Lego Blocks and Volume

Give each student a handful of legos (knex are cheaper). 

Have each student calculate the volume of all the blocks combined

Finally, have your students make something

Picture Time (Area Within A Picture)

Whats more fun than picture time? Have your students bring in their pictures and calculate the formula of some portion of the picture. This is a fun way to practice area of irregular shapes

Hands on Math has been ranked in top 100 teacher blogs!! Woot!

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Math T-Shirt Project

The goal was to create an exam review that needed to be completed on a white t-shirt and could be worn for extra credit

Face Paint Math

Here's an idea for some giggly fun. Each student is given one problem that they must solve using facepaint on their partner. They must solve it correctly or their partner will be walking around with the wrong solution on their face all day.

Teaching Negatives By Playing War

If you hae never played war, then see this article at e-how


Things You'll Need:

Playing Cards

Two Player Directions For Normal Play

1. Shuffle a deck of playing cards.
2. Deal cards face down so that each player ends up with the same number of cards.
3.Put your cards in a stack face down without peeking at them.
4.Turn up your top card and place it in the center of the table. Be sure the other player does this at the same time you do.
5. See who has the higher card. The ace is highest, followed by the king, queen, jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and, finally, the 2.
6. See if there is "war" ' that is, see if both cards on the table are the same, such as two jacks or two 3s.
7. If there is war, place your top card from your stack of cards face down on the turned-up card. Be sure the other player does this at the same time and without looking at the face-down card.
8. Turn up the next top card from your stack at the same time the other player does.
9. See who has the higher card.
10. Take all the cards from the center of the table if you had the higher card. Put these cards in a pile separate from your stack of cards. Give up your card or cards if you had the lower card.
11. Turn up the next top card from your stack of cards and place it in the center of the table when the other player does the same.
12. See who has the higher card, or if there is war. Take the cards if you end up with the higher card. Give up your card if yours is lower.
13. Turn over your cards one at a time until your stack is used up. Then use the pile of cards that you won as your stack and make a new pile for the cards you win.
14. Continue playing until one player has all the cards.

Two Player Directions For Negative Numbers.

Make the red cards negative and the black cards positive.

Fun With Factoring

Here are some fun problems with factoring out greatest common factor

1) gi + pgee + fgunny

g(i + pee + funny)

2) c3p + c3o

c3(p + o)  (from starwars)

3) te + pthone^2 + htome^2

et( 1 + phone + home)

I have a lot more that i will put into a word document so you can download.

Hunting For Treasure

When teaching graphing i like to talk about hunting for treasure

Before teaching the x-axis and y-axis and where to plot point (2,2), it may be beneficial to go on a treasure hunt outside.

 

For example, create a system of walk straight for 10 steps, turn left and walk 5 steps, turn straight and walk 2 steps, etc, at which point the student will discover some burried treasure. This could be used as a gate way into how important it is to follow directions

Here Is A Link To Some Hands-On Math Suggestions For Your Classroom

http://astore.amazon.com/jeredyke09-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=80

Box Paper Variation Warm Up

Box paper was used by students to show their work. I like using it to keep track of warm ups. The box paper below can be used for warmups while also adding additional work for those who finish early.

Multiplying Integers Using an Alternative Game of Tic-Tac-Toe

Content/concept(s) to be covered:


The purpose of this lesson is to teach the fundamental properties of integer multiplication. Students will use their knowledge of negative and positive integers in an attempt to beat their opponent at a game of tic-tac-toe variation using plus symbols and minus symbols to represent negative and positive numbers.



Instructional objectives:

The objective for each student is, via the process of competition with other students, to recognize the difference in multiplication of negative numbers with other negative numbers as well as negative numbers with positive numbers. At the end of this lesson students should remember that a negative number multiplied by a negative number always yields a positive number. Likewise, at the end of this lesson, the students should remember that a negative number multiplied by a positive number should yield a negative number. The game will involve the use of plus and minus symbols (vs. x and o) on a regular tic-tac-toe board. Each student will have an opponent, the winner of the game ventures onward toward other winners in a game of single elimination. The winner of the all student-to-student games must face the teacher in the finals.

Materials needed for the activities:


• Two different colored markers

• Regular tic-tac-toe worksheet (can be created by students or printed)

• Tally sheet to keep track of eliminated players



Introduction or introductory activity:

1) The educator must begin the lesson with a background of integers and how they differ from counting numbers. Furthermore, the educator should draw a number line labeling zero in order to highlight the difference between a negative number and a positive number.

2) Next, the educator should review the differences between multiplying positive and negative integers by explanation as well as by placing an easy to follow diagram on the overhead or whiteboard

+ = Positive numbers - = Negative numbers

+ times a + = +

+ times a - = -

- times a - = +

- times a + = -

3) Next, the educator should review the game tic-tac-toe in its traditional form by explaining the rules of the game and playing a practice round with a volunteer student

4) Finally, the educator should explain the way the game will be played with its integer variation of positive and negative symbols (Explained more fully below)

Instructional activities:


1) The game is played with the traditional tic-tac-toe board (shown below) but with + and – symbols instead of X and O symbols. The + symbol represents a positive number while the – symbol represents a negative number

2) Before the game is begun have each player decide whom will be the + symbol and whom will be the – symbol.
3) Next, have each student choose a square that they will label theirs, placing negative symbols or positive symbols around the square (shown below).

 4) Explain that any symbol placed in either of these two squares must be multiplied by the symbol already in the square. Thus, if a + symbol is placed in the square surrounded by plus symbols then the ultimate symbol will be a plus symbols (since + times a + = +). However, if a negative symbol is placed in the square surrounded by plus symbols then the ultimate symbol will be a negative (since + times a – = –)


5) Explain to the students that they may ultimately think of choosing a square as placing a trap for their opponent

6) Next, have the student play the game as if they were playing a traditional tic-tac-toe game (shown below)

7) In the scenario above the player using the – symbol believes they are about to win the game by placing their symbol in the upper left-hand corner. However, when they do, they realize that a negative multiplied by a negative numbers is actually a positive number (and thus they fell into their own trap)

8) Ultimately, this game continues without a winner and must be replayed.



The Real Number Maze

From Fractions To Division

Many students know how to divide, but they forget how to transition from a fraction to division. Thus, given the fraction 3/10 they may ask is it 3 divided into 10 or 10 divided into 3. Here is a picture to help them remember

Showing Your Work With Just Your Finger

The point of this lesson is for students to show their work without really showing their work. Thus, they will be given a problem and using only their finger they must walk their partner (and eventually you) through the solution using only their finger.  My mic seems to be messed up, but here is a video

Song Lyrics and Proportions

Here was a popular song a few years back, JORDIN SPARKS - "Battlefield". Personally, the song drove me crazy given the amount of times she says "battlefield". Thus, i posed the question, how many times would she say "battlefield" if the song was 10 minutes vs. 4.01 minutes. HERE's WHERE PROPRTIONS CAN HELP US.

First have your students read the lyrics recording how many times she say the word "battlefield". Next, give the length of the song in minutes or seconds and pose the questions how many times would she say "battlefield" if the song was 10 minutes long". Print off the worksheet below.

Don't try to explain your mind

I know what's happening here

One minute, it's love

And, suddenly, it's like a battlefield

One word turns into a

Why is it the smallest things that tear us down

My world's nothing when you're gone

I'm out here without a shield - can't go back, now

Both hands tied behind my back for nothing, oh, no

These times when we climb so fast to fall, again

Why we gotta fall for it, now...

Chorus:

I never meant to start a war

You know, I never wanna hurt you

Don't even know we're fighting for

Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield

Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield

Why does love always feel like

Can't swallow our pride

Neither of us wanna raise that flag, mmm

If we can't surrender

Then, we're both gonna lose we have, oh, no

Both hands tied behind my back for nothing (nothing), oh, no

These times when we climb so fast to fall, again

I don't wanna fall for it, now...

I never meant to start a war

You know, I never wanna hurt you

Don't even know we're fighting for

Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield

Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield

Better go and get your armor (get your armor), get your armor (get your armor)

I guess you better go and get your armor (get your armor), get your armor (get your armor)

I guess you better go and get your

We could pretend that we are friends, tonight (oh)

And, in the morning, we wake up, and we'd be alright

'Cause, baby, we don't have to fight

And I don't want this love to feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield

Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield

I guess you better go and get your armor...

I never meant to start a war

You know, I never wanna hurt you

Don't even know we're fighting for

Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield

Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield

I guess you better go and get your armor (get your armor), get your armor (get your armor)

I guess you better go and get your armor (get your armor), get your armor (get your armor)

Why does love always feel like (oh, oh)

Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield

I never meant to start a war

Don't even know what we're fighting for

I never meant to start a war

Don't even know what we're fighting for

The House of Quadrilaterals

When teaching polygons or quadrilaterials it might be beneficial to have your students become an architect and build a house with each type of shape (it would look something like the picture below, but more complex)

Playing Quadrilateral's With Isometricdots. This Game Rocks! (Now With Workbook)

If you need to teach your students the differences between quadrilateral's here is an awesome game that they probably already know how to play. Most students have used isomerticdot paper (click here) to play squares (The game where you draw lines till one person forms a square and then label it their square). Why not use the same concept to play quadrilateral's?

The point of the game is to continue to connect dots with lines until a quadrilateral is formed, see below. After a quadrilateral is formed have the students label it and they get the points. Whoever has the most shapes at the end wins

This Game Is Available In Download or Workbook

Click here

Four Corner Texting

Your school probably has rules about cell phone use, so this exercise may be best completed by administration permission or outside. Nevertheless, the way i conducted the activity was to place students in four groups

Next, give each group a multiple step problem like 10x + 6 = 16 and have each group do a certain portion of the problem, then text the remaining portion to the  other group who will do another step and text the remaining portion to the next group and so forth.

Twilight Math 1: Run Edward Run!

Edward is the fastest Cullen, but he must travel 1200 miles to reach Bella before she is hurt by the tracker James. If Edward arrived to Bella in 2.2 hours, how fast can Edward travel?

Based on the movie, the other Cullens arrived within a few minutes after Edward. Thus, how fast would you assume the average vampire can run?

Vertical Angle Show-and-Tell

Send your students home with the project of finding something with vertical angles, next day have them show-and-tell what makes the angles vertical versus complementary or supplementary, etc. Say theres a prize for the best vertical angle

Here is an idea you might get--The X-Box Symbol

Extrapolating Data For Fingernail Growth

A fun experiment that can teach proportions, among numerous things, is calculating the growth rate of your student’s fingernails over the course of the year using data from one week.




Monday: Have your students measure their thumbnail from root to tip (or other fingers, but beware of the one they will likely pick :) with as accurate of a measuring device as you have access to. Have the students record their information on some type of lab sheet or worksheet. Between now and then you might want to have your students ask their science teacher what fingernails are made of and why they grow.




**Note, this is a great exercise to start off the class on Monday's when everyone is sleepy and cranky**




The following Monday have your students re-measure their fingernail and calculate the growth as accurately as possible. Next, have your students contemplate how they would use this data to figure out how long their fingernails will be in 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, and 100years (you may want to provide them with an equation or a proportion)




Finally, use the picture below and ask your students to estimate, based on their data, how long it took this women to let her fingernails grow

Using Hats To Teach Order of Operations

On the military rankings for order of operations theme i thought of a great idea. Split your students into groups and have each group make a different order of operation hat.

Thus, you should have six hats with each of these
( )
x^2
x
/
+
-
Now, have four volunteers pick four of the hats to put on and pick one volunteer to be your example. The goal of this exercise is for students to follow directions in the right order, thus they should follow the advice of the student wearing the parenthesis hat before the student wearing the multiplication hat.




Thus, give each of the four students with the hats on, four different sets of directions. Have them each give their directions to your volunteer student and see of the student follows them within the correct order of operation.

Assign your Order of Operations Military Rank

The please excuse my dear aunt sally is a great learning tool for memorizing order of operations but I think I got a better tool-- Military Rank

Parenthesis: The General
Exponents: The Colonel
Multiplication/Division: The Sergeant
Addition/Subtraction: The Private

 
A great activity would be for you to have your students draw each soldier and label them Parenthesis: The General, Exponents: The Colonel, Multiplication/Division: The Sergeant and Addition/Subtraction: The Private.
 
 
Now take this problem as an example:

 (4 + 3) + 2^2 x 6 and ask what is the generals command? What is the Colonels command? What is the Sergeants command? Wha is the Privates order?

A Trick For Multiplying Integers

Let a penny represent a positive number
Let a nickel represent a negative number

Thus a penny multiplied by a penny is a penny (likewise a positive times a positive is a positive)

Thus a penny multiplied by a nickel is a nickel (likewise a positive times a negative is a negative)


This little trick doesn't work with nickels multiplied by nickels

Distinguishing Between Complementary and Supplementary Angles

This is my favorite way of distinguishing between complementary and supplementary angles. First, we know that complementary angles are two angles whose sum is 90 degrees. Likewise, supplementary angles are two angles whose sum is 180 degrees.

First ask what name comes to mind when you hear the word complementary…complement. Ask who can you give a complement to? Can you give a complement to your grandmother on her 90th birthday? What about on her 180th birthday?

Perfect! So, you can only give complements to 90 year old grandmothers, thus, complementary angles can only by 90 degree angles.

When teaching decimals conversions: “W” or the “butt cheek” method?

I personally like the butt cheek method. Nevertheless, a good way to pratice this is to actually cutout a upper case W or a Butt Cheek and have the students place them on the decomals to percentage problems

John Nashing Your Classroom Windows

If you have never seen the movie "a Beautiful Mind" or read the bio the movie was based off of, i suggest you remedy that. It's very good! In the movie you can see the mind of the genius working at his window

Switch up the routine a little and use your classroom windows for math. All you need are some markers

And some problems (notice i tried to block the sun shining through your window with paper in order to take the pic)

Please Float These Ideas Around

I know when i first started teaching i would seclude my ideas from the rest of the staff because i wanted credit for them. I remember observing a classroom doing an awesome activity, when i mentioned borrowing it to the teacher i was given a hesitant look. Conceited us! If only we could share : )

Teaching Dividing By Zero versus Into Zero

Teaching Dividing By Zero versus Into Zero


We know that,
0/2 = 0
BUT
2/0 = undefined
Now, how do we teach it?
The trick is to use a rubber band :)

Place a rubber band on each of your student’s desks and have them make a zero out of it

Now place a heavy object like a pen or pencil above it with the

Now ask the students to pretend they are using zero to push on an object. Then ask, how the heck could you push something with nothing? Remeber, the roberband is supposed to be zero but how can zero of something (nothing) push something (the pen)? 

Cleanliness and Mathematics

Two major issues in the public school system is cleanliness and learning math. How about we solve both at one time?

First you need two hand sanitizer bottles of different 3D forms like so,

The goal is to estimate the volume by number of hand washes. First measure the amount used per single hand wash (you wash your hands while the class watches) then take turns. Next, have tally sheet posted on the wall near the hand sanitizer. Once the final squirt is complete, have the students tally up its volume. Continue this throughout the year with various shapes and sizes of hand wash or hand sanitizer.

Update: My book will be out within the next week

The Human Clock OR The Human x-y Coordinate

The clock would be great for teaching young people how to tell time, but why stop there. Why not create a human x-y coordinate system

Playground Math

Why should other subjects recieve a monopoly on fieldtrips? Take your students to the playground outside your school or within the nearest park and teach them math

Your local playground offers so much in terms of teaching mathematics. It simply takes some thought. Some examples,

The Slide:

• Calculate the slope of the slide by using tape to plot x/y corrdinates.
• Notice the triangle that is formed beneath the slide, calcualte the area that is formed
• calculate side of the right triangle using c^2 = a^2 + b^2.
• Have students make their own playground on construction paper out of only triangles
• find a polynominal that expresses the slide and calculate the distance traveled down the slite after t seconds
• What type of line is the slide, linear, so what is its highest exponent? Is the slope positive or negative?
• The slide itself is a rectangle, calculate the area and perimeter or calculate how many sudents could fit into the slide at one time----> try it (be careful of course)

And more, use the swing or the rope or the tires as you manipulatives.

Teaching Volume and Surface Area of Cylinders

You want to really give your students incentives to learn how to calculate the volume and surface area of a cylinder? Bring in cans of soda.

--Give them each a ruler and a can of soda.
--Tell them you need both the volume and the surface area of the can or they don't get to drink it
--Watch the percision to which they measure and calculate

Variation:

Don't like soda or drinks in the classroom? Use paper,

--Have them color it first
--Than tape it
--Than measure and calculate

Using Sidewalk Chalk To Teach Scientific Numbers

Give each kid a worksheet with 5-10 scientific word problems. Have them draw a big square and put their name on it (like it was a real worksheet). Than have them write out each questions and answer it like so

Differences Between Mean, Median, Mode and Range

Simply fold a piece of paper long ways (hotdog for you elementary teachers) and make three cuts. Have them write the word, than the definition than a picture like so