Most people are writing about gratitude around this time of year because we are getting closer to the winter holidays and, in the US, Thanksgiving. While being thankful is wonderful to focus on this time of year, my hope is that we try to have a gratitude mindset all year long.
Instead, we can think about Black Friday. Perhaps this is not what you expected me to say. As I see so many advertisements for this annual event that signifies the beginning of the shopping season, I got a strange idea about what that might translate to in teaching and learning.
Black Friday Inspired Themes and Lessons
Now bear with me as some of my brainstorming here may be a bit of stretch as it correlates to the themes or strategies of Black Friday for teaching.
Research
Most students are getting close to the end of the semester. Use this time of year to find a bargain or the best deal using research. If you want to use this idea in the classroom, think about ways that you could have students do research that is best for their idea or work.
One of the most exciting things about computer programming is that there is more than one way to solve a problem. You can ask students to use different languages, tools, algorithms, and styles to create a program that does what they want. In this prompt, students will research a way to code a prompt for a computer program. A prompt is a message that asks the user for some input or information. For example, a prompt could ask the user to enter their name, choose an option, or answer a question. Students should find out how to code a prompt using one of the following methods:
– Using standard input and output functions, such as scanf and printf in C
– Using graphical user interface (GUI) elements, such as buttons and text boxes in Java
– Using web development technologies, such as HTML and JavaScript
Then the students can write a short paragraph explaining how their chosen method works and what are its advantages and disadvantages. They should also include a code snippet that shows an example of a prompt using their method and cite the sources that they used for their research and follow the formatting guidelines provided by your teacher.
Consumerism
It may seem difficult to include consumerism in the classroom, unless you teach Economics. I am going to think of this idea more in the way of having students show what they have “consumed” this semester around meeting a standard or standards in the course.
For example, in an ELA classroom, the students can be given a theme and “purchase” from a list of worldly poems five examples that best fit that theme. They will need to look at the titles to determine if it will probably fit that theme. Students will read a selection of poems and analyze the meaning while finding supporting details for their rationale. You can have the students then create a one pager selling those poems in an ad for the theme. They can share the advertisements and have their peers pick the one they want to read based on the images and information on the poem advertisement for that theme.
Just Have Fun
In no way is this quirky idea meant to be disrespectful to the idea that this time of year is tough for a lot of people or that we should be highlighting commercialism around the holidays.
If you live in the United States, it is hard to not know tis’ the shopping season. Bring some of what students recognize into the classroom for some fun and creative ways to learn. I promise that no matter how you do that, you will get “buy-in”.
See You Real Soon,
Erin
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