Kentucky Academy of Technology Education

Creating Commercials to Meet Core Content Standards

Instructional Illuminations

Fifth grade students from Trigg County Intermediate School and Trigg County High School have found that collaboration is the tool for success in mastering Reading Core Content Standards and meeting the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) for Students. Reading students in Michelle Eagleson and Lisa Ford's classes were assigned the task of developing propaganda commercials in order to meet RD-05-3.0.9 which states, "Students will identify commonly used persuasive techniques (i.e., bandwagon, emotional appeal, testimonial, expert opinion) used in a passage." Students were divided into groups where they wrote, directed, and starred in commercials spotlighting each propaganda type. Each script was approved prior to video taping and had to meet all requirements of the assigned scoring rubric.

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Paint a Picture with Words

Core Connections

By:   Jennifer Wurth, St. Ann School, Morganfield, Ky.

Imagine a group of middle school students painting pictures with words. Imagine middle school students getting exciting about someone other than their peer group. Imagine synchronized harmony of words bouncing off the young adolescent getting excited in English class. Imagine a classroom enveloped with an explosion of students sharing thoughts and feelings. Imagine students sending text messages and brainstorming their favorite sensory words and vivid verbs.

Allowing students to write a memoir about a special person in their life, present or past, while touching, tasting, seeing, smelling, and hearing words will entice even the reluctant writers. Memoirs are more than just writing when integrated with technology; students connect to the outside world, build self esteem, share feelings, express themselves, and capture pictures in a snapshot graced with powerful feelings and emotions. They help students analyze qualities of good character and analyze valuable talents and traits in their very own development.

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Sew On With Math

Core Connections

By: Stephanie Fisk
Hickman County High School

Quilting is an art. Native Americans and American pioneers have used patchwork techniques throughout history for developing their clothing, rugs, wall hangings, and blankets. Some of these designs reflect symbols of wealth and power. In today's society, fabrics, styles, and designer clothing still reflect social class and identity. Did you know that quilting is not only an art but also a mathematical problem? 

Allowing students to develop their own classroom quilt is an excellent way to teach students about geometry. Before the quilt process can begin, students must first review basic problems with area and shapes. They must first study the area of squares and rectangles. Secondly, the students can work on finding area of parallelograms and triangles. After they understand all these techniques for finding area, the quilt process can then begin.

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