Alfred,+Nick

D2: =Math Midyear Project=

This project is a creative piece of work. You will be taking one of the topics that your class has covered this year and researching it so you are an expert… If you are not already… You will then be creating a presentation to teach the class and the world about your topic. You should develop a 1-3 minute “lesson” that you can perform on the Smartboard that will be recorded (just your voice, writing and graphics) then posted on our class blog //__(jtownmath.blogspot.com)__// for the world to learn from and for you to leave comments to your fellow students. You will be given time in class to present and record your product. However, you will need to do some of the work, including writing your script and rehearsing, outside of class. This assignment will be graded for content and communication. Please read the rubric prior to creating your presentation, so you will know what is expected.

1.  Choose a topic. 2.  Research your topic in your math book 3.  Write your script on the storyboards (these will be explained in class) 4.  Rehearse your presentation (Hint: use a wipe board or chalk board to mimic the Smartboard) 5.  Have script checked by Mr. Alfred, Mrs. Aho or Mrs. Reynolds and book a time to record your presentation with Mr. Alfred. 6.  Record your presentation.
 * Steps:**


 * Rubric**


 * || ** 5 ** || ** 4 ** || ** 3 ** || ** 2 ** || ** 1 ** ||
 * ** Content ** || Student demonstrates full knowledge of content and makes a real world connection || Student demonstrates full knowledge of content and puts in to “kid friendly” terms  || Student demonstrates knowledge of content  || Student demonstrates some knowledge of content, but has flaws in thinking || Student does not have grasp of information  ||
 * ^  || Insightful vocabulary and relevant terms used  || Correct vocabulary and relevant terms explained  || Relevant vocabulary and book definitions || Missing correct mathematical vocabulary, definitions not explained || Incorrect/no use of mathematical vocabulary no explanations ||
 * ** Communication ** || All work and procedures correct and thoroughly explained || Correct procedure with all work || Correct procedure and answers. || Correct procedure, minor mathematical errors || Procedure is incorrect and mathematical errors create incorrect answers ||
 * ^  || Student uses a clear voice  || Student's voice is clear  || Student's voice is clear  || Student's voice is low or mumbles  || Audience cannot understand presentation  ||
 * ^  || spoken at an appropriate rate of speech  || spoken at an appropriate rate of speech  || spoken at an appropriate rate of speech  || speech is to fast to understand  || Speech is unclear ||
 * || On time || On time || On time || Late, but done || Not complete ||

D3:

To Kathy Almanzor, Principal Jamestown School Lawn

I am writing to inform you of a new means of communication that I have learned about. I have recently been taking an online class through URI that teaches educators how to enhance their instruction through the use of blogs, wikis and online resources. I have learned a lot and created my own classroom blog. You might remember the students using this online resource and posting their mid year projects to that blog. I have since created another blog. Hopefully this blog will be used by the staff at our school to share ideas, comments, and concerns about our advisory program. According to the Advisory Steering Committee, one of the major issues that keeps coming up revolves around the planning of meaningful advisory activities. I believe that through the use of this blog, advisors can post their tried and true activities, as well as share ideas and thoughts about advisory. I envision this to be as useful as the Treasure Chest book we all received that was filled with activities. The nice thing about the blog is that it can be accessed from anywhere and it will not cost the school any money. Most of the advisors are in their third year of advisory and have done most of the activities in the book. The blog is an alternative to buying another book for the staff. Another advantage of this blog is that other educators from around the world can contribute to the blog. The online learning community is enormous. I believe that it has the potential to really give our school advisory program a boost by getting the best ideas and activities from There are many services that can host the blog. I have chosen Blogspot because of it is very easy to use and easy to access. I realize that many of us have very little extra time. The blog requires little maintenance and all comments are moderated so you do not need to worry about inappropriate comments being posted. I would like to ask your permission to use 15 minutes of the next faculty meeting to showcase the blog and teach the staff how to use it. I think that just the education of how it works might enhance teachers to use it in their everyday teaching when they see how easy it is to do. I would also like to use the computer lab so that everyone can login and post an idea that day. If we all post an idea the staff has the potential to have the rest of the year planned. Thanks for your support. Nicholas Alfred 7/8 Math

Grade 7 ** Deliverable # 4 – Final Project ** In “companies” of 6, students will start a simulated business in the friendship bracelet industry. Students will learn basics of business, economics, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. This unit will follow the BizWorld course with the incorporation of technology. ([|www.bizworld.org]) The time frame in the unit is based on 1 hour classes. Students will understand the fundamentals of business. Using the class blog ([|http://jtownmath.blogspot.com]), students will respond to questions/advertisements by other companies. Students will post their company worth daily. Students will work cooperatively to create a wiki page for their company. (http://jtownmath.wikispaces.com/BizWorld ) Students will create a podcast of their sales pitch. Students will write a commercial for their company. They will then create a video/animation to post to the class blog to advertise their company before sales bazaar. NECAP Math standards covered **–** //Number and Operations, Data Analysis, Problem Solving, Functions and Algebra (Pricing Lesson)// Students will be introduced to BizWorld by a class discussion about business. Students must be familiar with using and posting to the class blog. Students should also be introduced to the class wiki by viewing the “classified page”. This simulates the real job posting section of the classifieds in the newspaper. Students will then use the template link found on the bottom of the page to fill out a job application for the position they feel most suited for. Teacher should post job titles and positions to the wiki before starting the simulation/course so students know their role. Important information regarding the course should also be posted to the wiki. Goal: ** Learn basic business vocabulary. To incorporate your company and deliver a sales pitch via a podcast. Students will view the wiki to see what company they will be working for and what their role will be in the company. Students will review the notes about business. The teacher will be following along with the BizWorld course for day one activities including learning about a stock market and the incorporation of a company. As a class, access the wiki and add new vocabulary definitions learned today to the ever evolving list. The students will then work in “companies” to develop a sales pitch to give to the venture capitalist. Students should write the pitch first then using Gabcast.com and a cell phone the students will read the pitch and create a podcast to be posted on the class blog. The class can then listen to the sales pitch from each company and the teacher/”venture capitalist” can negotiate based on the pitch how much the company is worth that day. Company presidents should then post their worth to the class blog. All students should respond to a prompt posted on the blog “The most important part of my job is…” Goal: ** Students will design and develop a prototype of a bracelet they can then manufacture. Students will learn about keeping track of expenses and income on a balance sheet. Students will watch an instructional video on how to make a friendship bracelet. Students will follow the BizWorld lesson on designing and creating a prototype. (Course handbook Day 1-part 2) Upon completion of the prototypes, students will be instructed how to use Microsoft Excel to keep track of their expenses and income. (Based upon time and level of students in the class, teacher can teach an excel lesson about inserting formulas and auto fill features here) Students will create a balance sheet based on the paper copy provided by BizWorld. Students will have to pay employees and rent for Biz Day 1. All students should respond to a prompt posted on the blog “A product/invention I have thought about is…” Goal: ** Students will learn about loans and interest. Students will manufacture of their bracelets. Students will access the class blog to read an important “press release” about the friendship bracelet industry that the teacher posts just before class. See the BizWorld Course manual for the press release. The press release leads to a discussion about manufacturing and getting more money to buy supplies through a loan at the bank. (Course handbook Day 2-part 1) Students are directed to access the wiki and post definitions for this lessons vocabulary. Students will manufacture their bracelets. They should be given one hour to manufacture. See course book for specifics. At the end of manufacturing hour, students should do their bookkeeping following the steps outlined in the BizWorld created hard copy. Students should then transfer the information to their company balance sheet in Microsoft Excel. Company presidents should post their company’s worth to the class blog. All students should respond to a prompt posted on the blog “I manufactured…” Goal: ** Students will investigate different pricing situations to determine the best price for their company. Students will investigate different marketing techniques ultimately creating a video/animation commercial for their company posted to the class blog. Students will access the class blog to read an important “press release” about the friendship bracelet industry that the teacher posts just before class. (See course handbook for press release) Students will go through the BizWorld lesson on pricing and marketing (Course handbook Day 2-part 2/ Day3 – part 1) Students should post and edit vocabulary for the day on the wiki. Students will then create a logo and a slogan to be used in all marketing materials. Student will be directed to create a commercial to advertise their product. Students may be as creative as they like. Projects can range from a PowerPoint presentation to a digital videotaped skit. The final commercial must be able to be posted to the blog so that the “consumers” (4th grade class) can view the commercials and marketing materials before they come to purchase the products at the sales bazaar the following week. Students should do their bookkeeping following the steps outlined in the BizWorld created hard copy. Students should then transfer the information to their company balance sheet in Microsoft Excel. Company presidents should post their company’s worth to the class blog. All students should respond to a prompt posted on the blog “The marketing technique that reaches me the best is…” Goal: ** Students will view the commercials posted on the blog. A fourth grade class will come to the sales bazaar and actually buy the products. Companies will be responsible to keep track of sales. Students will access the class blog to view the commercials. Students will set up and attend the sales bazaar. See course handbook Day 3 part-2 for specifics on the sales bazaar and how many BizBucks to give the consumers. Students should do their bookkeeping following the steps outlined in the BizWorld created hard copy. Students should then transfer the information to their company balance sheet in Microsoft Excel. Company presidents should post their company’s worth to the class blog. All students should respond to a prompt posted on the blog “My company could have made more money at the sales bazaar by…” Company presidents will share with the class how much money they made at the sales bazaar. Students will contribute to a class discussion about finance. (See course handbook Day 4- part 1 Students will complete the income statement, company performance statement and stock market value worksheet. Students will complete the provided balance sheet and transfer the information to the Excel balance sheet. Students should post the final company value to the blog to determine the winner of the game. Students should post their Excel balance sheets to the wiki to prove the company value. All students should respond to a prompt posted on the blog “Now that I have finished BizWorld, I have learned…”
 * Nicholas Alfred
 * Jamestown ** ** School ****
 * Overview: **
 * Goals: **
 * Standards: **
 * Pre Activities: **
 * Day 1- Incorporation
 * Intro: **
 * Activities: **
 * Homework: **
 * Day 2: Design Day
 * Intro: **
 * Activities: **
 * Homework: **
 * Days 3-4: Loans and Manufacturing
 * Intro: **
 * Activities: **
 * Homework: **
 * Day 5: Pricing and Marketing
 * Intro: **
 * Activities: **
 * Homework: **
 * Day 6: Sales Bazaar
 * Intro: **
 * Activities: **
 * Homework: **
 * Day 7: Finance Day **
 * Goals: ** Students will end the simulation by balancing the books, paying back loans, and filling out the income statement.
 * Intro: **
 * Activities: **
 * Homework: **

Individual students will be assessed daily on their participation, using the class participation rubric. Students will also be assessed for communication based on their homework blog responses using the communication rubric. Companies/Teams will be given one grade based on the following rubric: 4- Successful Company ·  Produced accurate balance sheets and provided extra information posted to the wiki, ·  Produced a large amount of quality product, ·  Produced a marketing plan that instantly caused a “buzz” and posted well planned, funny, effective commercial to the blog, ·  Company made a large profit
 * Assessment: **

3- Company worked together ·  Produced accurate balance sheets and posted computerized balance sheet to the wiki ·  Produced a sufficient amount of product ·  Produced an effective marketing plan including a commercial posted to class blog ·  Company made a profit 2- Company struggled ·  Produced balance sheets with minor errors, ·  Produced a insufficient amount of product · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Produced a marketing plan that was not exciting, · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Company made little to no profit. 1- Company went under · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Inaccurate or no balance sheets · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Insufficient amount or no product produced · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Ineffective marketing plan; did not include a commercial · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Company suffered a loss Classified Ad – to be posted to wiki prior to beginning class…