Individual Activities
Coordinate Plane - http://smartboards.typepad.com/smartboard/files/coordinates1.swf
The Eyeballing Game - http://woodgears.ca/eyeball/
Numberline - http://www.mathsonline.co.uk/freesite_tour/resource/whiteboard/decimals/decimals2.html
Survey Taking - http://www.teacherled.com/resources/survey/surveyload.html
Estimation Activities - http://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/estimation-game.php
Resource Sites
Teacher Utilities - http://harveyshomepage.com/Harveys_Homepage/Utilities.html
MathXP Games - http://www.xpmath.com/
Mathsframe Interactive - http://www.mathsframe.co.uk/free_resources.asp
Math Doodles - http://www.carstensstudios.com/mathdoodles/mathdoodlesDemos.htm
Shodor Interactivate - http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/
National Library of Virtual Manipulatives - http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html
NCTM Illuminations - http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivitySearch.aspx
Jim Reed's Home Page - http://staff.argyll.epsb.ca/jreed/Default.htm
Cut the Knot - http://www.cut-the-knot.org/Curriculum/index.shtml
Super Teacher Tools - http://www.superteachertools.com/index.php
SMART Exchange - http://exchange.smarttech.com/#tab=0
Sheppard Math Games - http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/math.htm
Number Balls - http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/Numberballs_absolute_value/numberballsAS2_abs.htm
Just For Fun
Bubblewrap Pop - http://smartboards.typepad.com/smartboard/files/bubblewrap.swf
Jigsaw Sudoku - http://www.jigsawdoku.com/
inter-Face - http://www.alterfin.com/dominique/
This is Sand - http://thisissand.com/
Self Control Freak - http://www.selfcontrolfreak.com/
Incredibox - http://www.incredibox.fr/
Egg Timer - http://www.online-stopwatch.com/eggtimer-countdown/full-screen/
Read More!
New Decode
Here is the new D3C0D3 th3 C0d3 for November.
010111010 - tells me not to attack.
1001100110011111 - is made just for you.
100100111 - hope you're not one of these.
0101010101100010101000100 - this last one is your chance to prove.
CLUES:
new moon - 1111
half moon - 1010
the first glass - 1100
the second - 0011
skiing - 1001
climbing - 0110 Read More!
010111010 - tells me not to attack.
1001100110011111 - is made just for you.
100100111 - hope you're not one of these.
0101010101100010101000100 - this last one is your chance to prove.
CLUES:
new moon - 1111
half moon - 1010
the first glass - 1100
the second - 0011
skiing - 1001
climbing - 0110 Read More!
Store Project
Here are the projects that students in Math 3-4 have been working on. Their assignment was to create a miniature store, with prices, products, and people. They wrote several better deal problems for their classmates to solve, like "Which is the better deal, 5 video games for $60, or 3 video games for $30.
Read More!
Geometry in the Olympics
Geometry students chose an Olympic sport and applied the concepts from our intro unit to their projects. Students had to label any lines, rays, segments, points, the plane, and angles. They were to dipict their sport in a three dimensional scene. Here are the 10 finished projects from both class periods.
Read More!
It's Here!
Yesterday, my document camera arrived! It's an amazing device that will save so much of my time (spent printing overhead sheets) and resources (sheets and toner). It also does not heat up like the regular projector and allows me to zoom in on one problem at a time, and allows students to check their entire paper without erasing.
I purchased this Elmo EV-400AF document camera on eBay for $150, which is quite a deal considering a new one can cost anywhere from $700-900. It is an older model, but the camera and lights are in excellent shape.
Students were quite amazed by all of the things it could do. If you aren't familair with this item, it basically streams live video of whatever you put on the surface beneath the camera. I can demonstrate examples and guide the students through their notes without overhead sheets or dry erase marker. They will now be able to take turns showing the class how they solved a problem, without messing with markers and sheets as well.
Read More!
Multiple Intelligences
On Friday, all of my students took a assessment, identifying their learning strenghts in multiple intelligences. There are said to be eight ways in which students best learn or process new information, a concept that was introduced by Howard Gardner in 1983.
Here are the results across all of my classes and students. The percentages indicate what percent of students identified themselves as having that particular learning style/intelligence on their assessment.
As you can see, the majority of students learn best when physical body movement (kinesthetics) are included in a learning activity. Interpersonal learning (working with others) and visual/spatial learning were also indicated.
I then compared the male and female populations of my students to see which styles were more often designated by each group.
It is evident that the male students posses more logical, kinesthetic, and natural learning styles than the female students in my classes, and that the female students are stronger in the areas of verbal, visual, musical, and interpersonal learning.
I believe this data is a fairly accurate picture of most high school students, though there are many exceptions. This information helps me in planning lessons and creating activities that will add relevance and true learning for my students. Read More!
Here are the results across all of my classes and students. The percentages indicate what percent of students identified themselves as having that particular learning style/intelligence on their assessment.
As you can see, the majority of students learn best when physical body movement (kinesthetics) are included in a learning activity. Interpersonal learning (working with others) and visual/spatial learning were also indicated.
I then compared the male and female populations of my students to see which styles were more often designated by each group.
It is evident that the male students posses more logical, kinesthetic, and natural learning styles than the female students in my classes, and that the female students are stronger in the areas of verbal, visual, musical, and interpersonal learning.
I believe this data is a fairly accurate picture of most high school students, though there are many exceptions. This information helps me in planning lessons and creating activities that will add relevance and true learning for my students. Read More!
Recycle Races 2009
Here is the final tournament race video for the end of the year project.CLICK HERE to visit the official Recycle Races page, with car photos, standings, rankings, and tournament brackets.
Power of U
Power of U is the incentive system we use in all of my classes. It comes from the idea that every student has the exponential power to make our class a success. This system focuses on respect, responsibility, and effort.
Studends receive 'power cards' for making good choices and doing what they need to do with a good attitude. We hold weekly drawings, in which power cards are drawn and students win prizes, such as gift cards to buy items from the student store, The Spot. Read More!
Studends receive 'power cards' for making good choices and doing what they need to do with a good attitude. We hold weekly drawings, in which power cards are drawn and students win prizes, such as gift cards to buy items from the student store, The Spot. Read More!
M&M Frequency
In Math 1-2, we carried out a project/experiment, as students opened up fun-size bags of M&Ms, creating bar graphs to represent the color frequencies. Here is a compiled pie chart of all the colors identified in 20 bags of M&Ms.
According to a new study (July 2009), the dye in blue M&Ms has been found to 'mend spinal injuries' in rats. Something interesting I saw on the news yesterday. (Article)
Read More!
According to a new study (July 2009), the dye in blue M&Ms has been found to 'mend spinal injuries' in rats. Something interesting I saw on the news yesterday. (Article)
Read More!
Board Games
Here are the top three integer board games, designed by students in Math 3-4.
Indiana Jones
Extreme Candy Land
Double Trouble
Read More!
Indiana Jones
Extreme Candy Land
Double Trouble
Read More!
Story Graphs
Some of the story graph posters that pairs of students created in Algebra 1-2. They had to design four stories that were somehow connected and draw a graph to match each one.
Read More!
Roller Coaster Project 2008
The Algebra 1-2 students worked in teams of three/four, building roller coasters entirely out of popsicle sticks, wood dowels, and irrigation pipe. A marble had to be able to roll on the track, making the loop(s) successfully.
In completing this project, we learned about linear equations, slopes, and the need for good teamwork/communication.
Coasters were tested and ranked according to excitement, intensity, and nausea. Students also voted for their favorite coaster, which was 'Joyride'.
Panda Express - A unique loop and jump, unfortunately the marble could make neither.
The Shadow - Very cool second rise and fall, but had trouble with finishing the loop.
Kamizake - Designed by all female students, with double loops. Unique in the fact that the second loop is smaller than the first.
Zero Gravity - The longest drop every built and the first double loop to work.
Read More!
In completing this project, we learned about linear equations, slopes, and the need for good teamwork/communication.
Coasters were tested and ranked according to excitement, intensity, and nausea. Students also voted for their favorite coaster, which was 'Joyride'.
Panda Express - A unique loop and jump, unfortunately the marble could make neither.
The Shadow - Very cool second rise and fall, but had trouble with finishing the loop.
Kamizake - Designed by all female students, with double loops. Unique in the fact that the second loop is smaller than the first.
Zero Gravity - The longest drop every built and the first double loop to work.
The Patriot - The most expensive coaster in terms of sticks used. Largest loop we had.
The Joyride - A nice double loop coaster, sending riders through two consecutive loops.
The Challenger - The most balanced ride, sending riders through a fast loop and a smooth transition.
The Joyride - A nice double loop coaster, sending riders through two consecutive loops.
The Challenger - The most balanced ride, sending riders through a fast loop and a smooth transition.
Building Models
Math 3-4 students designed 3D models of famous buildings and landmarks, as we learned about ratios and proportions. These models are all built to scale.
John Hancock Tower
The Wynn
The Luxor (light works)
The Empire State Building
Central Building
Trump Tower
The World Trade Center
City Scape
Read More!
John Hancock Tower
The Wynn
The Luxor (light works)
The Empire State Building
Central Building
Trump Tower
The World Trade Center
City Scape
