See you in August!
About Me
- Tina Dittrich
- Welcome to my math blog! The purpose of this blog is to help you stay informed about our learning and experiences that have taken place during our math class. I have also included links your child (and you) may want to use in order to supplement math learning in 5th grade.
Friday, May 25, 2018
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
So, How Many Seconds Have We Been in School?
I found this activity in The Mailbox magazine. It is called "Ticktock!" and is from the June/July 2011 edition. Instead of keeping it a worksheet, I created a slide show and answer sheet. As we work through the slides, we use calculators to find the answers and check our work with an answer slide. The kids are always blown away as the numbers generated are larger and larger and LARGER.
This is a fun way to end the math year.
Monday, May 21, 2018
Mathematical Art: Curves of Pursuit
This was a very cool activity. We did not use a compass, we only needed a ruler to make the curves of pursuit come out correctly. I gave each student a sheet of paper that had a square and triangle on the front, and a pentagon and hexagon on the back. I wanted my students to have to opportunity to see how each of these worked. They were amazed when the curves made their appearance!
I did take a moment to show the math behind the magic of the pursuit curve. I took them to the site http://www.mathcurve.com/courbes2d.gb/poursuite/poursuite.shtml. This site showed them the curve studied by Leonardo da Vinci in 1732.
Thursday, May 17, 2018
Mathematical Art: Drawing a Cardioid
As I was preparing for this lesson (not having worked with a cardioid before), the resources were VERY helpful! Also, if you want to challenge your kids to try other numbers, the website Antiprism.com shows how other versions look when completed.
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Mathematical Art: Day 4 (Modern Art Maths cont)
Today we are creating art pieces using squares of colored paper. Essentially, they are creating visual models of rational numbers. Once the art work is completed, we will reinforce the concept that a fraction is a decimal and a decimal is a fraction, by finding the fraction, decimal, AND percent of each color used.
I changed things up a bit today. Instead of giving them a 10x10 grid, they were working with an 8x8 grid. When the art was completed, we used calculators to find the decimal equivalents for the fractions created. I wanted to show how finding the decimal (rounded to the 100ths) gives them the information they need for the percent and amount of money.
Classes were shorter today as we had the Science STAAR this morning.
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
Mathematical Art: Day 3 (Modern Art Maths)
Today we are creating art pieces using squares of colored paper. Essentially, they are creating visual models of rational numbers. Once the art work is completed, we will reinforce the concept that a fraction is a decimal and a decimal is a fraction, by finding the fraction, decimal, AND percent of each color used.
There is an NCTM article connected to this lesson that explains the connection of math and art with this activity.
I used the resources provided on Artful Maths to copy squares onto 7 different colors of paper. As students began, I required that they cover at least 1/2 of the grid in a color other than white. I also allowed them to use a black map pencil to include the color black in their design.
I showed the classes some paintings by Ellsworth Kelly whose artwork was the inspiration for this lesson.
Yesterday, their Lego symmetry was a loud activity, which was expected. Today, they were concentrating so hard on cutting and pasting little squares, it was silent for a good 30 minutes!
My students really enjoyed this activity! They liked creating the design and when they saw the simplicity of converting fractions, decimals, and percents that all are "out of 100", they really enjoyed the conversion table.
Tomorrow will be a little more of a challenge!
Monday, May 14, 2018
Mathematical Art: Day 1 and 2
Due to the fact that we are administering STAAR tests the next three days, we are unable to use our Chromebooks. So, this was a great time to bring back in some art in math.
Actually, we began this part of STEAM on Friday while I was out. I was in College Station at Texas A&M attending my younger daughter's graduation in Architecture. Not proud or anything!
So, on Friday, I asked my sub to have my students complete a mathematical art activity entitled "Insect Symmetry". I have found most of the activities I will be using on a site called "Artful Maths."
Students were to view the slide show that is included as a resource to see the art that has been created using images of insects. They were then given an insect to create symmetry with from the additional resource given. After creating their design within the half image given to them, they used a MIRA (see Kaleidoscopic Octagons) to create an exact reflection to trace.
I was pleased to see the finished products when I returned to school this morning.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today, we continued working with symmetry, but we used Lego bricks to create the designs. This activity was found on Teacher's Pay Teachers and was a free download.
Actually, we began this part of STEAM on Friday while I was out. I was in College Station at Texas A&M attending my younger daughter's graduation in Architecture. Not proud or anything!
So, on Friday, I asked my sub to have my students complete a mathematical art activity entitled "Insect Symmetry". I have found most of the activities I will be using on a site called "Artful Maths."
I was pleased to see the finished products when I returned to school this morning.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today, we continued working with symmetry, but we used Lego bricks to create the designs. This activity was found on Teacher's Pay Teachers and was a free download.
Students were to use 16 x 8 flats to create a symmetrical design on their flat. They were allowed to create symmetrical designs that rose off the flat as well. Once they were happy with the design. Students took a photo of their design and emailed it to themselves. Then they took apart their design and graphed the Lego bricks used.
Because, we have 90 minute classes and have no access to computers, I had to make sure to have additional activities to do. So, when finished with this activity, students made sure that their Insect Symmetry was complete from Friday. If it was, I had a set of mystery pictures for students to complete.
Thursday, May 10, 2018
STEAM Rotations Day 6/6
Bell Ringer:
Lesson Frame:
Lesson:
I had six different STEAM challenges with each group having 3 students. I carefully arranged the students myself, but then each table group the a number that represented one of the activities. This allowed students to see that I didn't play favorites.
Bloxels - http://home.bloxelsbuilder.com/index.html is a build your own video game activity. I had three Bloxels kits and three iPads for students to use.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lego Hexbug Maze: students create a maze using lego blocks for Hexbugs to travel through.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://littlebits.cc/
littleBits - http://littlebits.cc/ are easy to use electronic building blocks. This time we created a throwing arm.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Code: Students are challenged to complete a series of coding activities that range from beginning to advanced using a board game called: Rover Control.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
STEAM Engineering Challenge: Bridge Building. Which structure will hold the most weight?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Code with Dash the Robot - students work with a tablet to program Dash. Dash has a robot companion named Dot. Both robots can be programmed to complete a series of tasks. There are accessories to include as you become more proficient with the programs.
Assignments:
- Countdown to STAAR 5.9.2
- Think Through Math
Close:
I actually used a random closure generating website to reflect on the activities. The website is: Learning In Hand with Tony Vincent. The reflection generator web address:
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
STEAM Rotation Day 5/6
Bell Ringer:
Lesson Frame:
Lesson:
I had six different STEAM challenges with each group having 3 students. I carefully arranged the students myself, but then each table group the a number that represented one of the activities. This allowed students to see that I didn't play favorites.
Bloxels - http://home.bloxelsbuilder.com/index.html is a build your own video game activity. I had three Bloxels kits and three iPads for students to use.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lego Hexbug Maze: students create a maze using lego blocks for Hexbugs to travel through.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://littlebits.cc/
littleBits - http://littlebits.cc/ are easy to use electronic building blocks. This time we created a throwing arm.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Code: Students are challenged to complete a series of coding activities that range from beginning to advanced using a board game called: Rover Control.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
STEAM Engineering Challenge: Bridge Building. Which structure will hold the most weight?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Code with Dash the Robot - students work with a tablet to program Dash. Dash has a robot companion named Dot. Both robots can be programmed to complete a series of tasks. There are accessories to include as you become more proficient with the programs.
Assignments:
- Countdown to STAAR 5.9.1
- Think Through Math
Close:
I actually used a random closure generating website to reflect on the activities. The website is: Learning In Hand with Tony Vincent. The reflection generator web address:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)