Example of Culminating Activity
I created this activity to conclude the the book, Frindle, by Andrew Clements. I wanted to emphasize the lesson learned in the book. I also wanted the students to apply the lesson in an authentic way, such as changing something that would be meaningful to them. This reinforced the lesson learned in the book and made it meaningful to them. I was extremely surprised by the success of the lesson. The students greatly exceeded my expectations and came up with excellent ideas and were able to support them. They worked well in groups and were very engaged. I was very proud to see a lesson I had created applied so effectively in the classroom.
I wanted to create an activity that incorporated group work, facilitated critical thinking, and allowed students to create a product of their own. One of my supervisor’s recommendations was to use a variety of assessment, so I thought this was a creative form of assessment. It not only shows the students' understanding of the book, but also assesses their ability to work in groups and apply what they learned in the book in a more authentic way. This activity entailed a lot of components. I wanted the students to have a strong understanding of the book, but did not want to overwhelm them. To make the activity seem less intimidating I presented it clearly and included a checklist of criteria. This provided a direction for students' thinking, but allowed room for their own creativity.
Back of the Activity
Advertisment Worksheet
I also wanted to make the lesson fun for the students. When they completed the writing component, they were able to design an advertisement. This incorporated and engaged visual learners and students who love to draw.