Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Teaching Percentages By Going On A Math-Class-Date

No need for elaborate drill and kill percentage worksheets. One good problem is worth 10 worksheets. The goal is for your students to be able to calculate a 15% tip in a real life scenario.
 
You need a menu, a candle.
 
Split up your classroom in groups of 5 students. two will be on a date the other will be the waitress.
 
Have each couple order from the menu. The waitress will add up the order by hand and bring them each couple the bill. The couple will then calculate a 15% tip.  
 


Thursday, July 18, 2013

Bee Hives & Hexagonal Shapes


It's very neat to see how evolution discards waste. Here we have constraints on resources forcing bees to to create the "maximum amount of space with a minimal amount of material." The result is the use of hexagons.