Math is...

Maths tool

Modern Practices

Some interesting reads!

https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2016/12/05/how-to-integrate-growth-mindset-messages-into-every-part-of-math-class/

https://eduwells.com/2016/12/10/5-tools-for-student-driven-learning/

What Neuroscience Tells Us About Making Fractions Stick

From the awesome MindShift blog, written by Katrina Schwartz:

https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2016/11/21/what-neuroscience-can-tell-us-about-making-fractions-stick/

Christmas Stars as a maths activity

Thank you to Facebook user Art Teacher Life for sharing this video!

Uses paper bags - could be a great collaborative group task - think about colour and design, pattern and symmetry...

Problem-based Learning - 'real life' in the classroom

Very cool programme - I'm thinking about how I might be able to do the same to make my maths programme more 'real' and more effectively teach skills alongside strategies and knowledge.

http://www.theedadvocate.org/mr-johnsons-classroom-fun/

Olympics Resources and Teaching Links

Incorporating the 2016 Rio Olympics into DRIVE inquiry, numeracy and literacy...

Image source

GENERAL:
Web links collated by my awesome colleague, Jo Stanway, for her team blog

MATHS:
Univ of Cambridge NRICH maths sports-related tasks

Image source

Cool maths puzzles

A great blog post from Erin of the 'E is For Explore' blog, with ten fun, magic maths puzzles...

http://www.weareteachers.com/blogs/post/2015/07/21/10-magical-math-puzzles

Maths games...

Always on the look-out for a new maths game or two?

Here are some suggestions from Leigh Langton via the Corkboard Connections blog

iPads in the classroom workshop 31-07-2014

Some practical activities using iPad apps in the classroom...an e-learning workshop for teachers...

Remembering the SAMR Model...we will be aiming to be actively creating (modifying and redefining) our own products to share information with the ipads (rather than just "playing games" with apps)...

Today's task/s: incorporating maths, writing, oral language, visual language...

1. Use the camera to take 5-6 photos of 2-d shapes in the playground or classroom.
2. Use the Skitch app to label the photos. Then you can use the photos from your PhotoStream or CameraRoll to...

• Create a Tellagami in which you verbally describe the attributes of one of the shapes you photographed.
• Your Tellagami can be saved to use as a video file (to upload to Vimeo* or You Tube), or shared to Facebook, Twitter etc (if you have activated those accounts) or sent as an email for further sharing via a laptop.

• Create a ShadowPuppet presentation about your shapes. - this can also be saved as a video to be shared in various ways**

• Create an Explain Everything or Show Me presentation about the shapes - also make into a video to share.

• Create a QR code for one of your presentations and share it to a blog or send it as an email to print - the ipad has a QR Creator app as well as a QR Reader app.

* from Vimeo or You Tube the video can be embedded into a blog for immediate sharing, or the URL link can be copied to use in a document or website eg a Facebook post

** The pupils and I usually set a criteria for the work that is to be shared - this often happens during the writing process that occurs before the app is used - we use the appropriate text type features to suit the purpose of our video and the audience that will be viewing it. This means that the pupils write a draft and peer check it against both the criteria of the text type eg an explanation as well as then having a criteria of what needs to be included when the writing is 'published' via the video app.

• I usually also set a time limit eg for an iMovie they are only allowed maybe 30 seconds of completed/edited video in which to share their message (iMovies that are too long will clog up the memory space of the ipad account)

MEASUREMENT: length and area

Just a short week of activities to refresh the pupils' prior knowledge and give them opportunities to add to their skills with using length and area.

LEVEL THREE ACHIEVEMENT OBJECTIVES - specific learning outcomes:
* Use correct units for measurements – mm, cm, m, km.
* Convert from one unit to another.
* Solve problems using measurement.
* Estimate length or area sensibly.
* Know the units of area.
* Find the perimeter of a shape.
* Find the area of a shape including irregular shapes.



I will use adaptations of the units available in the Level Three lesson activities from NZ Maths:
Stepping Out - make estimates of lengths between 50cm-1.5m; measure lengths in cm and m; convert between cm and m
Paper Planes - measure accurately using mm, cm and m
Perplexing Perimeters - measure accurately using standard units; perform addition calculations to find perimeters of objects
Giant Mystery - measure accurately using mm and cm
How Do You Measure This? - a range of practical, problem-solving activities

Geometry - nets for polyhedra

This is a great link for finding PDF links of a huge range of different 3d shapes... http://www.korthalsaltes.com/

Maths - lines and angles challenge

Today the pupils are using the iPads to photograph lines and angles around the school to use in a Comic Life page, to put together in a book for other pupils to be able to learn about the different types of lines and angles that shapes can have.

Some pupils wanted to label or draw on their photos so we are trying out the Skitch app as well.

Free maths posters

Here is a set of free PDF posters, great for starter activities or one-off tasks that get the children thinking!

Poster set (click on a poster to open the files) from Teaching Ideas (UK)

E is for Explore!: Kandinsky Math

This is a blogpost with a cool way to incorporate art and maths (fractions) - I have used Kadinsky's circles before, will definitely use again!

E is for Explore!: Kandinsky Math