Valiant, Etc.

News and Resources for Thoughtful Educators





291 Views

A Trip to the Market (8.3)

Filed under: Learning Activities — Dr. Bob Valiant at 8:09 pm on Thursday, September 13, 2001
Learning Activities

Native American Culture Curriculum Unit 8.3

SPONSORED BY THE FRONTIER LEARNING NETWORK, NCESD

Task Author: Bob Valiant
Task Title: A Trip to the Market
Grade Level: 7-8 Activity # 8.3
Geography Grade 8 benchmark

Brief Overview of Task:
Now that the band has horses, their range is greatly increased. Students plan a trip to Celilo from their home location including possible routes, travel time, stopping points, etc. Once at Celilo they try to determine the kinds of goods they can trade for. The primary challenge is to determine the reasons for the location of “Oregon’s Oldest Town.”

Targeted Benchmark:
Identify and compare physical and human characteristics of major regions and significant places in the world. Locate and identify population centers and geographic reasons for their locations.

FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE TOTAL PROJECT, CLICK HERE (Read on …)

335 Views

Chromatography Inquiry: Scientific Performance Task

Filed under: Learning Activities — Dr. Bob Valiant at 11:20 am on Saturday, September 8, 2001
Learning Activities

Task Author: Judy T. Sweeney
Task Title: Chromatography
Grade Level: 4 Foss Kit Title Inventions Activity # 3
Physical Science Grade 5 Benchmark

Brief Overview of Assignment: Students will use paper chromatography to observe pigments in watercolor inks and invent an application of chromatography.

Targeted Benchmark: The student will identify examples of change over time.

(Read on …)

297 Views

Creating a Lifeline: Activity 5.3

Filed under: Learning Activities — Dr. Bob Valiant at 11:22 am on Wednesday, September 12, 2001
Learning Activities

Native American Culture Curriculum Unit 5.2
SPONSORED BY THE FRONTIER LEARNING NETWORK, NCESD
Task Author: Bob Valiant
Task Title: Surviving the Big Storm
Grade Level: 4-5 Activity # 5.2
Geography Grade 5 Benchmark
Brief Overview of Task:
Students will be given a problem to solve as a member of an Indian band (circa 1700) located at the site of the school. They must use their knowledge of local landforms, flora and fauna to solve the problem. They will use local materials to construct models of solution designs and will then explore various resources to learn how Native Americans used the land and its resources to solve the problem.


FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE TOTAL PROJECT, CLICK HERE

(Read on …)

276 Views

Finding Your Place: Activity 5.1

Filed under: Learning Activities — Dr. Bob Valiant at 11:12 am on Thursday, September 6, 2001
Learning Activities

SPONSORED BY THE FRONTIER LEARNING NETWORK, North Central Education Service District

Task Author: Bob Valiant
Task Title: Finding Your Place
Grade Level: 4-5 Activity # 5.1

Brief Overview of Task: Students will develop a large wall map of Oregon and include major mountain systems, rivers, and land regions of the state on the map. They will study weather patterns and climate of the various regions, then use this information to predict adaptations of native peoples to the various regions.

(Read on …)

429 Views

How Surface Area Affects Evaporation

Filed under: Learning Activities — Dr. Bob Valiant at 4:38 am on Friday, September 14, 2001
Learning Activities

Scientific Inquiry Performance Tasks

Task Author: Judy T. Sweeney
Task Title: How Surface Area Affects Evaporation
Grade Level: 3 Foss Kit Title Water Activity #3
Earth/Space Science Grade3 benchmark

Brief Overview of Task:
Students will design an investigation exploring how surface area affects evaporation.

Targeted Benchmark:
Identify and describe examples of change over time. (Read on …)

297 Views

In the Bag (8.4)

Filed under: Learning Activities — Dr. Bob Valiant at 8:15 pm on Thursday, September 13, 2001
Learning Activities

Native American Culture Curriculum Unit 8.4

SPONSORED BY THE FRONTIER LEARNING NETWORK, NCESD

Task Author: Bob Valiant
Task Title: In the Bag
Grade Level: 6-8 Activity # 8.4
Geography Grade 8 benchmark

Brief Overview of Task:
Students will be given the problem of transporting goods from one place to another. They will be given a quantity of local materials to design and construct containers for this purpose. They will then research methods used by Plateau Indians to construct baskets and other containers. A paper will be written describing the availability of resources as a factor influencing cultural characteristics such as basket making or art.

Targeted Benchmark:
Identify and compare physical and human characteristics of major regions and significant places in the world.
Recognize relationships between the physical and cultural characteristics of a place or region.

FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE TOTAL PROJECT, CLICK HERE (Read on …)

323 Views

Inquiry on the Road

Filed under: Learning Activities — Dr. Bob Valiant at 5:24 am on Wednesday, January 10, 2001
Learning Activities

As I drive down the arrow-straight road through stands of sagebrush receding into the
horizon, I can see the snow-covered Three Sisters, Broken Top and Bachelor Butte in the rear view. Off to the right is Pine Mountain with its covey of telescopes clustered near the summit. A few more miles and I top a rise, see the newly acquired school zone flashing light, and turn into the parking lot of the Brothers School.
(Read on …)

381 Views

Invention

Filed under: Learning Activities — Dr. Bob Valiant at 4:46 am on Monday, September 17, 2001
Learning Activities

INVENTION!

By
Dr. Bob Valiant

Children are great inventors. They have not developed the inhibitions that restrict many of us from exploring far-out ideas and novel solutions. The trick is to come up with ideas for what to invent and then to organize for possible solutions. Here are some ideas for the teacher and for the students to come up with some exciting new inventions.

(Read on …)

309 Views

Mapping Your Space (8.2)

Filed under: Learning Activities — Dr. Bob Valiant at 8:04 pm on Thursday, September 13, 2001
Learning Activities

Native American Culture Curriculum Unit 8.2

SPONSORED BY THE FRONTIER LEARNING NETWORK, NCESD

Task Author: Bob Valiant
Task Title: Mapping Your Space
Grade Level: 6-8 Activity # 8.2
Geography Grade 8 benchmark

Brief Overview of Task:
Students will be given a problem to solve as a member of an Indian band (circa 1750) located on the site of their community. Given information regarding the “seasonal cycle” of the local band, they will be asked to solve the problem. The students will then explore various resources to learn how Native Americans used the land and its resources to solve the problem. Since horses arrive in the region about 1750 students are asked to predict how use of the horse would affect the solutions already devised.

Targeted Benchmark:
Identify economic, cultural, and environmental factors that affect population and predict how the population would change as a result.

FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE TOTAL PROJECT, CLICK HERE (Read on …)

441 Views

Native American Culture Curriculum

Filed under: Learning Activities — Dr. Bob Valiant at 7:36 pm on Tuesday, August 29, 2000
Learning Activities

The North Central Education Service District has developed a technology-based Native American Culture Curriculum as a resource for classroom teachers. The project has two major components. The first is a set of annotated web links to Native American resources on the Internet. An emphasis is placed on Plateau Indians of the Pacific Northwest, but other resources are included as well. The second component consists of sample unit plans that target certain Oregon 5th and 8th grade social science benchmarks. The components are used together to create active learning lessons for students in grades three through eight.

(Read on …)

397 Views

Performance Assessment Activity #1

Filed under: Learning Activities — Dr. Bob Valiant at 5:15 am on Monday, December 10, 2001
Learning Activities

Scientific Inquiry Performance Task

Brief Overview of Task:

Students will use the property of paper to absorb liquids and to transmit the liquid along a strip at different rates depending on the liquid, the type of paper, and other variables. For young students the teacher will set up the experiments with student activity somewhat limited. For older students the control of the experiments is transferred to the students.

(Read on …)

413 Views

Science Inquiry Student Investigation Form

Filed under: Learning Activities — Dr. Bob Valiant at 5:07 am on Friday, November 9, 2001
Learning Activities

As part of a science inquiry performance task, students are asked to provide information regarding various aspects of the process. Here is a form used by participants in the Central Oregon Eisenhower Consortium Summer 2001 Workshop. It can be used across a wide range of grade levels and for all science inquiry topics.

(Read on …)

307 Views

Sound Inquiry

Filed under: Learning Activities — Dr. Bob Valiant at 11:16 am on Saturday, September 8, 2001
Learning Activities

Scientific Inquiry Performance Task

Task Author: Judy Sweeney
Task Title: Sound Challenge
Grade Level: 4 Foss Kit Title: Sound Activity #4
Physical Science Grade 5 Benchmark
Brief Overview of Task:
Students will design an investigation to compare the pitch of a sound to the physical properties of the sound source.

(Read on …)

289 Views

Surviving the Big Storm: Activity 5.2

Filed under: Learning Activities — Dr. Bob Valiant at 11:21 am on Tuesday, September 11, 2001
Learning Activities

Native American Culture Curriculum Unit 5.2
SPONSORED BY THE FRONTIER LEARNING NETWORK, NCESD
Task Author: Bob Valiant
Task Title: Surviving the Big Storm
Grade Level: 4-5 Activity # 5.2
Geography Grade 5 Benchmark


Brief Overview of Task:
Students will be given a problem to solve as a member of an Indian band (circa 1700) located at the site of the school. They must use their knowledge of local landforms, flora and fauna to solve the problem. They will use local materials to construct models of solution designs and will then explore various resources to learn how Native Americans used the land and its resources to solve the problem.


FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE TOTAL PROJECT, CLICK HERE

(Read on …)

313 Views

THE PENDULUM

Filed under: Learning Activities — Dr. Bob Valiant at 10:20 am on Wednesday, September 12, 2001
Learning Activities

The Pendulum
Scientific Inquiry Performance Task -
Author: Scott Coles/Madras High School Science Department
CIM Benchmark/Physical Science

Brief overview of task: Utilizing a pendulum (supports, strings & bobs), students will design and execute an investigation to answer the following question… What factor(s) determine(s) the period of a pendulum?

Targeted benchmark(s): 1.) Design a scientific investigation that provides data to address a question or hypothesis specific to a domain of science. 2.) Collect and organize data by using methods and procedures that support analysis. 3.) Analyze data and evaluate sources of error and/or bias. Propose explanations that are supported by data and knowledge of science concepts and principles. (Read on …)

338 Views

The Skills of Observing

Filed under: Learning Activities, Thinking Strategies — Dr. Bob Valiant at 7:34 pm on Tuesday, August 28, 2001
Learning Activities Thinking Strategies

Children (and adults) vary greatly in their observation skills. Some are much more attuned to noticing the things around them than others. Fortunately, as with most skills, observation can be learned through experience. It is the purpose of this paper to help teachers with the questioning strategies they can use to lead children to acquisition of this important set of skills.

(Read on …)

296 Views

Visitors Arrive (5.5)

Filed under: Learning Activities — Dr. Bob Valiant at 6:09 pm on Wednesday, September 12, 2001
Learning Activities

Native American Culture Curriculum Unit 5.5

SPONSORED BY THE FRONTIER LEARNING NETWORK, NCESD

Task Author: Bob Valiant
Task Title: Visitors Arrive
Grade Level: 4-5 Activity # 5.5
History Grade 5 benchmark

Brief Overview of Task:
Students will use the PBS Lewis and Clark video as well as online, print, and other resources to develop a graphic timeline of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with an account of tribes encountered, geography, plants, animals, and weather. The product will be a graphic display of the events of the trip. Students will select (or be assigned) a tribe from among those encountered and write a narrative of the encounter from the perspective of the Native Americans.

Targeted Benchmark:
Interpret data and chronological relationships presented in timelines and narratives…
Order events in historical narratives.


FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE TOTAL PROJECT, CLICK HERE (Read on …)

296 Views

Visitors From the East (8.5)

Filed under: Learning Activities — Dr. Bob Valiant at 8:20 pm on Thursday, September 13, 2001
Learning Activities

Native American Culture Curriculum Unit 8.5

SPONSORED BY THE FRONTIER LEARNING NETWORK, NCESD

Task Author: Bob Valiant
Task Title: Visitors From the East
Grade Level: 6-8 Activity # 8.5
History Grade 8 benchmark

Brief Overview of Task:
Students will use the PBS Lewis and Clark video as well as online, print, and other resources to develop a graphic display of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with an account of tribes encountered, geography, plants, animals, and weather. Wherever possible, they will present events both from the point of view of the explorers and of the Native Americans they meet along the way. The product will be a graphic display of the events of the journey. Each student will identify a one-month portion of the trip and will write a narrative of the journey from the perspective of either one of the explorers or of one of the Native Americans they meet.

Targeted Benchmark:
Represent and interpret data and chronological relationships from history using time lines and narratives.
Identify and create chronologies of events.

FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE TOTAL PROJECT, CLICK HERE

(Read on …)

271 Views

What’s My Line?: Activity 5.4

Filed under: Learning Activities — Dr. Bob Valiant at 11:25 am on Wednesday, September 12, 2001
Learning Activities

Native American Culture Curriculum Unit 5.4
SPONSORED BY THE FRONTIER LEARNING NETWORK, NCESD
Task Author: Bob Valiant
Task Title: What’s My Line?
Grade Level: 3-5 Activity # 5.4
Geography Grade 5 Benchmark

Brief Overview of Task:

Students will be given a supply of long grass or other fiber-rich material (cattail leaves, corn husks, etc.) and instructed to use it to create cordage (string, thread, or rope) that could be used to fasten objects together by sewing or tying. After they attempt this they will research Native American techniques for making cordage and practice the technique to construct a display of cordage from different materials.

(Read on …)

281 Views

Who Walked This Land? (8.1)

Filed under: Learning Activities — Dr. Bob Valiant at 7:45 pm on Thursday, September 13, 2001
Learning Activities

Native American Culture Curriculum Unit 8.1
SPONSORED BY THE FRONTIER LEARNING NETWORK, NCESD

Task Author: Bob Valiant
Task Title: Who Walked This Land?
Grade Level: 6-8 Activity # 8.1

Geography Grade 8 benchmark

Brief Overview of Task: Students are asked to identify the tribe most likely to have inhabited the area where the school is located. Once identified, the class is divided into groups to research the culture of the tribe. A display of artifacts, photos, and drawings is prepared to share with a wider audience.
Targeted Benchmark: Identify economic, cultural, and environmental factors that affect population and predict how the population would change as a result. Identify and give examples of economic, cultural, and environmental factors that influence population.

FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE TOTAL PROJECT, CLICK HERE (Read on …)