Venn Diagram Lesson Plan

---

Abstract

Students learn how to classify items and numbers on Venn Diagrams using computer applets.

Standards (NCTM 3-5)

Algebra

Understand patterns, relations, and functions

• represent and analyze patterns and functions, using words, tables, and graphs.

Student Prerequisites

• Technological:
  
  Students must be able to:
  • perform basic mouse manipulations such as point, click and drag.
  • use a browser such as Netscape for experimenting with the activities.

Teacher Preparation

Teachers will need:

• an opaque bag.
• two soft squishable objects.
• two hard objects.
• one large marshmallow.
• one apple.

Students will need:

• access to a browser.
• access to pencil and paper.

Lesson Outline

1. Focus and Review
• Ask for several volunteers.
• Have a volunteer reach into the opaque bag and describe different characteristics one object in the bag.
• Have the student remove the object he/she just described from the bag and place it on the table so that the class can see it.
• Record the descriptions on the board and label them object 1.
• Have the second volunteer describe the characteristics of another object in the bag.
• Record the descriptions on the board and label them object 2.
• Continue this process until all the objects in the bag have been described.

2. Objectives
Students will be able to categorize different objects and numbers using Venn Diagrams.

3. Guided Practice
• Draw two large interconnecting circles on the board.
• Choose two reoccurring characteristics among the items in the bag. For example: hard and soft.
• Have a couple of the students come up to the board and place the objects into the appropriate circles.
• After the students have finished placing all the items in the correct areas of the Venn Diagram, re-label the circles, and rearrange the items into the appropriate sections of the new Venn Diagram.

4. Teacher Input
• Explain that this method of categorization is done using interconnected circles called Venn Diagrams.
• Have the students open their browsers to the Venn Diagram and the Venn Diagram Shape sorter applets.
• Explain how to use the applets.

5. Independent Practice
• Have the students work with the Venn Diagram applet.
• Wander around the room to ensure that everyone is on task and understands how to use the applet.
• Instruct the students to switch to the Venn Diagram shape sorter applet and begin working with it.
• Wander around the room to ensure that everyone is on task and understands how to use the applet.

6. Closure
• Review how to classify items using a Venn Diagram.
• Review all pertinent terminology.

---