Logic and Reasoning

Pearline Scott                 Greeley School
                               832 W. Sheridan Road
                               Chicago, Il 60613
                               312-534-5800

Objectives:
   
The student will use logic and reasoning strategies to classify blocks by their 
attributes. 

The student will be able to recognize one, two and three attribute differences. 

The student will use Venn diagrams to form sets and show their intersection. 

The student will use the attribute blocks to form ratios.

Materials needed:

Attribute blocks: The blocks used in this lesson may be commercial
                  or teacher made, with these attributes: 
                  Color-red, yellow and blue
                  Shape-square, circle, hexagon, rectangle and triangle
                  Size-small and large 
                  Thickness- thick and thin
loops, color chalk and worksheets

Strategy:

1. The students will work in cooperative groups.  First let the students examine
the blocks, freely playing with them.  Direct the students to classify blocks by
their attributes: color, shape, size and thickness. 

2. Ask the group to place one block on the center of the table and find all 
blocks that differ by one, two and three attributes. 

3. Use the loops to form sets in a Venn diagram.  Example: in one loop place a 
set of triangles and in another loop place a set of blue blocks.  Students will 
notice that these sets must overlap, forming the intersecting set of blue 
triangles. 

4. Write ratios to show the comparison of two sets of attribute blocks.  
Example:  write the number of red circles to the total number of circles, thus 
forming a ratio. 

Conclusion:

The students will use logic and reasoning strategies to process information and 
solve problems.