Grade Levels:  3rd - 5th

Subjects: Math, Language Arts, Social Studies

Learner Outcomes:
The learners will be able to show numbers to the one billions place using the abacus.
The learners will be able to read numbers to the one billions place using the abacus.
The learners will teach the use of finger counting within cross-age groups.
The learners will construct a time line depicting the development of computation technology.
The students will write a paragraph about a timeline entry.

Duration of Lesson:
        4 sessions, 30 to 45 minutes each

Materials:
        Roll of white paper, markers or crayons

Technology Tools/Courseware:
        Computer, internet connection, internet ready television, electronic encyclopedia

Teacher Notes:
  Have Acceptable Use Policy on file for students.
Bookmark abacus and timeline sites for student use.
Arrange cross-age grouping with a first or second grade class.
Assign cooperative groups.

Procedures:
        1.  Build background with a photo tour of a Chinese abacus museum with internet television.
        2.  Use the virtual classroom to teach and practice the finger counting procedure
             which led to the development of the abacus.
        3.  When proficiency is reached, plan for the class to teach the finger counting procedure to  first
             or second grade "buddies."
        4.  Teacher demonstrates counting and modeling of numbers through the one billions place with the
             inter-active abacus site (see references for additional sites) and a large classroom abacus.
        5.  Use the bookmarked abacus sites and some student abacuses as centers for independent
             exploration.
        6.  In cooperative groups, students will use bookmarked timeline sites (see references) and any
             classroom resources to research the development of computation technology from the abacus to
             the computer.
        7.  Groups will choose a minimum of 5 events they feel have significance and will summarize or
             illustrate each selected entry.
        8.  Each student will write a paragraph explaining why an entry was chosen.
        9.  Groups will present their timelines and paragraphs in a whole class setting.

Modifications:
Make adjustments according to any IEPs in place.
Assign cooperative groups to optimize student strengths.
Students with limited Language Arts skills may illustrate timeline entries.

Enrichment Activities:
Write journal entries comparing the use of the abacus to the use of the calculator.
Construct an abacus using children's building blocks.

Evaluation/Assessment:
     Formative:
                Teacher observation during cooperative and cross age groups.
     Summative:
                     Timelines, oral presentations, and paragraphs.
                     Students will use an abacus to model given numbers.
                  Students will complete self- and peer- evaluations.

West Virginia Instructional Goals and Objectives:
        English/Language Arts 3.12, 3.13, 3.14, 3.27, 3.44,4.16, 4.17, 4.20,4.54  5.11, 5.60
        Social Studies 3.39, 3.40,  4.32, 4.53, 5.48, 5.65
        Math  3.3, 3.19, 4.2, 4.17, 4.52, 5.25, 5.50

National Standards:
    Language Arts
        1.  Uses viewing skills and strategies to understand and interpret visual media

    Social Studies
        1.  Understands selected attributes and historical developments of societies in africa, the
             Americans, Asia, and Europe

    Math
        1.  Understands and applies basic and advanced properties of the concepts of measurement
        2.  Uses a variety of strategies in the problem solving process

References:
        Book References
                The Abacus Contest by Priscilla Wu  ISBN1555912435
        Time lines
              Timeline of Computing History
              Computer Chronicles:  From Stone to Silicon
        Interactive Abacus Sites
              Abacus Evolution
              The Abacus Introduction
 

Author:  Marguin Godfrey, French Creek Elementary School
               Jody Johnson, French Creek Elementary School
               Ronna Smallridge, French Creek Elementary School