SchoolLunches.doc

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Mathematics Senior Level Capstone Course

Unit Overview

Title of Unit: Reforming School Lunches Unit Designers:

(Name and School Division) Stephanie Brady, Michelle Rittenhouse, Marianne Veitch Hanover County Public Schools Steve Gregorin, Lauren Noehl York County Public Schools Editor:

Diane Leighty

UVA-SCPS Office of Mathematics Outreach

Context of the problem: Create a plan for a month of nutritious school lunches. Take into consideration budget/costs, student appeal, packaging, employment,

trash/waste, etc. What would you keep the same at your school? What would you change? Explore different options for food and costs. Can you provide a cost effective, nutritious, and environmentally safe lunch? What aspects other than food will you need to take into account?

Number of Class

Hours: 21 Estimated 21 hours

Unit

Design: Problem Based Unit

Other Subject Areas/Disciplines Addressed:

Environmental Science, Health, Personal Finance

Driving Question: How can you improve your school lunches? Mathematics Content

Addressed:

Percentages, graphical representations, curve of best fit, tables, charts, total cost formulas

MPE Addressed:

Problem Solving, Decision making, and Integration Assumption of Prior

Knowledge: Application processes, research, curve of best fit, graphs, charts, percentages,

College and Career

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Skills to be taught (T) during this unit or expectation (E) for student use during this unit and assessed (A): BIE Page 35-37

Communication (Oral and/or Written) E, A Technology T, A

Critical Thinking/Decision Making E,A Other: (Describe)

Major Products and/or Performances:

Group: Presentation on how to improve school lunches with regard to cost, quality and environmental impact. Include a one month calendar of school lunches with a cost analysis sheet.

Presentation Audience:

X Class

School Individual: Questions and answers from interview(s), signed

rough draft of presentation.

X Expert

X Community

X Other: Possibly School board

Launch: Event or experience used to engage the students interest and inquiry:

ABC News article and video, “LAUSD ahead of Michelle Obama’s healthy lunch program,” http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/national_world&id=8518237

MSNBC News article and video, “High costs land on school cafeteria trays,” http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25011096/

NPR article, “Chef Proves School Lunch Can Be Healthy, Cheap,” http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91687769 Evaluation: Formative Assessments

(During the Unit)

Interview X Practice Presentations X

Mathematicians Journal X Notes X

Preliminary

Plans/Outlines/Prototypes

X Checklists X

Rough Drafts X Concept maps

Field Tests Other:

Summative Assessment (End of Project)

Written Products, with a rubric X Peer Evaluation, with a rubric

X

Oral Presentation with a rubric X Self Evaluation, with a rubric

X

Other Product(s) or

Performance(s), with a rubric

X Other:

UVA-SCPS Office of Mathematics Outreach with support from VADOE Mathematics and Science Partnership Grant Program NCLB Title II Part B

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Resources Needed: On-site people, facilities: Cafeteria workers, Principal, English teacher Equipment/Technology: Publisher, Excel, Word

Materials: Poster board or construction paper

Community Resources: School board members, superintendent or assistant superintendent

Reflection Methods: Individual, Group, and/or Whole Class

Mathematicians Journal X Small/Focus Groups X

Whole Class Discussions X Fishbowl Discussions

Survey Other:

Material Adapted From:

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U N I T C A L E N D A R

TITLE: Reforming School Lunches Time Frame: 14 Blocks

M O N D A Y T U E S D A Y W E D N E S D A Y T H U R S D A Y F R I D A Y

P R O J E C T W E E K O N E

Notes: This unit is intended to take approximately 14 blocks. This is just a general outline. Students should be given due dates throughout the problem in order to keep them from getting behind in their work. By the end of block 4 turn in interview questions and research on budget, nutrition, environmental impact, federal guidelines.

Research on school budget Research on nutritious food Survey questions

Research on environmental impact

Research on nutritional and federal guide lines

Questions for interviews Survey other students

Turn in research results and questions, including meeting minutes.

Survey other students

Rough draft of school menu

P R O J E C T W E E K T W O

Notes: By the end of block 7 turn in rough draft of menu, non-food essentials, outline of costs, interview notes, meeting notes. By the end of block 10 turn in final menu, final plan, rough draft of paper, outline of presentation, meeting minutes

Complete interview & interview notes

Research non-essential food costs

Complete outline of costs

Rough draft of paper given to English teacher to review. Compile survey results.

Finalize menu Finalize plan

Outline of presentation

P R O J E C T W E E K T H R E E

Notes: By the end of block 14 turn in final paper, evaluations, final draft of visual presentation.

Rough draft of visual presentation

Finish paper – make

corrections recommended by English teacher

Final draft of visual presentation

Evaluations.

UVA-SCPS Office of Mathematics Outreach with support from VADOE Mathematics and Science Partnership Grant Program NCLB Title II Part B

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Virginia’s Senior Level Capstone Course Instructional Plan

Unit Title: Reforming School Lunches

Driving Question: How can you improve your school lunches?

Problem: Create a plan for a month of nutritious, cost efficient school lunches and a presentation on how to improve your school lunches.

ENGAGE Introduce the Problem

Number of hours 1

Your district has been told that it needs to revise its lunch program to include more healthy foods and environmentally friendly service while keeping the costs down as much as possible. Budgets are tight and there is little room in the district budget to increase the cost of the lunch program. The district has opened up the opportunity for anyone in the community to come forward with a plan that will deal with these issues, and present their plan to the board for consideration. Time is of the essence, as the board has to have received proposals within three weeks in order to be considered for the upcoming school year.

 HO #1

 Show one or more of the videos from the launch.

Mathematician Journal Prompts

What ideas do you have for changing school lunches?

Does your current school lunch program provide nutritious lunches?

EXPLORE Whole Class

Number of hours__2_

As a class, brainstorm to organize the problem into different categories:

 What we know –[ including current menu, products needed to give lunch to the students (plates, utensils, and trays), etc.]  What we need to know – [current cost of food, packaging,

materials, nutritional guidelines, student preferences, etc.]  First steps –[ interview cafeteria staff, survey students, research

budget information, summarize current practices by which to compare healthier/more economical suggestions]

In addition to the articles/videos used in the launch, students should be directed to the following resources to help them get started:

 Budget information from the school board

 NY Times Article, “New Rules for School Meals Aim at Reducing Obesity,”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/26/us/politics/new-school-lunch-rules-aimed-at-reducing-obesity.html?_r=2

 USDA website, “National School Lunch Program,”

http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/lunch/AboutLunch/ProgramHistory _2.htm

Other articles and websites describing current school lunch programs and challenges

Mathematician Journal Prompts

What are some interview

questions you may use?

What are some healthier/more economical choices you will research?

How do the students in your school feel about the current program?

UVA-SCPS Office of Mathematics Outreach with support from VADOE Mathematics and Science

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EXPLAIN Expectations for students work and working together Number of Hours: 1

Inform students

 Discuss with students the problem and what issues arise  Students are expected to give a presentation with some kind of

visual aids stating how they will improve their cafeteria

 Unit calendar shows what students will turn in throughout the 14 blocks

 Handout Grading Procedures (HO #2), Rubric (HO #3) and Self Evaluation (HO #4).

Mathematician Journal Prompts:

Draw a sketch of your visual aide. Label the types of graphs and information you think you will need to include.

ELABORATE Students working in groups Number of Hours: 2

Teacher should decide how large to make the groups or whether to work as a whole class depending on the size of their class and what they feel will work best for their students.

 Discuss with the class the various parts to this project

(interviewing, researching, surveying, presenting, etc) and how the groups will divide the work.

 If there are multiple groups then it is recommended that those from each group who will interview will all go together to interview the cafeteria staff so as not to overburden the staff with multiple interviews.

 Likewise with any other school employees that will be interviewed.

Possible tools the students will need, depending on the student/class:  Know/need to know lists

 Daily goal sheet

 Briefs/Memos to Teacher/Coach  Task lists

 Planning Calendar

Discuss the role you are playing in helping to develop and present a solution to this problem. What is the significance of that role? EVALUATE Working groups submit products and make presentations Number of Hours: 3

 Students present their solution to the class. The class will decide which group should present to the principal/school board.



Students should complete Problem Evaluation (HO #3) and Self

Evaluation (HO # 2).

What is your opinion of the product? If you had to give yourself an honest grade for your role, what would that grade be and why? What did you learn about yourself and about this

problem along the way?

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HO #1

Name:______________________ Date:_____________________

School Lunches Problem

Can you provide your school with a more cost effective, nutritious, and environmentally safe lunch?

American children are facing a very real health crisis. More school aged children and young adults are obese or over weight than ever in history. Some people think that school lunch programs can be changed to help combat this problem.

Your job is to create a plan for a month of school lunches, taking into consideration such things as cost, student involvement, packaging, employment, trash, etc. What would you keep the same at your school? What would you change? Your plan needs to be supported by solid research. Be prepared to present your findings in a professional way to our school’s administrative team and/or the School Board for their consideration.

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HO #2

Name:______________________ Date:_____________________

Grading Procedure

Your groups will be graded based on the rubric below. Each group will earn a grade from 0 to 100 based on these criteria. This grade will be multiplied by the number of group members, and these total points will be distributed among you.

You, as a group, will decide how that grade will be distributed.

For example, if your group gets a 90, does each of you deserve a 90? Maybe one member receives a 95 and another member only receives an 85.

Please list your group members, and how the total points should be distributed. Next to each name, write the percentage of the grade each person deserves. The total percentage must equal 100%. No one score will be recorded as greater than 100.

Group Member Percentage of grade earned

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HO #3

Performance Task General Rubric

Understanding

Planning &

_Execution

Communication

Research

4

• Shows complete

understanding of the required mathematical knowledge. • The solution completely addresses all

mathematical/scientific components presented in the problem.

• Student extended his thinking beyond the problem to new connections or new problems.

• Uses only the important elements of the problem. • Uses an appropriate and complete strategy for solving the problem. • Uses only relevant information.

• Uses clear and effective diagrams, tables, charts and graphs.

• Diligently works on the problem with little to no help from teacher.

•There is a clear, effective explanation of the solution. All steps are included so the reader does not have to infer how the problem was solved.

•Mathematical/scientific representation is actively used as a means of communicating ideas.

• There is precise and appropriate

mathematical/scientific terminology and notation.

•Is thorough in their research and is able to support a multitude of options

•Gives appropriate works cited for materials and information presented •Gives suggested materials for further

research/options

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• Shows nearly complete understanding of required mathematical/scientific knowledge.

• The solution addresses almost all of the mathematical/scientific components presented in the problem. There may be

minor errors.

• Uses most of the important elements and relevant data of the task. • Uses an appropriate but incomplete strategy. •Appropriate, incomplete use of diagrams, tables, charts and graphs. • Diligently works on the problem and receives help only after trying many strategies.

• There is a clear explanation. • There is appropriate use of accurate mathematical/ scientific representation. • There is effective use of mathematical/ scientific terminology and notation.

•Has done research and supports some options. •Give appropriate works cited for materials and information presented.

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• Shows some understanding of the required mathematical/ scientific knowledge. • The solution addresses some, but not all the mathematical/ scientific components presented in the task.

•Uses some important elements of the task. • Uses an inappropriate or unclear strategy. • Uses some relevant data.

• Limited use or misuse of diagrams, tables, charts, and graphs. • Can do simple parts with little help, but gives up on difficult parts if no help is given.

•There is an incomplete explanation; it may not be clearly represented. • There is some use of appropriate mathematical/ scientific representation. • There is some use of mathematical/ scientific notation appropriate to the problem.

•Expresses options, but is missing some research to back up conclusions. •Is missing works cited for materials and information presented.

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• Shows limited or no understanding of the problem, perhaps only re-copying the given data. •The solution addresses none of the mathematical/scientific components required to solve the task.

•Uses no important elements of the task. •Works haphazardly with no particular strategy for solving the problem. • Uses irrelevant data. •Does not show use of diagrams, tables, charts or graphs.

• Needs help for simple tasks and gives up quickly, often just wanting the answer.

•There is no explanation of the solution. The explanation cannot be understood, or is unrelated to the task. • There is no use or inappropriate use of mathematical/scientific representations.

• There is no use, or mostly inappropriate use, of mathematical/scientific terminology and notation.

•Expresses limited or no research

•Has limited or no options •Has limited or no works cited

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HO #4

Name:______________________ Partner:_____________________ Date:_____________

Self Evaluation

The following is a list of statements to be answered by you about yourself. Think carefully about your choices for each of the following statements.

Directions: Put an ‘X’ in the box that applies.

I ,________________________________ ,(insert name) Strongly

Agree Agree Neutral Disagree

Strongly Disagree Offered suggestions for research and interviews

Completed an equal amount of the research and/or the interview questions.

Shared information I gathered pertaining to my part

Checked my math for total costs, comparisons, etc

Helped complete questions for research

Helped complete the graphs and presentation materials

Made meaningful contributions during the presentation

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