by Jason Ulery
Recently, I taught my 6th-grade class about unit pricing, aiming for a lesson that would resonate with real-life scenarios. To achieve this, I devised a plan where I brought in a Walmart vest I had crafted for a costume party, dressed as an employee, and set up a makeshift store using items from my own home. I labeled items with signs indicating deals, such as "three sweatshirts for $45.00", and included a variety of products like soup cans, highlighters, and Spiderman mugs to demonstrate that unit pricing extends beyond just food items. Together, we tackled problems to determine the best deals by comparing quantities or units in a package.
For the assessment portion, I provided students with options to demonstrate their understanding. They could choose between creating Pixel Art, completing a worksheet, recording a tutorial on finding unit prices or using Canva to design an advertisement page. Earlier in the year, I attended a Professional Development class led by Mr. Belmont, where I learned about Canva and its potential for educational use. Recognizing its relevance, I seized the opportunity to incorporate Canva into this lesson, allowing students to craft pricing-themed flyers tailored to their interests.
An unexpected highlight occurred a week prior during my Flex class when I observed students from Mrs. Marsico's class utilizing Canva. Impressed by their work, I invited a few of her students to assist mine, creating a collaborative environment where students helped each other navigate Canva. It was gratifying to witness the ripple effect of Mr. Belmont's class, inspiring both teachers and students to explore innovative ways of showcasing their learning beyond traditional methods.