2. Prepare the yes and no examples that will be presented to students.
Whether your examples are terms, pictures, poems, physical
objects, or math problems, make sure they will focus students on the
critical attributes and that students know that this is not a guessing
game. A typical Concept Attainment lesson begins with simpler examples;
more difficult examples should come later and can be used to challenge
and refine students’ original assumptions. For example, if your
concept is mammals (warm-blooded, live birth, fur-covered bodies, live
largely on land), you would be ill advised to begin your Concept Attainment
lesson with descriptions of a platypus and a whale—two animals
that “break the mold” of typical mammals. Examples like these should
come later in the lesson, after students have solidified their basic understanding.
Atypical examples can serve as the basis for rich discussions
on topics like the imperfection of scientific categorization