Author: jstark2

Khan Academy

Khan Academy

Before I discuss specifically which part of this program I used towards a particular TEK, I think it’s important that I explain what the Khan Academy is.  The Khan Academy is a completely free website program that you can sign up for as a teacher or a student.  If you register yourself as a teacher, you are able to invite your students into you “classroom” and track their progress on the program.  The Khan Academy is suitable 3rd grade and all ages after.  I even have friends that have used it for their own benefit in classes at other Universities.  The Khan Academy provides videos on ALL subject areas and topics: almost any topic you can think of.  There are also “skills” that can be mastered through a series of tasks, or, as they refer to them, “missions.”  The Khan Academy is a really great resource that provides access to all sorts of education for your students and tools for you to use as a teacher.

 

Specific Use-

Grade: 3rd

Content: Math

TEK:

§111.15. Mathematics, Grade 3.

(b) Knowledge and skills.

(3.2) Number, operation, and quantitative reasoning. The student uses fraction names and symbols (with denominators of 12 or less) to describe fractional parts of whole objects or sets of objects. The student is expected to:

(A) construct concrete models of fractions;

(C) use fraction names and symbols to describe fractional parts of whole objects or sets of objects;
Link: https://www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-third-grade-math/cc-3rd-fractions-topic/cc-3rd-fractions-meaning/v/fraction-basics

Summary:

This video link on Khan Academy is the very basics of fractions.  The video starts by explaining what a fraction is and giving a visual representation of it.  It starts with a whole square, breaks it into four pieces, shades in a single piece, and writes down that the piece is 1/4 of the whole, explaining the process and reasoning throughout each step.  Something I really love about the video is that it provides the teacher, or student, with the opportunity to pause and work a couple of the fractions themselves.

Instructional Use Suggestion:

I will absolutely be using the Khan Academy in my classroom to introduce or explore concepts and also for students to participate in independent work.  For this specific video though, I would use it to introduce the concept of fractions.  We would watch the video together, and when it instructs us to pause, I would have the students write in their math journal what they believe the fraction shown is and write a sentence or two about how they came up with that answer and why they believe it is correct.  I will want them to label what their numbers represent. (I.e. the top number could be labeled as “shaded area, part, etc.” and the bottom number should be labeled “whole, entire square, etc.”)  After the video we could lead into more activities to expand and practice fractions.  I think the videos on this website are a great way to clear the understanding of a confused child or introduce new skills to students.

 

So You Want to be President?

Author:  Judith St. George

Illustrator:  David Small

Publisher:  Philomel Books

Grade:  3rd

Topic:  Social Studies

TEKS:

§113.13  Second Grade

(b) Knowledge and Skills

(4) History. The student understands how historical figures, patriots, and good citizens helped shape the community, state, and nation.

About the Author and Illustrator:

“So You Want to be President?” won the Caldecott award in 2001 for David Small’s illustrations.  He has written and illustrated many of his own books, as well as partnered with many other authors and done the illustrations.  Judith St. George is most well known for this particular book.  However, she has written over 40 books.  Most of them are historical fiction.

Snippet:

“Do you have a pet? All kinds of pets have lived in the White House, mostly dogs.  Herbert Hoover had three: Piney, Snowflake, and Tut.  (Tut must have been a Democrat.  He and his Republican master never got along.)  Franklin Roosevelt’s dog, Fala, was almost as famous as his owner.  Barack Obama promised to give his daughters a dog if he was elected President. (He was, and he did.)

George H. W. Bush’s dog wrote “Milli’s Book: Adventures of a White House Dog” (as told to Mrs. Bush!).  Benjamin Harrison’s goat pulled his grandchildren around in a cart, the Coolidges had a pet raccoon, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton preferred cats.

Theodore Roosevelt’s children didn’t just have pets, they ran a zoo.  They had dogs, cats, guinea pigs, snakes, mice, rats, badgers, raccoons, parrots, and a Shetland pony called Algonquin.  The cheer up his sick brother, young Quentin once took Algonquin upstairs in the White House elevator!”

The book goes on to give many fun facts about different Presidents over time.  It talks about size, age, children, siblings, money, and many more!  This particular version is an updated version, so it also includes the 2012 election.  Not only does this book contain very interesting and sometimes funny facts, the illustrations are wonderful, hence the Caldecott Award.  It is definitely a must read for students just beginning to learn about Presidents, or older!