Title – Puzzle Me This!

By – Gerald Bailey

Primary Subject – Language Arts
Secondary Subject – Others

Grade Level – 7-12

Description: An interactive lesson which teaches students the importance of clearly written and spoken communication.

PA Standards:

PA-R.1.5.11.A	Write with a sharp, distinct focus
PA-R.1.5.11.C.1	Sustain a logical order throughout the piece.
PA-R.1.5.11.D.2	Use precise language
PA-R.1.6	Speaking and Listening
PA-R.1.6.8.A	Listen to others
PA-R.1.8.11.C.6	Anticipate readers’ problems or misunderstandings.

Specific topic: Writing and giving clear and concise directions to assemble a simple puzzle.

Skills to be used:

-Ability to manipulate puzzle pieces to fit with one another.

-Ability to follow directions

Skills to be developed:

-Improved listening skills
-Improved writing skills

-Anticipating a reader’s problems and misunderstandings

Objectives:

At the end of this lesson, the student will be able to:

-write more concise instructions to accomplish a given task.

-listen more attentively to instructions given by another.

Materials:

-Simple 5-Piece Puzzle — created by teacher

-Simple 6-Piece Puzzle — created by teacher

Procedures:

Anticipation

1) Ask a student to give the teacher directions to draw a common object (tree, house, candle, etc.). The teacher should take the student as literally as possible and exaggerate the drawing as much as possible. This will model the need for clear and concise wording in giving instructions.

2) Discuss the importance of instructions in everyday life with the students. Write the students’ comments on the white-board or chalkboard. If the students are stymied, offer several suggestions such as: good v. bad driving directions, assignment instructions, etc.

Investigation

1) Tell the students that the activity will be writing directions for a fellow classmate to be able to assemble a simple puzzle. Emphasize that clarity and conciseness are essential in this lesson.

2) Split the class down the middle. Distribute the puzzle pieces and a picture of the completed 5-piece puzzle to one half of the class and a picture of the completed 6-piece puzzle with pieces to the other half.

3) Allow the students approximately 15 minutes to work on the instructions-writing. After this step is concluded, have the students exchange their puzzles with a classmate from the other half of the room.

4) Give the students 5-10 minutes to attempt to assemble their puzzles.

Reflection

1) Discuss with the students any problems, issues, frustrations, etc. that they encountered while attempting to put the puzzles together.

2) Ask the class if there are any specific ways to improve the directions, for example: word choice, sentence structure, order of pieces, etc.

Evaluation:

Students will be evaluated on clarity, conciseness, creativity, and how well they have written the instructions. The assembly directions must be written in a logical order and worded as briefly and as clearly as possible.

E-Mail

Gerald Bailey

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