaluation Activity
ESE Accommodations
Students will briefly discuss and evaluate methods of data collection and the construction and interpretation of simple Team students in a manner to
line graphs. Conclusions will be evaluated for validity. Math computations will be evaluated for accuracy. Checklists accommodate various functioning
will be used to evaluate paragraph development and line graph items (Ex: appropriate graph title, labeled horizontal levels.
and vertical axis, appropriate interval/scales of measure, correctly plotted information, and connected plots with a solid
line. Allow use of calculator for
computations.
Real-Life Connection
Real life relevance can be easily demonstrated with regard to health issues that need daily monitoring. This might
include blood pressure, diabetes, and body temperature. Students should be able to interpret line graphs used by
some utility companies to report customer usage on the monthly statement. Students might choose to use a graph to
monitor monthly expenses for budgeting purposes.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans – Script
Area/Skill Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by: Location
Math, Social Studies, Analysis GED 2002 National Training West Virginia
Language Arts Writing Institute Participant-Laura Kiser

Activity Title: Constructing A Simple Line Graph

Introduction
Say: Business, industry, education, government, newspapers, and television communicate a wide range of information using simple and complex
graphs and charts. Today we will explore some ways to collect, organize, and report/present information using a simple line graph. The teacher
will show how various publications and resources use line graphs to present information. (Ex: local, regional, state or national newspapers,
magazines, promotional materials and other life relevant materials).

Main Activity
Say: Today we will discuss and practice options for collecting information from each student and methods for organizing that information. We will
determine the distance each student must travel to attend class, organize our collected data, graph the data, and analyze the graphed information.

Closure/Conclusion
Discuss responses to the activity worksheet. Discuss how interpreting and analyzing graphs is relevant to real life and work environments.

Follow-up Lessons/Activities
Provide students with newspapers, flyers, brochures, documents and other real life/work materials that use graphs to communicate facts.
Students select a graph presenting information of personal interest to interpret and analyze
 Creating a Simple Line Graph

Name: ______________
Date: _______________

Directions

Working individually or in groups:

• Conduct a survey to see where ABE classmates live.

• Use a road map to calculate the distances of those communities from your
ABE/GED class site. A calculator may be used to calculate distances.
• Record and organize the collected data
• Construct a simple line graph.
• Write a paragraph analyzing your data.
• Present your constructed graph and its interpretation to the whole group.

Worksheet

Answer the following questions from the information presented in your line
graph.

What is the shortest distance traveled by a student in order to attend class? _________
How many students travel the shortest distance? __________
What is the longest distance traveled by a student in order to attend class? __________
How many students travel the longest distance? __________
What is the average distance traveled by the class in order to attend class? _________
How far do the most number students in your class travel? __________
Do most students attending class live within a 5-mile radius? __________
Do most students attending class live within a 10-mile radius? __________
Are students from one part of the county traveling too far to attend class? __________
Is the class site centrally located for students? __________
Why do you believe it is or is not centrally located for students? __________
Based on your information, should an ABE/GED class be established in another
part of the county?
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
Area/Skill Math, Social Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
Studies, Language Arts Knowledge, Comprehension Jennifer Whitlock Meridian Community College
Reading Application
Materials/Texts/Realia/Handouts
Activity Title: Area Code Math
Telephone book with area codes
Goal/Objective: Worksheet 1:
1) Students will practice reading maps. U. S. map or U. S. map with area
2) Students will learn how to use area codes and a telephone book. codes
3) Students will learn how to add, subtract, and multiply three digit numbers.
4) Students will become familiar with the locations of different states on a map/

Lesson Outline
Introduction:
The phone book’s listing of area codes provides a novel source of three digit subtraction, addition, and Extension Activity
multiplication practice as well as promotes map reading skills and knowledge of U. S. geography.
Research the history of the
Activity: telephone book.
Prepare a map of the United States with area codes on it. Use the telephone book’s area code map as a
model. Also prepare a set of math problems based on the area codes such as: Research the history of area codes.
Northern Mississippi minus Western Alabama equals?
Central Mississippi plus Missouri equals?
Southeastern Mississippi times Alaska equals?

Students will use their maps to find numbers indicated by state and area names and will perform the ESE Accommodations
operations specified. More sophisticated word problems can also be based on area code information.
Group mentoring
Debriefing/Evaluation Activity:
Discuss reasons for using area codes and how they help our phone system. Discuss the uses of the
telephone book (ex. white, yellow, and blue pages).

Real-Life Connection:
Many students do not know why some phone numbers have more digits than others. With this lesson they
will learn the reasons for area codes and how to use them They will also learn how to use a map to locate
their family and friends in other states.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans - Script
Area/Skill Math, Social Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by: Location
Studies, Language Arts Knowledge, Comprehension Jennifer Whitlock Meridian Community
Reading Application College
Activity Title: Area Code Math

Introduction
Say: Today we will be engaged in a fun activity which will include math, social studies, and reading. To begin our lesson, you will need to write
down the phone numbers of friends and family who live near and far away.

Main Activity
Provide students with a telephone book and a map of the United States.

Say: Use your telephone book to write the area codes of each state on the map. (Give time to complete activity.)

Say: Now find the state and the area code for your family and friends. (Give students time of complete activity.)

Say: Now add subtract, and multiply various combinations of your area codes. (Give students time to complete activity.)

Say: Create a list of math problems to share with the class in which you add, subtract and multiply the area codes.
For example, Northern Mississippi minus Western Alabama equals?

Closure/Conclusion:

Discuss with the class the importance of area codes and how they have changed over time.
Discuss with the class, why some states have several area codes.

Follow-up Lessons/Activities:

Students can research the history of area codes , why the numbers within a state vary, and the history of the telephone book.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
Area/Skill Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
Mathematics, Language Arts Comprehension, Analysis, Deborah Ferguson Picayune Career & Technical Center
Reading, Language Arts Writing Synthesis
Materials/Texts/Realia/Handouts
Activity Title: Wheel of Fortune Video clip of Wheel of Fortune
books, newspapers or magazines
Worksheets 1 & 2
Goal/Objective
1. Gather appropriate information for simple statistical analysis. Extension Activity
2. Calculate the probability of picking any letter at random from a piece of English Literature. Science: In the field of genetics,
3. Develop skills in calculating percentage probabilities in addition and rounding of numbers, and scientists study how certain traits
using a calculator. are passed from one generation to
4. Evaluate research by comparing results with those of other students and answering related another. Generally, genes that
questions.
determine physical traits are
Lesson Outline: found in pairs. During
Introduction: Begin with a 5-10 minute clip for Wheel of Fortune, including the “Bonus Round.” Ask reproduction, each parent
students to think about why the letters “r, s, t, l, n and e” are given in the “Bonus Round.” provides one gene to create a new
pair. In certain flowers, that
Activity:
1. Have students choose a book, magazine, or newspaper to research the use of letters. Choose a
which produces the red color is
page and place at random and begin to tally the letters, filling out the table provided on Worksheet represented by R. The gene of
1. Ask students to count 300 letters. the white flower is represented
2. Use a calculator to calculate the percentage probability of finding each letter. Check for accuracy by r. The capital letter represents
by adding up percents, which should total between 99% and 101% (allowing for rounding). the dominant gene, meaning that
3. Answer and discuss questions on Worksheets 1 and 2.
if a flower has the pairing Rr, its
Debriefing/Evaluation Activity: Compare and discuss the students’ results. Note the similarities and try to color will be red. Only a flower
account for the differences. Use Worksheet 2 to review some of the statistical consequences of the study with the pairing rr can be white.
done by the students. Note: Questions such s 1, 3, 6, and 8 have no right answers. Suppose the parent genes are Rr
and RR. What are the possible
Real-Life Connection: Curtis and Frank are healthcare aides at a hospital. Both have applied for a training
pairings for the offspring? Off-
program to improve their skills. Of the five employees who applied for the program, two will be chosen at spring possibilities: RR, RR, Rr,
random. What is the percentage probability that both will be chosen. Rr.
ESE Accommodations
Cooperative learning
Peer tutoring
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans - Script
Area/Skill Mathematics, Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by: Location
Language Arts Reading, Comprehension, Analysis, Synthesis Deborah Ferguson Picayune Career & Technology
Language Arts Writing Center

Activity Title: Wheel of Fortune

Introduction
Say: (After viewing video clip of Wheel of Fortune) Are there some letters that are used more than other in common words used in the English
language? If you knew the statistical probability of each letter used in various contexts, would you have any advantage in playing word games?

Main Activity
Say: Each student (or group) should select a book, magazine, or newspaper and complete the chart on Worksheet 1. After listing the total for
each letter, use the given formula to list the percentage probability for each letter rounded to the nearest whole percent. When you have
completed the chart, tot the percents to check for errors. You may use your calculator for this activity. (Use this opportunity to be sure all students
know the procedure to find percents using the calculator.)

Say: Use the data you collected to answer the questions on Worksheet 1. Remember that data is the term for the information collected.

Call on about 1/3 of the class to give their answers to questions 1-3 and begin a discussion by asking if any patterns are discovered.

Say: Let’s use what we have learned so far to come to some “statistical” conclusions. Please complete Worksheet 2. Some of the questions will
ask for conclusions and will have no "right or wrong” answers. When you have completed the worksheet, gather to compare and discuss your
conclusions.

Closure/Conclusion
Say: I hope it is clear that statistics and probability play an important part in our lives and are particularly useful in helping us make informed
decisions. Can anyone think of a situation when applying this concept would be useful in your day-to-day life?

Follow-up Lessons/Activities
Have student to supply words and phrases and participate in their own game of Wheel of Fortune.
 Worksheet 1

Name ____________________________ Date ____________

Name of the book or magazine being used for survey:

____________________________________ page _____

Survey 300 letters

Lette Tally Total %

r
A
B
C
D Help:
E To find percents,
F Use the calculator:
G Total / Grand Total = %
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Grand Total 100%

Survey Questions
1. How many vowels are in the top ten? ________
2. Which consonants would be most useful in the “Wheel of Fortune”? ___, ___, ___,
___, ___, ___
3. Which vowel might be least useful? ____
4. What percentage of all letters surveyed were vowels? _______
5. See if you make ten different words using only the top five letters?
 Worksheet 2
Letters of the Alphabet
(Statistical Conclusions)

TRUE or FALSE: Circle One

1. You should never expect to find the letter Q on the “Wheel of Fortune.” True False

2. Almost every word requires a vowel. True False

3. The letter K is useful when playing “Wheel of Fortune” True False

4. I and O are the most useful vowels. True False

5. The “top ten” letters account for about 75% of the letters needed for writing. True False

6. The English language could get along fine without the letters J, Q, and X. True False

Explain any two of your answers to questions 1 – 6.

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

7. If you were producing stickers with letters of the alphabet with letters of the alphabet for use in
labeling personal items, such as books, pens, bags, and bedroom doors, which of these letters
would you need most? Circle 5 A B C D E F G H I J

8. To do a more accurate study for the above “alphabet stickers” you would need to make a survey
of…
(a) a popular magazine
(b) a list of student’s names
(c) a dictionary
(d) a novel

9. In the game “Scrabble”, which of these letters would you expect to be worth more points? Why?

H V S

10. In “Scrabble”, which of these letters would you expect to be worth 1 point? Why?

Q N K
 Suggested Answers
(Answers may vary)

Worksheet 1

1. Four
2. R, S, T, N, L, plus one more
3. U
4. About 30% to 40%
5. Answers will vary

Worksheet 2

1. False
2. True
3. True or False
4. False
5. True
6. True or False
7. A, E, H, I, plus one other
8. Answers will vary
9. V
10. N
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
Area/Skill Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
Mathematics, Language Arts Comprehension, Application, Lisa Bogan Greater Columbus Learning Center
Writing, and Language Arts Synthesis
Reading

Activity Title: Perimeter Materials/Texts/Realia/Handouts

• Self-assembled framing
materials
Goal/Objective: • Posters of different sized
Math: Find perimeter of a figure. • Yard stick
Writing: Write essay on how you may use perimeter in life. • 50’ measuring tape
Reading: Pick out pertinent information from word problems in order to solve for perimeter. • Word problem handout
Lesson Outline:
Introduction
Perimeter is widely used in everyday activities such as walking distance, picture framing fencing around a Extension Activity
yard. This lesson will give students skills to select and use information in determining perimeter. Each student will find the perimeter
of his/her vehicle and see if it will fit
Activity: the parking space.
Define perimeter; demonstrate how to solve. Discuss SUV sized and how they
Given a model, find perimeter. may be too big for some parking
Using self-assembled framing materials, and posters of different sizes, students will work together in small spaces.
groups to determine the perimeter of the poster and then measure and cut the frame to fit.
Have students write paragraph on how knowing how to find perimeter is pertinent in our lives.

Debriefing/Evaluation Activity: ESE Accommodations

Develop formulas for special figures such as square, rectangle, and trapezoid. • Team students
• Vocabulary handout
• Calculator
Real-Life Connection:
Walk parking lot and determine perimeter and how many times around parking lot would make a mile.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans - Script
Area/Skill Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
Mathematics, Language Arts Comprehension, Application, Lisa Bogan Greater Columbus Learning
Writing, and Language Arts Synthesis Center
Reading

Activity Title Perimeter

Introduction
Say: Today we are going to frame these posters.

Main Activity
Say: Who knows what distance around a figure is called?
(when we come up with perimeter) Ask: How can we find the distance around a figure?
(when we come up with add all sides hand out word problem sheet) Go over problems together, picking out what information is needed to find
perimeter and determine if each problem has all the information necessary to solve for perimeter.

Divide class into small groups with each group having a poster, yard stick, and framing materials.
Say: Now we are going frame these posters. The frames have to be cut to fit the length of each side the poster.
What do you need to know before you can start cutting? (when we come up with “if you have enough framing material to fit around the poster”)
Allow students time to complete activity.
Say: Write an essay on how you may use perimeter in your personal life.

Closure/Conclusion
Discuss how some figures have specific characteristics which could lend to a short cut in solving for perimeter. For example, a square has 4 equal
sides. Could we just multiply a side times 4 instead of adding it for times? A rectangle has 2 equal widths and 2 equal lengths. Could we calculate
2 widths plus 2 lengths?

Follow-up Lessons/Activities
Say: Let’s say I wanted to start an exercising more regularly but didn’t have any other time than my lunch hour to take a mile walk. I could use the
parking lot to walk around but I would know how many times to walk around it to walk a mile. I’m going to let you go outside and find out for me.
Provide students with 50’ measuring tape and allow them to go to the parking lot to measure.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
Area/Skill Mathematics Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
Language Arts, Reading Comprehension, Application, Monica Watson Southwest MS Community College
Language Arts, Writing Analysis, Synthesis
Materials/Texts/Realia/Handouts
Activity Title: Solving Percent Problems
Newspaper Sales
Goal/Objective: Students will comprehend and analyze what differentiates the part and the whole Advertisements
in percent problems Graphic Organizer
Articles from the Internet
Lesson Outline:
Math: Determine the part and whole to set up a proportion to solve percent problems. Extension Activity
Language Arts, Reading: Use the Internet to find and read biographical essays or comments
on mathematicians. Peruse a department store website….JC
Language Arts, Writing: Demonstrate proficiency in holistic writing practices. Penny (www.jcpenny.com), Dillards
(www.dillards.com), etc. Search for
Introduction: percentage discounts and place the
This lesson provides a step by step approach to solving problems with unknowns, thus an intro for solving linear numbers into a proportion to solve for
equations with one variable. Students will use cognitive skill levels to classify, arrange, solve, research, decipher, and cost before and after discounts.
compare unknown quantities and actual savings versus proposed savings. Students will also utilize the
logical/mathematical and linguistic learning styles.

Activity: ESE Accommodations

Refer to handout information sheet.
1) Discuss the three types of questions in percent problems. Explain to students how to differentiate between Hand out indicating steps for solving a
the part and whole of a percent problem and use a proportion to solve for the missing number. percent problem using a proportion.
2) Have students use the graphic organize to brainstorm what they think they know about percents and then
write a journal writing describing the steps taken to solve for the missing number in one of the types of percent Allow calculators for computations.
problems.
3) Have students utilize the Internet or periodicals to search for biographies on mathematicians. Also have Graphic organizer for brainstorming
students search for advertisements indicating percentage discounts on similar name brand products and ideas and comparing similar products
survey any proposed savings. vs. discounted prices.

Debriefing/Evaluation Activity: Ask students to discuss any difficulties in determining the part and the whole. Ask
students to draw charts or explain the process of substituting the known values into the correct position when setting
up a proportion.

Real-Life Connection:
Since adults are also consumers, the lesson’s reference to real-life consumer practices will address how viable it will
be to understand how percentages are derived and demonstrated comparison techniques regarding advertised
discounted prices. Percents are commonly used in many of the adult learners’ livelihood such as calculating percents
for interest on various types of loans, discounts and taxes.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans - Script
Area/Skill Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by: Location
Mathematics, Comprehension, Application, Monica Watson Southwest MS Community
Language Arts, Reading Analysis, Synthesis College
Language Arts, Writing
Activity Title: Solving Percent Problems

Introduction Say: We will introduce a step by step approach to solving percent problems when one of the numbers is missing. This lesson will
Also be an introduction for solving linear equations with one variable.

Main Activity Say: 1) Refer to handout information sheet.

• There are types of questions in percent problems. Let’s look at a statement involving percents to determine what kind of questions could
be asked. Example: 15 is 25% of 60.
• In a percent problem you will either be looking for the part, (15 in this example), the whole (60 in this example) or the percent (25 in this
example). 100 will always represent the whole percent.
• One way to differentiate between the part and whole of a percent problem is to note that the number referenced after the word of usually
indicates the whole.
• The percent part always asks “what percent”.
• Once you decide if you are looking for the part, the whole, or the percent part, label the missing value with n, and set up the proportion.
Then solve for n.
• See handout information sheet for formula.

2) Use the graphic organizer to brainstorm what you think you know about percents and then write a journal writing describing the steps taken to
solve for the missing number in one of the types of percent problems.

3) Surf the Internet or periodicals to search for biographies on mathematicians and math facts. Read the biography and write an essay about what
you have learned. Demonstrate making a bridge to the reader; ensure that you include supporting details. See attached.

4) Search the Internet for department store websites such as JC Penny, Dillards, Sears, etc. Peruse the sites looking for percentage discounts.
Set up the unknown values into a proportion and solve for the three types of percentage problems: the part, whole, or percentage.

5) Use the bubble graphic organizer to brainstorm what you know about percents. Write a paragraph comparing all that you know about percents
and what you have learned.

Closure/Conclusion: Say: Do you have any difficulties in determining the part and whole in percent word problems? Using what you have
learned, how would you solve a percent problem when the part is missing? Explain the process of substituting know values into the correct
position when setting up a proportion.

Follow-up Lessons/Activities: Use the Comparison Alley graphic organizer to compare advertisements that you found on the Internet or in
periodicals. Indicate the percentage discounts on similar name brand products and survey any proposed savings. Indicate the differences in large
percentage discounts on various priced items vs. small percentage discounts of greater and lesser priced items.
 There are three types of questions in percent problems

The Part is Unknown The % Part is Unknown The Whole is Unknown

Solving Percent Problems

A percent problem can be solved by setting up a proportion that shows that the relationship
between the part and the whole is the same as the relationship of a percent part to 100%.
Part Percent Part

4 = 80%
5 100%

Whole Percent Whole

A proportion occurs when two ratios are equal to each other. The proportion below can be
stated as: “a is to b as c is to d.” This also can be written in the fractional form as:
a=c part = part %
b d whole whole%

Example 1) What is 40% of 120? You are looking for the part of 120.
Set up the proportion: n = 40
120 120

Example 2) 18 is what percent of 72? You are looking for the percent part.
Set up the proportion: 18 = n
72 100

Example 3) 24 is 40% of what number? You are looking for the whole.
Set up the proportion: 24 = 40
n 100
 Solving Percent Problems

Use the proportion sample to set up a percent problem. To solve a percent problem you must
first:

% Read the problem carefully

% Next decide if the number you are looking for is the part, the whole, or the percent part.
% The percent whole is always 100%.
% Often, to find the whole or the percent part, it is usually most reliable to use a proportion
to solve the problem.
 OMPARISON ALLEY
Compare/Contrast

Subject:

_____________________________________
_____________________________________

Comparison Alley
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
Differences
Similarities

Differences
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________

Subject:
 COMPARISON ALLEY
Compare/Contrast

Directions: use the comparison alley graphic organizer to compare two ides in the corner
sections at the top and bottom; compare similarities in the center diagonal.

% Investigate the internet or periodicals to search for advertisements indicating percentage

discounts on similar name brand products and survey any proposed savings.
% Use graphic organizer to solve and compare percentage discounts from advertised
discounted prices on similar products.
 Math Tool Helps FBI Store

The FBI has a database of 200 million fingerprint records stored in the form of inked
impressions on paper cards. With 30,000 new cards a day coming in from all over the country,
the Bureau faced a serious data storage and retrieval problem. In '' Fingerprints Go Digital,'' an
article in the November 1995 issue of Notices of the AMS, Christopher M. Brislawn describes
the mathematics behind a state-of-the-art solution developed at Los Alamos National
Laboratory.

The solution uses a mathematical tool called wavelets. Like the Fast Fourier Transform, which
has been used by scientists and engineers for many years now, wavelets provide a means of
representing and organizing complicated data by breaking it into smaller, more tractable
mathematical components. For example, such tools have been used to break human speech
into its harmonic components, thereby helping to create computers that can imitate and
recognize human speech.

In addition to representing information in simpler component parts, wavelets have the capability
to ``zoom in'' on particularly complicated portions of the data. For this reason, wavelets are
especially suited to the compression of images for computer storage, making them a natural
choice for the solution of the FBI's fingerprint problem.

-Allyn Jackson
 Mind-Reading Number Trick
Think of a number, any positive integer (but keep it small so you can do computations in your
head).

1. Square it.
2. Add the result to your original number.
3. Divide by your original number.
4. Add, oh I don't know, say 17.
5. Subtract your original number.
6. Divide by 6.

The number you are thinking of now is 3!

How did I do this?

Presentation Suggestions:
Ham it up with magician's patter. Step 4 could be anything you want---someone's age, or their
favorite number--- just ask the crowd for suggestions. (This will change the final outcome of
Step 6, but see below for how.)

The Math Behind the Fact:

Clearly no matter what you start with, the answer should come out the same (zero wasn't
allowed because of Step 3). We can see why this trick works by using a little bit of high school
algebra! If you follow the instructions starting with the variable X instead of an actual number,
you will see that X is eliminated by Step 5.

Using this idea, you can make up your own mental math trick right on the spot! (Just don't do
anything too obvious, like tell people to add 5, subtract their original number, and say "the
number you are thinking of is 5".)
Mathematics Unlocks Mysteries of the
Universe

What is the shape of the universe? Is it finite? These are two of the most important questions in
cosmology today. Mathematics is providing striking new insights into deducing the shape of the
universe from observational data. These insights, which will be put to the test in the coming
decade as scientists receive data from a new space probe, have the potential to transform our
view of cosmology.

Gazing out into the night sky, one easily gets the impression that the universe continues forever
in all directions. However; this impression is akin to thinking that the Earth is flat and continues
forever in all directions because that is how it appears when one scans the horizon. Fairly
sensitive measurements are needed to detect the curvature of the Earth. The same is true for
detecting the shape of the universe.

One possible shape the universe might have is analogous to the surface of a doughnut.
Mathematicians call this shape a torus, and it is a fundamental object of study in the areas of
geometry and topology. The torus model has a weird property: For every object we observe in
the universe, we would see not one but multiple images of the object. These images correspond
to light emitted by the object at different points in time and at different angles. In fact, mixed in
with all the observational data cosmologists collect would be multiple images of our very own
galaxy. Taken together, these images would provide information about some fundamental
properties of the shape of the universe.

The problem is that we cannot recognize these images of our own galaxy; we do not even know
what it looks like from the "outside". However, the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation---
the after-glow of the Big Bang that permeates the universe---may provide some clues. For this
approach to work, more detailed data of the CMB is needed. By 2002, NASA's Microwave
Anisotropy Probe will have furnished more accurate data with much better resolution than is
available today.

These ideas are explored in the article "Measuring the Shape of the Universe" by Neil J. Cornish
and Jeffrey R. Weeks, which appeared in the December 1998 issue of the Notices of the AMS.

--- Allyn Jackson

 Short Biographies

Niels Henrick Abel

one of the foremost mathematicians of the 19th century, was born in Norway on August
5, 1802. At the age of 16, he began reading the classic mathematical works of Newton,
Euler, Lagrange, and Gauss. When Abel was 18 years old, his father died and the burden
of supporting the family fell upon him. He took in private pupils and did odd jobs, while
continuing to do mathematical research. At the age of 19, Abel solved a problem that had
vexed leading mathematicians for hundreds of years. He proved that, unlike the situation
for equations of degree 4 or less, there is no finite (closed) formula for the solution of the
general fifth-degree equation.

Although Abel died long before the advent of the subjects that now comprise abstract
algebra, his solution to the quintic problem laid ground work for many of these subjects.
In addition to his work in the theory of equations, Abel made outstanding contributions to
the theory of elliptic functions, elliptic integrals, Abelian integrals, and infinite series. Just
when his work has beginning to receive that attention it deserved, Abel contracted
tuberculosis. He died on April 6, 1829, at the age of 26. In 1870, Camille Jordan
introduced the term Abelian group to honor Abel. Norway has issued five stamps and a
500-kroner bank note to honor Abel.(1)

Emil Artin
was one of the leading mathematicians of the 20th century and a major contributor to
linear algebra and abstract algebra. Artin was born on March 3, 1898, in Vienna, Austria,
and grew up in what was recently known as Czechoslovakia. After serving in the Austrian
army during World War I, Artin enrolled at the University of Leipzig where he received a
Ph.D. in 1921. From 1923 until he immigrated to America in 1937, he was a professor at
the University of Hamburg. After one year at Notre Dame, Artin went to Indiana
University. In 1946, he moved to Princeton, where he stayed until 1958. The last four
years of his career were spent where it began, at Hamburg.

Artin's mathematics is both deep and broad. He made contributions to number theory,
group theory, ring theory (in fact, there is a class of rings named after him), field theory,
Galois theory, geometric algebra, algebraic topology, and the theory of braids -- a field he
invented. Artin received the American Mathematical Society's Cole Prize in number
theory, and he solved one of the 23 famous problems posed by the eminent
mathematician David Hilbert in 1900. Besides mathematics, Artin had a deep interest in
chemistry, astronomy, biology, and old music. He played the flute, the harpsichord, and
the clavichord.

Artin was an outstanding teacher of mathematics at all levels, from freshman calculus to
seminars for colleagues. Many of his PhD students have become leading
mathematicians. Through his research, teaching, and books, Artin exerted great influence
among his contemporaries. He died of a heart attack, at the age of 64, in 1962. (1)
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
Area/Skill Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
Mathematics, Language Arts Knowledge, Comprehension,
Reading, Language Arts Writing Application, Analysis, Synthesis, Beth Weidlich Pearl River Community College
& Evaluation
Materials/Texts/Realia/Handouts
Activity Title: Bob the Builder: Getting Ready to Carpet A Room
Paper, pencils, pens, colored
Goal/Objective: markers/pencils, rulers, poster
Students will use various math skills to calculate area, average, and cost. Students will use organizational skills to board, blackboard
collect data and create a graph. Students will use research and writing skills to obtain and select a bid on cost of an Worksheet displaying business letters
item. Calculator
Computer
Lesson Outline: Checklist to evaluate business letter
Introduction (rubric)
As wise consumers, many adults do home building/remodeling on their own. In this lesson, students will learn the Checklist to evaluate bar/line graphs
processes involved in carpeting a room. (rubric)
Activity Extension Activity
1) Have students bring dimensions of a specific room in his/her home to next class meeting. Students will discuss
formula for finding the area of a rectangle or square and will troubleshoot for problem areas when using
measurements. Have students compute the area of his/her room and calculate the average of all students’ rooms. Use the Internet to Consumer
Report magazine to research the
2) Discuss with students methods of organizing collected information and the various types of graphs on which best materials/equipment on the
information may be illustrated. Have students select the type of graph or graphs that would best display their data market to do home projects
– the areas of all students’ rooms. Answer: line or bar. Discuss ways to set up line/bar graphs. Divide students or
into small groups and have groups create/prepare a graph. (Assign half of the groups line graphs and the other research best store (ex: Home
half bar graphs.) Groups will display and analyze constructed graphs.
Depot, Lowe’s) to buy
3) Have each group locate a different carpet vendor in the phone book and write a business letter requesting the materials/equipment need for home
price of new carpet. (Discuss ways to write business letters.) When vendors have responded, have groups select projects.
best price on carpet and compute cost of new carpet for his/her room.
ESE Accommodations
Debriefing/Evaluation Activity
Math computations will be evaluated for accuracy. Checklists will be used to evaluate graphs (Ex: appropriate graph Team students in a manner to
title, appropriate intervals of measure, etc.) Checklist will be used to evaluate business letter. Proofreading will be done accommodate various functioning
by other groups and teacher. levels.

Real-Life Connection: Many people do home repairs, remodeling, and building on their own. Whether building a Calculator
dog pen, laying floor covering, fencing a garden, etc., the skills in this lesson are essential. Business letters may also
be used to inquire about a job and request all types of information. Reading graphs help us interpret necessary
information such as reliability of cars, best brands of items to purchase, etc. Making graphs can help us monitor
monthly expenses, monitor individual health issues (blood pressure, weight, etc.), and other important information.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans - Script
Area/Skill Mathematics, Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by: Location
Language Arts, Writing Knowledge, Comprehension,
Language Arts, Reading Application, Analysis, Synthesis, & Beth Weidlich Pearl River Community College
Evaluation

Activity Title: Bob the Builder: Getting Ready to Carpet a Room

Introduction
Say: How many of you have done building or remodeling projects on your hours? What type of projects have you done? In the coming days we
will learn how to begin he task of carpeting a room. We will also explore ways to collect, organize, and report information using a graph.

Main Activity
Say: (Script over several says) Tomorrow please bring in measurements of a specific room in your home.

Next day say: today we will discuss how to find the area of your rooms and compute the average room size. We will also explore ways to collect,
organize and report information on a graph. Lastly we will locate a carpet vendor in our area and write a letter requesting prices for new carpet.

Day after receiving prices from vendors, say: Today you will decide what the best buy on carpet is and calculate the cost of new carpet for your
room.

Closure/Conclusion
Discuss what other home projects involve finding the area, what other situations might require writing a business letter, and how interpreting and
analyzing graphs is relevant to real life and work environments.

Follow-up Lessons/Activities
Each group will design a deck for a house. Research will be done to make a specific list of materials needed (amounts, sizes, etc.).
Groups will write letters to vendors requesting bids on various materials and then compute the cost of deck.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
Area/Skill Math Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
Language Arts Writing Comprehension, Analysis Dot Bozeman Hinds Community College
Language Arts Reading Application

Materials/Texts/Realia/Handouts
Activity Title: Get The Most For Your Money
Handout – Percentage Box
Goal/Objective: Use percentage to find the part of a number when the percentage of the whole is known or Paper and pencils
to find the whole number when the part or percentage is known. To compute percentages in real world Newspaper advertisements
situations, and to teach the percentage method, write and construct sale papers and create an awareness Chart paper/ scissors, markers
of consumer concerns. Calculators

Lesson Outline (Introduction)

Percentages are used in our daily lives. We hear about discounts from the media. We see these Extension Activity
discounts stated in the form of a percentage. Even the scores on our exams are computed in percentages. Have the students use the percent
box to figure out percentage
problems that they may encounter at
Activity home, work, etc.
Have students use the percentage box to identify the part, whole, or percent of a number. Then, use the
formula to solve problems.

Debriefing/Evaluation Activity
Have students review the process of setting up a problem and using the formula to solve the problem. ESE Accommodations
Ask them if this method will work with any percentage problem. Have students work in groups of
twos.

Provide students with calculators to

work the problems.
Real-Life Connection: Sometimes ads provide percentages off of the original price rather than stating the
Identify each step of the process
actual reduced price. Pass out sale papers to the class from various stores and have them compute
needed to solve percentage
original prices, percentages off, and savings. Then have them compare ads which have the same items.
problems.
Compare the items from store to store and have students project the cheapest price prior to figuring out the
actual cost.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans - Script
Area/Skill Math Cognitive Skill Level Submitted by Location
Language Arts Writing Analysis, Comprehension Dot Bozeman Hinds Community College
Language Arts Reading Application

Activity Title: Get The Most For Your Money

Introduction
Say: Everyday we are involved in situations where percentages occur. Can you always determine the best bargain when you shop? We use
percents to figure sale prices when shopping to determine how much we can save or to find the original price of an item when we know the sale
price. Today we will use the percentage box to help us figure out how much we are saving. As this lesson unfolds, we will also design an ad for
the newspaper and write an ad for the radio.

Main Activity
Pass out handout (percentage box).
Say: The percent box can help us figure the answers to some problems that we meet on a daily basis. A percent box contains (4) four boxes
within a larger box. Each of the small boxes represents a part of the percent problem. P equals % and W equals the whole. To find out what the
part is, you multiply diagonally and divide by the remaining number. A percentage box is a simple way to make sure that you include all of the
known facts when doing percentage problems. To use a percentage box, you first need to read the question. Notice that the bottom right hand
box should always be filled with the number 100.

P %

W 100

Conclusion
This percent formula will work with any type of percentage problem

Follow-up Lessons/Activities
Have students write an ad informing the public about a store that is going out of business and with discounts of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 percent
discounts. Assign homework to students which will calculate items with percentages.
 Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans
For
ABE/GED/ESL Instructors

The lesson plans in this book are designed to foster critical thinking skills through teaching
across the curricula. Each lesson plan contains at least three of the five areas tested on
the GED test; additionally, each lesson has an activity designated to math or science.
Graphic organizers, timelines, charts, reading samples, and realia are also basic
components of the lesson plans.

Plans have been scripted to facilitate teacher use and also to lessen prep time for teachers.
Each lesson also contains the following relevant information:
1. The cognitive skill level of the activity using Bloom’s taxonomy.
2. A debriefing/evaluation activity.
3. A real-life connection activity which explains how people in real life would use the
skills taught.
4. An extension activity which allows the students to expand the skills developed
through the activity.
5. Accommodations for adults with special needs.
 ABE/GED Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans

Discipline
Math Science Social Language Language
Studies Arts Arts
Reading Writing
Lesson Title

1 Bob the Builder: Getting Ready to Carpet A Room √ √ √

2 Solving Percent Problems √ √ √

3 Perimeter √ √ √

4 Wheel of Fortune (Probability and Statistics √ √ √

5 Area Code Math √ √ √

6 Constructing A Simple Line Graph √ √ √

7 The Tree √ √ √

8 Only the Strong Survive √ √ √

9 Spring Has Sprung √ √ √ √

10 The Flask – Multi-Disciplinary Problem Solving √ √ √ √ √

11 Coming to America By Way of the North Pole √ √ √

12 Cloning √ √ √
 ABE/GED Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans

Discipline
Math Science Social Language Language
Studies Arts Arts
Reading Writing
Page Lesson Title

13 The Right to Vote √ √ √

14 The Space Shuttle √ √ √ √ √

15 Traveler’s Advisory √ √ √

16 A Comparison of Mississippi’s Campgrounds √ √ √ √ √

17 Plan A Trip (Within the United States) √ √ √

18 Traveling the State √ √ √

19 Got Milk? √ √ √ √
Buyer Beware:
20 How Hidden Messages In Advertising Affect Purchases √ √ √

21 Shopping for Supper or Menu to Meal √ √ √ √

22 Money/Money Management √ √ √
 ABE/GED Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans

Discipline
Math Science Social Language Language
Studies Arts Arts
Reading Writing
Page Lesson Title

23 Life Skills – Usefulness of Consumer Products √ √ √

24 Reading Pictures √ √ √

25 The Biological Clock Can Affect Student Performance √ √ √

26 Getting the Most for Your Money √ √ √