*This lesson coincides with chapter 8 (Avoid Ambiguity) from Whack on the Side of the Head by Roger von Oech.

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Lesson created by Christine Donaldson

Grade level range:   Kindergarten/First Grade

Length of time to teach lesson: 20 to 30 minutes

Overview of lesson:  Learners will be provided with clay, popsicle sticks, and coffee stirrers.  They will be asked to create 3-D shapes.  That will be their only direction. There are moments or situations where “ambiguity can be a powerful stimulant to our imagination”. By not giving clear examples or directions I will be able to see a students’ depth of knowledge in regards to 3-D shapes.

Objectives (Learning targets) of this lesson:  Students will build 3-D shapes.  They will describe their shape along with the characteristics of a 3-D shape.

Resources/supplies/handouts needed to teach this lesson:  Clay, popsicle sticks, coffee stirrers, rubric

Teaching instructions for the lesson:

1) Ask essential question:  Can you make the 3-D shapes you know?

2) Allow appropriate time for student to create their shapes.

3) Ask follow-up questions:  What shape(s) did you create? What makes this shape 3-D

Assessment:  Teacher can use this rubric to assess student creations in order to provide feedback or differentiation.