Spent all day fidgeting with the first proof. Already ordered a second version with parchment-colored paper…
Blog
Hanging on to a Streak
Posting a placeholder, if our ancient rural internet can stick with us just a tiny bit longer. I’ve managed to post at least a little something for 53 days in a row.
The ‘net has been off and on all day, but mostly off. We need to get a repair guy out here to see if he can do anything with these rusty old phone lines (or even better, convince the phone company to run new lines — but that’s probably a pipe dream).
But in the meantime, the streak still holds…..
Multiplication Escape Room Game
Ashly Latham, a student of the math-game superhero John Golden, has created an escape room game for third-grade students learning multiplication.
What fun!
Did your device hide the video? Find it on YouTube here.
Read about the game at Math Hombre blog:
He Humbled Himself
Did your device hide the video? Find it on YouTube here.
Philippians 2:5-11
Christ Jesus who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name.
So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV.org.
What Is Multiplication, Anyway?
At some point during the process of teaching multiplication to our children, we really need to come to terms with this question:
What IS multiplication?
Did your device hide the video? Find it on YouTube here.
“What’s my answer? It’s not one that society’s going to like. Because society expects — demands, even — that mathematics be concrete, real-world, absolute, having definitive answers.
I can’t give a definitive answer.
Multiplication manifests itself in different ways. So maybe the word ‘is’ there is just too absolute. And it’s actually at odds with what mathematicians do.
Mathematicians do attend to real-world, practical scenarios — by stepping away from them, looking at a bigger picture.”
—James Tanton, What is Multiplication?
For Further Study
You may also enjoy these posts from my blog archive:
Memorizing the Times Table: A Life Skills Approach
Continuing on my theme of times table facts, here’s the inimitable James Tanton:
Did your device hide the video? Find it on YouTube here.
“If our task is to memorize this table, please make it about mathematics — about thinking your way through a challenge, and what can I do to make my life easier.”
—James Tanton, Making Memorising Multiplication Facts (if one really must) a meaningful Life Skill Lesson
For Further Study
You may also enjoy my blog post series about working through the times tables, paying attention to mathematical relationships (and a bit of prealgebra) along the way.
Click the button to see the whole series. Scroll down to the first post to go through it in order.
Happy Mathy Hanukkah
Hiding among all the other winter-themed activity ideas, I found a few posts for those who celebrate the Festival of Lights.
- Karyn (@TeachBesideMe) shares a cool Hanukkah STEM activity: Paper Circuit Menorah. Your children might also enjoy her Gingerbread House Paper Circuits.
- Brian (@Yummymath) examines the Hebrew calendar in Egad! It’s already time for Hanukkah — written last year, but still interesting. And check out his puzzle about the Soda Box Menorah and the Nutritional Value of Latkes.
- Ben (@benorlin) reveals The Terrible Truth About Dreidel.
For More Holiday Math
- You’ll find plenty of fun in my massive blog post Holiday Math Puzzles and Activities for Christmas, Winter Break.
CREDITS: Candle photo (top) by Enrique Macias via Unsplash.com.
Only Three Facts to Memorize
A comment from a friend got me playing around with multiplication. I found a few videos from some of my favorite math people, so I’ll be sharing over the next few days.
Here’s one from Sonya Post of Learning Well at Home. Also, Sonya just hosted Playful Math Education Carnival #143, which is well worth your time to explore!
Did your device hide the video? Find it on YouTube here.
“When students have to drill multiplication facts, it’s frustrating, unproductive and it makes them hate math. A better way to master the multiplication table is work on the skills that allow students to multiply quickly and efficiently.”
—Sonya Post, Why We Don’t Drill Multiplication Facts – What We Do Instead
Doubling and Halving
Making doubles and halves are a great foundation for all sorts of math.
Do you ever play the doubling game with your children? One player picks a starting number, and then you take turns doubling it until your mental math skills run out. How far can you go?
Or try the halving game: One player chooses a starting number, and you take turns cutting it in half. How tiny can you go?
As Sonya demonstrated, these skills help your child master their multiplication facts. And they are fantastic preparation for exponents and logarithms, too!
Playful Math Carnival 143 via Learning Well at Home
Check out the latest carnival of playful math:
Each monthly Playful Math Education Blog Carnival brings you a great new collection of puzzles, math conversations, teaching tips, and all sorts of mathy fun. It’s like a free online magazine of mathematical adventures, helpful and inspiring no matter when you read them.
Sonya put together this wonderful collection of mathematical games, art projects, holiday activities, paper crafts (LOTS of snowflakes!), and more.
She writes:
“It doesn’t matter where you look, there are always things to count and lots of things to wonder about. How many snowflakes in a snowman? How many points are on a star? How many turkeys do we eat every year? Does anyone actually eat all the fruitcake that is sold each year?
“Here is Winter and her holidays by the numbers…
“This was probably my favorite Playful Math Education Blog Carnival to write. There is so much out there to explore that I’m sure I’ve barely scratched the surface.
“Come back because I’m going to keep adding to this post…”
—Sonya Post, Carnival #143
Click Here to Read the Carnival Blog
Continue reading Playful Math Carnival 143 via Learning Well at Home
Where Did the Day Go?
I was going to blog about the new Playful Math Education Carnival, but I ran out of time. Tomorrow, then.
Meanwhile, here’s a Christmas cat picture.
Best wishes for a merry season!
Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math 