Length:
Materials
Curriculum Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.1
Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to the precise details of explanations or descriptions.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.2
Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; trace the text's explanation or depiction of a complex process, phenomenon, or concept; provide an accurate summary of the text.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.3
Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks, attending to special cases or exceptions defined in the text.
Instructions
- Show students a concept attainment model and ask them to observe and conclude. Discuss answers.
- Tell students they just participated in a learning model called concept attainment. Share and discuss prior knowledge.
- Start the video lesson Concept Attainment: Model & Strategy and pause at 0:58. Discuss:
- What skills does the concept attainment model use?
- Are there differing levels of concept attainment?
- Besides pictures, what can be used in the concept attainment model?
- How does the concept attainment model work?
- Restart the video and pause again at 2:46. Ask:
- Explain why concept attainment works using an example.
- When and why do educators use the concept attainment model?
- What is your experience with the model?
- Does the model work for you?
- Resume the video and allow it to play to the end.
- Ask students to talk to a partner about the process of using concept attainment. Have them recall the three tips and list them on the board.
- Answer any remaining questions.
Activity
- Students will create their own concept attainment model. Allow them to brainstorm a theme, then draw images or words. Attach to paper or index cards.
- Have students display their concept attainment model on their desktop and number their work (one for each student.)
- Now have students take out a sheet of paper and number it, one for each student.
- Instruct students to walk around the classroom, visiting each desk. Students should record their guess for the themes on their paper.
- When finished, have each student share their thinking as others correct their guesses. Discuss and offer feedback.
Extensions
- Have students research how the concept attainment model is used in instructional preparation.
- Research other work and philosophies by Jerome Bruner.
- Instruct students to research other cognitive theorists. Compare and contrast.
