DESIGNING A CLASSROOM LETTERBOX

1
DESIGNING A CLASSROOM LETTER-BOX

• A VELS based lesson sequence for Level 2

2
VELS Standards

• Physical, Personal Social Learning
• Personal learning Work cooperatively with
  peers, giving and seeking relevant feedback.
• Discipline Based Learning.
• The Arts demonstrate skills in selecting and
  using arts elements, skills and processes.
• Interdisciplinary Learning.
• Design, Creativity Technology Develop basic
  design ideas and models in response to design
  briefs.
• Thinking Students evaluate the validity of
  their own, and others ideas.
• There are no level 2 Standards in these
  dimensions. Students are working towards level 3
  Standards.

3
Lesson One

• Class Discussion incorporating
• Use of a letter box
• Important features
• Construction Materials
• Students design their own classroom letter-box,
  create a labelled diagram.

4
Examples
5
Lesson Two

• Students create a 3D model based on their letter
  box design.
• Use plasticine, paper, cardboard, art supplies
  etc to create models.
• Students reflect on their letter box designs- Was
  my design feasible? What did I do well? What
  would I change next time?

6
Example

• Hayley- My post-box was good because it had lots
  of room for letters. It also had two colours. If
  I could change anything about my post-box I would
  add a pole.

7
Example

• Kate- My design was chosen for the class
  letter-box. I thought my model was great because
  it looks just like the drawing. If I could change
  anything about my design I would make the roof
  and the hole bigger.

8
Lesson Three

• Number each design and model. Each student
  receives a voting form (see below) and votes for
  the best letter-box in a secret ballot. Students
  must provide rationale for their choice.

9
The final product!

• The classroom letter-box is then created from the
  winning design (in this case the children worked
  in groups with the design winner supervising
  proceedings).

10
Assessment and Evaluation

• Self Evaluation
• Lesson Two- self-reflection on design process and
  positives/negatives of the letter-box design.
• Peer Assessment
• Lesson Three- voting form and subsequent class
  discussion.
• Teacher Assessment
• Annotated work sample addressing VELS standards
  (see over for example).

11
Example Annotated work sample.