Have your kids been watching the summer Olympics? Are they itching to see how far they can jump or throw objects? In honor of the 2012 Summer Olympics, we’re going to give our kids a chance to compete in their own track and field events…and sneak in a little math while we’re at it! For each of the events below, use masking tape to indicate the starting line. Give kids an opportunity to practice each of the events before the…
Fractions, or parts of a whole, have often been difficult for students to understand. This is often the result of rhymes such as “Mine is not to reason why, just invert and multiply”. But when we teach fractions this way, math become a set of mysterious rules and procedures that need to be memorized. But if we can show students why operations on fractions work the way they do, we take out the mystery of math. Then math begins to…
Here’s a super easy and fun way to reinforce attributes of polygons. Using a rubber band that is not too small or thick, students create shapes using their fingers. It’s a great multi-sensory activity. Ideas: -show me a triangle -show me a triangle with one obtuse angle -show me an iscoceles triangle -show me a quadrilateral -show me a trapezoid -etc. Shapes larger than a quadrilateral (4 sides) are more difficult to make. Students can partner up to make pentagons…
So that’s what it means to multiply fractions! Visual representations make all the difference! I acutally have students first do this using a geoboard. Then we transfer to grid paper (see above photo). After collecting a number of samples, students look for patterns and discover that multiplying across gives them the same answer. But now it makes sense! CCSS: 5.NF.4; 5.NF.5
Kids who have a strong number sense can compose and decompose numbers, make reasonable estimates, and use numbers in flexible ways. Here’s a great example. (Aligns to the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics: Mathematical Practices – Look for and make use of structures.)