Setting the Stage to Engage!

Melanie Martino and Jen Leone's 5th grade students became "doctors" for an entire afternoon, ready to perform Reading and Math "surgery" as they dissected the curriculum in both content areas.Their entire classrooms were transformed into a surgical center! Surgery stations were set up around the room, as students needed to "perform" various procedures based on the task they were presented with. 

All "doctors" were totally prepared for surgery, from operating scrubs to surgical masks!

Six "Operating Rooms" were available, and each was responsible for "performing" a different "procedure." They were as followed:

1. Probing Questions for Success
Students were asked to read one of 3 passages that discuss a "patients" problem. The purpose was to determine why it is important to read with a question in mind.

2. Order of Operations
Each student had to complete math problems focusing on the order of operation. The question was: How are the values of an algebraic expression and a numerical expression found? What is the correct order for performing mathematical operations?

3. Place Value Operation
Students were asked to complete decimal, math problems focusing on the question: How can understanding place value help in adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing decimals?

4. Dissecting Text Features
Chromebooks were out for each student. Their task was to find text features on the Myon Website focusing on the question: How do text features help me identify what is important?

5. Compound Connection Surgery
At the operating room, student had to "repair" compound sentences by combining each simple sentence with a conjunction "bandaid" that effectively linked the sentences together. The essential question was: How can I make my writing more interesting for the reader? How can FANBOYS help us to become better writers?

6. Heart Surgery
This was by far the most engaging procedure, managed by Melanie's daughter Melissa Martino. Student were actually able to see a simulated heart beat as they answered the question: What is the structure and function of the heart? What is the pathway of blood through the heart? 

I can speak firsthand when I say that all students were highly engaged in this highly motivating learning experience!!