Idea Paint, Some Blank Space, and Twenty 4th Graders!

This week students in a 4th grade math class were given a problem. We have a new space here at RES that has been created for a STEM lab. We are still waiting on tables and chairs, but really who needs all that. It's quite a nice space and will only get better with time.

One item I did specifically order was IDEA Paint, it was an idea I found here, thanks Kevin! Originally I had planned on finding some spaces, which I did, measure those spaces (which I also did), and then apply the paint. Easy enough!

The problem they were give was, "You have 50 square feet of paint to work with. Mr. Evans wants some areas in the room painted with the IDEA Paint. These spots have to be accessible to students and teachers, so they can write on it. Make it happen!"

Through the first few weeks of school and planning with some teachers, we had an idea! Why not do a mini-lesson about finding area? Give the students some guidance and let them decide where the paint should go! They find the area of various spots around the room, document that using an iPad and Skitch, calculate their measurements to make sure they do not go over 50 square feet, and work on a skill they will definitely need throughout their life.

This week the students came down to the lab after the mini-lesson. We briefly described to them the areas they were not allowed to paint (tile floor, ceiling, places that were not easily accessed, etc), supplied them with measuring tapes and an iPad to take pictures of their spaces. The class was shown how to use the Skitch app and some of the features. Then they were off!

First, students were told they had about 50 square feet to work with. They then identified some places in the room they were interested in painting. And took some measurements.

They used the Skitch app on their iPad to take pictures and label the measurements. Some of their examples are below. This generated some great discussion and allowed the students to do some problem solving. 

 

We have all the pictures and will show the work to the class. They will then decide what gets to be painted. Next up, applying the IDEA Paint later this week. Stay tuned!