5 Quick Maths Activities about your Classroom

For numeracy week we are going to be looking at the following questions related to our classroom.  They are simple activities that have a great deal of maths to them and are pretty much suitable to any age group. 

Remember some activities can be measured informally then using formal units of measurement. There is lots of estimation involved and students really need time to ponder this. Can you imagine a prep answering, how high is the ceiling? ‘Well about the height of a giraffe!’

Enjoy

How many students (an arm’s width apart) fit around the inside edge (perimeter)of your classroom?

What is the perimeter of your classroom to the nearest metre?

How many students could stand on the classroom floor if the space was clear?

What is the area of your classroom to the nearest square metre?

How many years old is your classroom?

 What is the main view from your classroom?

What is special about your classroom?

Model your Math Problems with Thinkingblocks

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Model and Solve Math Word Problems

Thinking Blocks is a suite of learning tools designed to help students solve math word problems accurately and efficiently. Using brightly colored blocks, students model mathematical relationships and identify known and unknown quantities. The model provides students with a powerful image that organizes information and simplifies the problem solving process. By modeling increasingly complex word problems, students develop strong reasoning skills which will facilitate the transition from arithmetic to algebra.

New Features

tutorials are more student driven; students determine the placement of labels and blocks numbers and question marks are draggable components and text input has been eliminated blocks and other components are significantly larger and more robust new modeling tutorial introduces students to word problems with fractions students are shown ways to accurately size blocks in the addition and subtraction module tutorial programs include a calculator enabling students to focus on conceptual understanding full screen option makes Thinking Blocks compatible with interactive whiteboards improved modeling tool includes hundreds of word problems in six major areas of math self-checking feature encourages students to compare their models to those dynamically generated by the program _ Access Thinkingblocks here

Blooms Taxonomy Grid for Charlie and The Chocolate Factory - 42 Activities

Over the last few weeks our class has been reading Roald Dahl's Classic Novel 'Charlie and the chocolate factory' which they have all thoroughly enjoyed even though many of them had recently seen the Johnny Depp film version.

Now that we have completed the book we are going to spend a week engrossing ourselves in over 42 activities based on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory built on both Bloom's taxonomy and Gardiner's Multiple intelligence.

To Support this we will also be watchin both versions of the film to really compare and contrast between the original  text and Hollywood versions of this all time favourite novel.

You can download the Grid containing all 42 activities here and you can share any great 'Charlie' lesson ideas below in the comments section.

Enjoy

The Ultimate Guide to Teaching Lattice Multiplication

It really amazes me how many teachers and inevitably students with years of experience that have never come across or taught lattice multiplication. Which is a brilliant alternative to traditional multiplication.

"What is Lattice Multiplication" you may ask?

Lattice multiplication offers a very simple alternative to traditional multiplication methods when dealing with whole numbers and decimals of any size.  I find it incredibly useful to use lattice multiplication with reluctant mathematician's who need to take a fresh look at solving both simple and complex equations.

I came across these two excellent slideshows that explain in simple terms for both teachers and students how to do lattice multiplication for whole numbers and decimals.  I would love to creadit the author who put them together but I cannot find any details.

Please share this with your kids and add this as another tool in your maths toolbox.

Lattice Multiplication

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Decimal lattice multiplication

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Introducing the Maths Problem Solving Toolkit every Teacher should have.

Below is a presentation that introduces that 12 concepts of the maths problem solving toolkit.  These tools are essential for students to become effective maths problem solvers.

Be sure to download the A3 and A4 posters associated with this also to put up around your classroom.  This resource is suitable for students of all ages and should be touched upon at least twice per year.

If you cant view slideshare at your school feel free to downlaod the PowerPoint here.  Hope you enjoy it and be sure to leave some feedback if you have any further suggestions.

Introducing the maths toolbox

View more presentations from Kevin Cummins.

Learn Maths through Play with hoodamath.com

Why Math Games?

Hooda Math believes in math learning through play. Mr. Edlavitch credits board and card games for his early enjoyment of mathematics. Hooda Math believes free online math games can do the same for students today.

Teachers

Hooda Math can be used in a number of ways. Their online math games can be used for computer lab activities with/without Their free math worksheets. Their math games can also be used with your interactive whiteboards, check out our SMARTboard Games page. Middle and Highschool students can do Math Movie projects with xtranormal.com and submit them to us for publication. A classroom teacher favorite is their free online math tool, Math Timed Tests that emails individual reports back to teachers and students.

Hooda Math was created by Michael Edlavitch, a middle school math teacher. Web design is done by his wife Teresa. Last year Michael left classroom teaching to focus on Hooda Math full-time. How else would Hooda Math put up 3 new cool math games a week?

A Complete List of Online Maths Resources

A big thanks to Lauren for this one

Whether you are confused by multiplication, need extra practice with geometry proofs, or find yourself struggling to understand logarithms, you are sure to find a website from the following list that fits your math needs.

We have scoured the Internet in order to compile a comprehensive collection of resources for all math subjects, from the basics to calculus. This article provides helpful explanations, sample problems and tests, detailed diagrams, and even games. If you want to improve your math skills, this is an excellent place to start.  They are all free of course.

To see this list click here

My Top Multiplication Games

Thanks to Scott McGlynn from mytopten.com.au for these great multiplication games for students.  They are a great option for the classroom or as some 'fun' homework.  I'd love to hear if you have any others.

Balloon Invaders

                                                          

 Grand Prix

Batter's Up Baseball

                          

The Ambleweb Tables Tester

   

  Learn your Tables