Just In Case . . .

It's almost midway through the winter break. If you are checking the blog, perhaps it is because you missed school towards the end of the week before break started. I suggest you look through your binder to see if all of your math work is done and checked off. Several of you have missing assignments, including the field trip problem that was completed in class on 12/17 and 12/18. Finish any partially done work, and put it somewhere safe so you'll be ready to turn it in on the first day back to school (January 8th). Don't work too hard, as it is vacation time, you know!!

Tonight's Homework: See above.

Happy Holidays!

Students worked on a problem related to triangular, rectangular and square numbers. Afterwards, we sang some science songs written to the tunes of familiar holiday songs.

Tonight's Homework: None, unless you didn't finish the problem in class today. Enjoy the next two weeks. Be happy and safe. I'll see you in January!

That's a Lot of Birds!!!!

We looked at the lyrics of the song, "The 12 Days of Christmas" from a mathematical perspective today. Students worked together to see if they could summarize their findings by creating an equation.

Tonight's Homework: Finish the two problems on the worksheet that you started in class today.

Teddy Bear Jump and Slide

Students worked in pairs on a strategy game called "Teddy Bear Jump and Slide". Though this seemed like a simple task at first, it got increasingly more difficult as the teams progressed through the levels. By the end of the period, most people were able to successfully navigate through the first four levels of the challenge. Data tables were created to help organize the information being collected.

Tonight's Homework: Finish the activity we started in class. Look for a pattern and try to write an equation for the minimum number of moves it will take to complete each level.

Finishing the Field Trip Work Sample

Students finished the field trip planning work sample in class today. (Too bad it didn't snow more last night . . .)

Tonight's Homework: None!

Planning a Field Trip Work Sample

We took some time to discuss how to use our data from the red vine activity and turn it into an equation. Next, students completed the first part of a work sample dealing with the planning of a field trip. Afterwards, students had time to start their homework.

Tonight's Homework: Finish the worksheet you started in class today.

Red Vines Disappearing!

We finished moving boxes of food from the holiday food drive to Miss Madathil's office. Then we did a quick activity that involved measuring the length of red vines as we ate them. Students literally ate their math work today!

Tonight's Homework: Finish the data table, graph and equation for the data you collected about red vines in class today.

Personalizing Our Learning About Linear Relationships

After a brief review of vocabulary, students used the bulk of the period to complete their poster projects related to linear equations. Each poster included a situation, data table, graph and equation. Although some students felt rushed, most did excellent work!

Tonight's Homework: None! Isn't that a nice surprise?

Data Tables to Graphs to Equations, Oh My!

We wrapped up our learning about linear relationships by working with a partner to create a situation that could be represented by a graph, table and equation. This project will be finished in class tomorrow.

Tonight's Homework: ACE 1 (31)

More About Lines

Students completed an in-class pair activity today. When they finished, they began the Investigation 1 review sheet, which will be completed tonight as homework.

Tonight's Homework: Complete the Investigation 1 review worksheet you started in class today.

Spending Our Profits From the Walkathon

Today, we looked at lines that have negative slopes, meaning they move down and to the right on the coordinate grid. To accomplish this, we investigated the idea of spending our profits from the walkathon on items to donate to a children's hospital. When the money ran out, we were done spending. We talked about the x-intercept today, and what it means in relationship to the problem. We also practiced writing equations to model these types of problems.

Tonight's Homework: ACE 1 (10 - 14, even)

Fundraising for the Walkathon

Today, we looked at the lines described by different types of fund raising schemes. Students noted that getting paid a fixed amount of money, regardless of laps walked, created a straight and horizontal line. Getting paid a flat number of cents per lap created a straight line moving up and to the right from the origin. Getting a donation and a certain number of cents per mile created a similar type of line, but it does not start at the origin. We talked about the y-intercept today.

Tonight's Homework: ACE 1 (6 - 8, 24, 25)

Walking Rates and Rates of Change on a Graph

Using the data from yesterday's activity, we wrote equations to express our walking rates. Students learned that the rates, though not exactly constant, could be found by drawing a line of best fit that fit most of the data.

Tonight's Homework: ACE 1 ( 3, 4, 19 - 22 )

Investigating Our Rates of Walking

Students collected data on how long it took them to walk 10 meters, using different types of strides. Students walked at a normal rate, then tried to speed walk, and finally walked heel to toe down a 10 meter stretch of the courtyard. Data collected was recorded in a data table, and was then converted into a triple line graph.

Tonight's Homework: Investigation 1.1 (all parts).

Beginning to Move Straight Ahead

Students previewed the new math book, Moving Straight Ahead, and learned that it extends our recent learning about variables, patterns, graphs, tables and equations. We talked about the definition of linear equations and functions, and prepared for an activity that will be conducted in tomorrow's class.

Tonight's Homework: ACE 1 (1, 2, 15-18). In addition, if you did not finish the packet from yesterday, please do so tonight.

The Second Trimester Begins Today!

Mrs. Hopper filled in for me today, as I was at a district meeting. Students learned how to convert repeating decimals into fractions. Mrs. Hopper showed a video to the class to help them understand the process, and then gave the class time to get started on tonight's homework. Weekly grade slips were distributed.

Tonight's Homework: Home Book, page 26 (1 - 6), show your work. In addition, be sure to complete all problems in the tricolored packet you started in class today.