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Math Lessons
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NobleEd News has great math lessons in algebra and geometry in our
Computations section.
Causes of Math Anxiety
-
Lack of variety in the teaching/learning process (variety adds
interest and interest leads to learning)
-
Emphasis on memorization (this doesn't mean things shouldn't
be memorized)
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Emphasis on speed (who cares how fast)
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Emphasis on doing one's own work (sometimes we learn from and
with others)
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Authoritarian teaching (my way is the only way!--Didn't you
hate this in school?)
Three Instructional Modes
Mathematical Investigation
Set the stage
State the objective
Investigate and check for understanding
Have students tell what they did
Problem Solving Strategies
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Look for patterns
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Use a model
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Use a drawing or diagram
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Act it out
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Construct a table and/or graph
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Guess and check
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Account for all possibilities
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Simplify and break into parts
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Work backward
-
Change you point of view
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math activities
Cooking with Fractions
One of the most practical and rewarding activities to teach fractions is
cooking. Everyone at one time or another must be able to double, half or even
cut in thirds a recipe.
Here are some ideas for using cooking to teach your students fractions.
Begin by breaking students into pairs. Each pair must do the following:
Find a recipe they would like to make and get approval from the teacher (
www.NobleEdNews.com/in_the_kitchen.htm has lots of recipes)
Do the calculations to find out how much they need to make to feed the
class. Is the recipe as written enough to give each student a taste?
Do the calculations for ½ or the recipe
Do the calculations for ¼ of the recipe
Do the calculations to double the recipe
Do the calculations to feed 100 people
Make the recipe at home and bring it to the banquet
At the banquet each recipe should have a number but no names on it. Each
student should write the number on a piece of paper and not whether the recipe
tastes right. The calculations and the following of written instructions will
tell the tale…
The Last Apple
Purpose--Problem Solving, Development of strategies, follow conditions,
generalize
Grade Level-4-8
Materials--Last apple tree, apples (made with construction paper)
Description-
- Make an apple tree with spaces left for 15 apples--this can be drawn, made
of construction paper or as I prefer for reusability, cardboard
- Place the apples on the tree
- Students work with partners to take turns removing apples from the tree.
Students may only take 1,2 or 3 apples at a time.
- After a few games ask these questions
Is it better to go first or
second?
Did you find a way to always win?
Variations--
- Start with a different number of apples
- remover a different number on each turn
- make the player who gets the last apple the winner
- make the player the most apples the winner
Gail's Digit Math and Target Math games. From the Math List Serve
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TARGET MATH
(Small group)
Can be modified for any age and works especially well when you create a
challenge for all students with your grouping.
1. Students work in teams of not more than 3 .
2. 2 teams challenge each other so you can set groups around the room
and monitor their participation. After a while they self monitor.
3. Using addition/subtraction (increase the challenge by adding other
operations) team one is dealt 5 cards up, a "target" card is dealt in
the middle and 5 cards dealt up to the remaining team.
4. The goal is to (cards can be moved around) use a combination of
operations to manipulate the numbers to hit the target number. All cards
must be used and at times it is impossible to hit the target, so the
team who comes closest gets the point.
5. Each team receives a point when they hit the target and the team
who comes closest to the number receives the point for the round.
ex: Target no. 11
2 + 3 = 5 - 1 etc.
*Encourage students to work together and pass the problem within their
group.
*I adjust the number of cards based on the challenge needed
*I give students extra credit when they "teach" any of the games to
their
parents or other students in other classes. A signature and note is
required.
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DIGIT MATH
(Large group)
This game reinforces place value and may be used for whole no. and
decimals
1. I start by placing blank spaces on the board and identify whether
I want the greatest or smallest no.
ex. ___ ___, ___ ___ ___ (greatest)
2. I ask what number will be represented, students should respond,
ten thousands
3. After shuffling the deck of Ace (1) through 9 cards, I draw one
card at a time and students place digits in their blanks as each card is
presented. They cannot wait until all cards are drawn, must be placed
as we go.
4. After the last card is drawn, I ask students "who has the greatest
number?" I write this number on the board and ask if their is anyone
with a greater number, if so, write that number down. Students must use
the
appropriate terminology when sharing their number. (Good chance to reinforce
verbal skills) When we have reached the greatest number, the
students
who had the greatest number becomes the dealer.
*Number of digits is determined by the dealer and can be adjusted by the
students within reason. I start with 1000 to help students learn the
game.
This is a great fill when you have a few minutes to use, or I make a
Round Robin game of it. Students turn in their game points when they
play this
in small groups and I regroup students the next time by placing all the
1st
place players together, the 2nd place etc.
This grouping allows everyone an opportunity to be appropriately
Challenged and to succeed.
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SPOONS MATH
Small group Activity 4-5 students maximum.
Reinforce Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication Facts (Fractions can be
included, however, students tend to hold out until they have easy
combinations)
EX. For a group of 5 students
1. Students place 4 (one less than the group) plastic
SPOONS
in the center of the table.
2. The dealer identifies the game played (addition,
subtraction, multiplication)
3. The dealer selects a "target" number (ie. 23)
4. The dealer passes out four cards to each player
(including
themselves) and places the remaining deck of cards in
front of them.
5. The dealer picks one card from the deck to either pass
or
keep in his/her hand and discard 1 other). Each player
can only hold 4 cards in their playing hand at a time.
6. When a player has a SUM of 23 in their hand (4 cards)
they
then pick up 1 spoon and other players proceed to
pick
up a spoon. (One player will NOT have a spoon) Students get intense in
retrieving a SPOON.
7. Pass the deal to the left each time.
8. After a player has 3 times that they did not retrieve
a
spoon, they then become an observer. (This process can be
adjusted)
*Students should be reminded of SAFETY...it's just a game!!!!
*Teacher can select the game and alternate the math concept/s being used
that day.
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Math Baseball
This is a game I love to play with the kids. Basically it is a
creative way to drill math facts. I'm one of those teachers that still believes
that multiplication tables should be memorized. This little activity helps.
Basically you break the class into two teams. This should be done by grouping
the kids so that the basic skill level on each team is about the same. Students
come up to bat...you pitch them a math problem. If they answer correctly they
take their base, if not they are out. Play continues for nine innings. The
winning team is the one who gets the most runs. Reward ideas include extra free
time, get dismissed first or some non tangible item. While candy is great is
really makes your job harder.
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Website Links
Math for Morons
like Us
Learn -This is the largest portion of the site
- where you will find tutorials, sample problems, and quizzes. Here are a few
important notes about this section: Most other sites attempt to teach things
"from the bottom up." This site is designed under the assumption that you know
some of the basic concepts but need some reinforcement. Or perhaps you want to
review things you learned ages ago. Also, included is a short quiz after each
tutorial so you can test yourself on what you've just learned or reviewed. One
other point of clarification: "Algebra" covers elementary algebra, "Algebra II"
covers intermediate algebra as well as basic trigonometry, and "Precalc" covers
advanced algebra. Interact-has a number of interactive resources to help you
with math. Many problems can be solved by simply asking someone else for some
quick help, so they've included a Message Board on the site where you can go
communicate with others. And for all the students out there who are suffering
though Calculus there's set up a separate Calculus Message Board for Calc
students only. Formula Database is really nice. Commonly used formulas have
already been added to the database. You can search the database as well as add
new equations to the collection. There are Quizzes in both JavaScript and
text-only quizzes. That way, if you want the quiz but don't want to wade
through the lessons, you don't have to. And, finally Math Links which links to a
lot of great math sites on the Internet.
http://library.thinkquest.org/20991/home.html
The NCES
Classroom
In their own words "The
purpose of the National Center for Education Statistics' Student's Classroom is
to provide information to help you learn about schools; decide on a college;
find a public library; engage in several games, quizzes and skill building about
math, probability, graphing, and mathematicians; and to help build these skills
by writing for CRUNCH and perusing our glossary. Of course, all of these things
have been designed to be fun too…so jump in!" Of course there is also access to
the NCES main home page. The NCES is "part of the U.S. Department of Education's
Institute of Education Sciences, the
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the primary federal entity for
collecting and analyzing education-related data. NCES fulfills a Congressional
mandate to collect, analyze, and report statistics on American education;
conduct and publish reports; and review and report on education activities
internationally."
http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/
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