Venn Diagrams
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
- 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.
- Objectives
Students will be able to categorize different objects and numbers using Venn Diagrams.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Closure
- Review how to classify items using a Venn Diagram.
- Review all pertinent terminology.