Open Middle Question

Here is my attempt at an open middle problem. I wonder how many solutions are possible? Try it and let me know.

Graph Theory Menu Math

I love tasks which make student think and discuss. Menu Math tasks meet these criteria. I have attempted to create one myself – on Graph Theory. I am not sure if I have chosen my constraints well though?

If you want to help out, have a go at the task below, and leave a comment suggesting any changes you would make.

You can download a PDF of this task here: Graph Theory Menu Task.

Rhombisaurus

I was so inspired by @MrNiksMathClass square counting activity in the shape of a shark, that I decided to create my own. Each class I have used this with have loved it and learnt about like terms and square numbers.

My shape is a Stegasaurus which I have made from rhombi, so I have renamed it “Rhombisaurus”. I wonder if my students will spot the triangular numbers?

Solution:

A PDF file for this worksheet and solution can be downloaded here: Rhombisaurus.

Ride Like A Girl

On a recent flight from Perth to Melbourne I perused the movie list and chose “Ride Like A Girl” directed by Rachel Griffiths.

I don’t intend this post to be a movie review but do yourself a favor and watch it. I’m serious WATCH IT. It is inspirational and will probably make you cry – I did!

Because the film is so inspiring I intend to show the movie trailer and part of a Sunday Night interview with Rachel Griffiths to my Mathematics classes. I have prepared a worksheet which may download here as a pdf: RIDE LIKE A GIRL.

Let me know in the comments if you think this has merit? Any other comments……

Square Pairs

I have given students this problem before and they were engaged. However, I didn’t think of getting them out of their seats! Thanks Tracy, I will definitely be re-using this.

Fractally Speaking ~ Maths T & L

Originally sourced from Maths300 this activity is great for getting students up and moving. I quite often run this in the first week of school and get students to introduce themselves to their classmates if they are new faces.

I give each student a number (it is usually easier if they are printed on paper) 1….24, and then have them all stand in a confined open area and group themselves into a pair that add up to a square number. If you dont have an even number, include yourself, or create invisible friends (ie stick the number to the wall). The lowest number of students I would use would be 18. Hopefully, it doesnt work the first time and so you get them to repeat a couple of times.

Then, stop students and discuss strategies/issues eg who does 8 have to go with?

We then head back to our desks…

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Ben – Master of the Cosine Curve

The use of literacy tasks in Mathematics classes is often met with opposition from both students and teachers. In fact, as a student, I would try to avoid writing tasks as much as I could despite being a keen reader.

I now find as a teacher that:

1. I have a duty to help develop a students literacy
2. Some literacy tasks are “fun”
3. Literacy tasks can enhance the teacher – student relationship.

Thanks to Paul Flintham for his Newspaper Template on TES.

My Year 11 Mathematical Methods class has been studying Trigonometry. As in previous years the Unit Circle has helped student’s learning a lot. Image from: https://www.mathsisfun.com/

I have set my students the task of writing a newspaper article about an event that has occurred in our class whilst learning trigonometry. Humor is encouraged! Here is my attempt: Bens cosine. (note that Ben and Len are pseudonyms)

What literacy tasks have you used in your mathematics classroom?

Join the Dots

I was planning a decimals lesson for my year 7 class. Upon searching Colin Fosters excellent resources I noticed:

“Oral work: Go around the class counting up in 0.3’s,
say, beginning at 5.
Will we ever hit 100?
What’s the closest we’ll get?”

It occurred to me that this sort of practice could be adapted to a ‘join the dots” puzzle.

You can download a pdf here: Add point three.

My colleague is teaching FDP (fraction – decimals – percentages), so asked me to create a puzzle making a picture of a Corgi dog – she owns two!

You can download a pdf here: add 5 percent

 

A Few of my Favourite Things

On a recent trip to Nepal – Bhutan – Hong Kong, I couldn’t resist buying some stationary to add to my favorites (see picture below).

What stationary/teaching aids could you NOT do without?

2018 Planning

Oh my! This will be my 40th year of teaching. And I still love it. Only 8 more sleeps.

I can’t wait for my new classes, students, colleagues and teaching/learning experiences.

My plans so far:

1. Get to know students quickly (names, likes, dislikes).
2. Use Sara Vanderwerf’s Week 1 ideas – after all she has posted about week 1 fifteen times!
3. In particular I like “Name Tents with Feedback”, “100 Number Task” and “Mathfails”. Here is a Math fail I photographed last month:
4. Get more feedback from students and act on it. eg. survey questions, pre-tests, exit tickets, etc.
5. Use more open ended questions eg. Is x squared or x cubed bigger? Explain.
6. Allow opportunities for movement around the classroom. eg. Leaning stations, Slope Man says, Movement Maths videos, Puzzle Table, etc.
7. Use “Maths in the News” from the Independent egs. Largest known prime discovered, The perfect age to get married is 26.
8. Have fun with students egs. Nicknames, Instead of “Where’s Waldo” play “Where’s Molly”, celebrate birthdays.
9. Show students the beauty and wonder of Mathematics eg. Numberphile videos.
10. Finally, I wonder if they will like my new Teddy and think up a good name for him?

Dominotion (part 2)

Games that engage student have (from my experience) a balance of skill and luck. All students should believe that they have a chance of winning. The game should involve a number of choices to be made. So here is the board and rules for “Dominotion”.

Rules

1. Ten dominoes are drawn (one at a time) from a double-15 set.

2. Players place each pair of numbers on the board. They may be horizontal or vertical with the two numbers in either order.

3. Eight dominoes are placed on the grid and two dominoes are discarded.

4. Each row and column is scored (eight scores).

5. The winner has the highest total.

The game board: domination.pdf

What strategies would you use? What is a good score? Any feedback would be appreciated.