Math CREATE - 2016-2017
Grade 4 - Last year
Cycle 1 - Number Systems
Grade 4 is exploring Number Systems. I began our first class by telling them I was going to teach them how to count. Not surprisingly, I got a lot of quizzical looks! We went back to straws and rubber bands and grouped by 10's just like we did in Kindergarten and First Grade. I reminded students what they were actually doing, since by now, this is all by rote, without much thinking as to what we're actually doing.
Next, we learned Roman Numerals and how to represent numbers in this way. We will gradually explore other bases (Base 2 - binary, Base 5, Base 16) and teach how to group and count differently,using the same logic and place value concepts from our own system. Lastly, I will give students the chance to research some historical number systems or invent their own method of counting. This will be a small project that they can work on during cycle 2 when we don't meet and we will review them when cycle 3 begins and we meet again.
Next, we learned Roman Numerals and how to represent numbers in this way. We will gradually explore other bases (Base 2 - binary, Base 5, Base 16) and teach how to group and count differently,using the same logic and place value concepts from our own system. Lastly, I will give students the chance to research some historical number systems or invent their own method of counting. This will be a small project that they can work on during cycle 2 when we don't meet and we will review them when cycle 3 begins and we meet again.
Fourth grade will begin by sharing and presenting their number system projects from cycle 1-2. Then we will begin our Financial Literacy Unit which will focus on money and the concept of bartering and why money systems were invented. We will act out a short play and watch a cartoon video on the subject. We will cover different currencies, what are the characteristics of money and compare different currencies from around the world.
Grade 5
Cycle 2: - March MATHness
Grade 5 will begin by developing the math fun we call March MATHness. This takes place for the entire month of March. They will be responsible for researching, identifying and reading our daily math fun facts over the loudspeaker at the end of each day. The math fun facts are meant to be interesting, possible quirky or humorous little known facts from the word of math. Students can search on line or through my books about math discoveries and choose the one they like best and feel is the most interesting. I stress to the students that it should be something interesting that people don't know as it has to be worthwhile the classroom interruption, even though it's at the end for the day! In the past we have included math trivia and information about famous mathematicians!
Grade 5 will also design and develop the weekly contest questions, which is also part of our March MATHness fun. Each week, there is a contest question, open to the whole school. The questions, posted online and also circulated to the teachers via email, go up Monday and are due Friday of the same week. They are typically some kind of puzzle or brain teaser and are all developed by my 5th graders. For inspiration, I ask them to model any favorite puzzles of their own or to select a type from any of my various books. In the past, students have created their own Magic Squares and KenKen puzzles! Watch for these to be posted on our March MATHness website, which can be found on the Student Technology Playbook, Math Websites. We love sharing our love of math and encourage everyone to try. Also, the classroom with the highest participation in the contests is awarded the "Pi Plate" as their trophy and keeps it in their classroom for the year!
Grade 5 will also design and develop the weekly contest questions, which is also part of our March MATHness fun. Each week, there is a contest question, open to the whole school. The questions, posted online and also circulated to the teachers via email, go up Monday and are due Friday of the same week. They are typically some kind of puzzle or brain teaser and are all developed by my 5th graders. For inspiration, I ask them to model any favorite puzzles of their own or to select a type from any of my various books. In the past, students have created their own Magic Squares and KenKen puzzles! Watch for these to be posted on our March MATHness website, which can be found on the Student Technology Playbook, Math Websites. We love sharing our love of math and encourage everyone to try. Also, the classroom with the highest participation in the contests is awarded the "Pi Plate" as their trophy and keeps it in their classroom for the year!
Financial Literacy: CYCLE 1
Financial Literacy is an important topic in our lives today. There is a movement in the education world to bring this subject to elementary students and begin to educate them in the basic terms of budgets, expenses and other general financial terms. Introducing these general topics now allows for a strong foundation for future, more in-depth lessons at the middle and high school level.
Money Math: Lessons for LIfe is a program sponsored by Citigroup Foundation, the Department of the Treasury, the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy and the University of Missouri at St. Louis. I chose their Spreading the Budget lesson to do with my 5th grade CREATE students because I found the mixture of general budget concepts and spreadsheet skills to be fantastic. The students get a great financial foundation plus they become adept at spreadsheets.
Spreading the Budget features a hypothetical story about Janna, a college sophomore, and her budget woes. Her parents encourage her to create a budget in a spreadsheet so they can help her identify all her income and expense items. Over the course of 4 scenarios that build upon each other, Janna’s parents help her understand her income sources, gross vs. net income, her taxes, her expenses (fixed, variable and periodic) and decide whether she has enough money (surplus) or not (deficit) to rent the apartment with her college friends. The last step of the exercise is my favorite. The students are asked to solve Janna’s budget woes - what would THEY do to reduce her expenses to help her have a surplus again.
Students begin with a blank spreadsheet and gradually, over the 4-6 weeks, build Janna’s spreadsheet. They learn formatting and how to build formulas to calculate the amounts in the budget. One of the hardest things for them to do is NOT to do the math in their heads but to tell the spreadsheet HOW to calculate what they want. Asa math teacher, I’m very happy they know what the answer should be because they can check whether the formula they entered is correct.
By spending all the time putting in formulas for sub-totals and grand totals, the students can adjust the detail line items and watch as their changes flow automatically through to the last line in the budget - the surplus or deficit. They can decide for themselves what they’d tell Janna to change - maybe cut down on her dining out, trim her gasoline expenses. I love to watch their faces light up when they see how their changes are automatically reflected in the bottom line.
Ask your student to show you their spreadsheet and explain some of the formulas they used. I provide the 4 Activities (Scenarios) that we use in class to the students both in paper copy and posted to our classroom. They also get a finished spreadsheet to use at each stage to verify that their work is correct.
In our last class I will have the students build their own worksheets and budgets. Perhaps they are saving for a big purchase. Based on what they've learned about Janna, they can make a framework with some basic budget information and use this as a springboard for future plans and discussions with you! Happy Budgeting!
Money Math: Lessons for LIfe is a program sponsored by Citigroup Foundation, the Department of the Treasury, the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy and the University of Missouri at St. Louis. I chose their Spreading the Budget lesson to do with my 5th grade CREATE students because I found the mixture of general budget concepts and spreadsheet skills to be fantastic. The students get a great financial foundation plus they become adept at spreadsheets.
Spreading the Budget features a hypothetical story about Janna, a college sophomore, and her budget woes. Her parents encourage her to create a budget in a spreadsheet so they can help her identify all her income and expense items. Over the course of 4 scenarios that build upon each other, Janna’s parents help her understand her income sources, gross vs. net income, her taxes, her expenses (fixed, variable and periodic) and decide whether she has enough money (surplus) or not (deficit) to rent the apartment with her college friends. The last step of the exercise is my favorite. The students are asked to solve Janna’s budget woes - what would THEY do to reduce her expenses to help her have a surplus again.
Students begin with a blank spreadsheet and gradually, over the 4-6 weeks, build Janna’s spreadsheet. They learn formatting and how to build formulas to calculate the amounts in the budget. One of the hardest things for them to do is NOT to do the math in their heads but to tell the spreadsheet HOW to calculate what they want. Asa math teacher, I’m very happy they know what the answer should be because they can check whether the formula they entered is correct.
By spending all the time putting in formulas for sub-totals and grand totals, the students can adjust the detail line items and watch as their changes flow automatically through to the last line in the budget - the surplus or deficit. They can decide for themselves what they’d tell Janna to change - maybe cut down on her dining out, trim her gasoline expenses. I love to watch their faces light up when they see how their changes are automatically reflected in the bottom line.
Ask your student to show you their spreadsheet and explain some of the formulas they used. I provide the 4 Activities (Scenarios) that we use in class to the students both in paper copy and posted to our classroom. They also get a finished spreadsheet to use at each stage to verify that their work is correct.
In our last class I will have the students build their own worksheets and budgets. Perhaps they are saving for a big purchase. Based on what they've learned about Janna, they can make a framework with some basic budget information and use this as a springboard for future plans and discussions with you! Happy Budgeting!
Grade 6
Cycle 2 - Pi Digits Contest and Family Math Carnival
Grade 6 will be involved in March MATHness. First, they will run the Pi Digits Contest for the school which will happen during the week of March 13th, in honor of Pi Day (3/14). This contest is open to any student in the school and tests their ability to memorize as many digits of Pi as possible! It's a fun event, celebrating Math's only holiday, Pi Day and is a common event in schools around the country on Pi Day.
Secondly, the 6th grade will be responsible for the Family Math Carnival, which will be celebrated the last week of March this year, in honor of Pi Day! This is our second year hosting this fun family event, which debuted last year with an assortment of engaging math activities, online math games/websites and international games in honor of our multi-cultural theme.
Secondly, the 6th grade will be responsible for the Family Math Carnival, which will be celebrated the last week of March this year, in honor of Pi Day! This is our second year hosting this fun family event, which debuted last year with an assortment of engaging math activities, online math games/websites and international games in honor of our multi-cultural theme.
Cycle 3 -
Grade 6 will continue working on the Math Carnival for the remainder of March, until both carnivals have completed. We will take a break for a week, and then pick up with our last unit!
During cycle 3 we will explore various mathematical concepts and see how they occur and are tied to nature. It's so exciting to investigate more advanced math topics in general, but we will get to explore what's so fascinating about them. We will make connections from math to nature and explore some math marvels and mysteries!!! I love to encourage my math students to explore and love for them to be excited about math!
During cycle 3 we will explore various mathematical concepts and see how they occur and are tied to nature. It's so exciting to investigate more advanced math topics in general, but we will get to explore what's so fascinating about them. We will make connections from math to nature and explore some math marvels and mysteries!!! I love to encourage my math students to explore and love for them to be excited about math!
Pi Digits Happenings...
Cherry Hill School:
Congratulations to the 41 students who came during recess to test their memorization skills at the Pi Digits Contest!
In third place, with 87 digits, is Jackson from 1B
In second place overall, with 151 digits is Camryn from 3K.
And in first place overall, with a whopping 399 digits, is Surya from 2K.
Congratulation to all and thanks for participating!
Roosevelt School:
Congratulations to the 31 students who came during recess today to test their memorization skills at the Pi Digits Contest!
In third place, with 35 digits, is Brianna from 6A.
In second place overall, with 51 digits is Christina from 5W.
And in first place overall, with an amazing 69 digits is Maaya from 4-Otis.
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