Math Masters: Aerobics of the Mind: Description
Grades 4-5
Session 1: 9:00 - 10:25 am
Explore the deeper concepts in mathematics through strategy games and explorations. Students will explore a variety of mathematical strategies and stretch their minds with mathematical challenges in this fun, fast-paced class! This class is geared toward students who have a passion for mathematics and seek enrichment. A variety of technologies, cooperative game-play, and individual challenges will exercise your mind and stretch your mathematical applications!
Session 1: 9:00 - 10:25 am
Explore the deeper concepts in mathematics through strategy games and explorations. Students will explore a variety of mathematical strategies and stretch their minds with mathematical challenges in this fun, fast-paced class! This class is geared toward students who have a passion for mathematics and seek enrichment. A variety of technologies, cooperative game-play, and individual challenges will exercise your mind and stretch your mathematical applications!
Weekly Newsletter: Week 3
Weekly Newsletter: Week 2:
Weekly Newsletter: Week 1:
Magnetic Pattern Block Creations:
Games we have Played in Math Masters:
- 24
- Snap It Up!
- Mastermind
- Rush Hour
- Set
- Blink
- Math Dice Tournament
- Multiplication Bingo
- Zip Around
- River Crossing: The Perilous Plank Puzzle
- Geoboards
- Racko
- Tipover
- Skunk (a game of probability/chance)
- Colorku (Sudoku with colors)
- PrimePak
- Fraction Battleship
- Magnetic Pattern Blocks
- Division Ball
Math Books we have Read:
- "How Much is a Million" by David M. Schwartz
- "Ready, Set, Hop!" by Stuart J. Murphy
- "Betcha!" by Stuart J. Murphy
- "Divide and Ride" by Stuart J. Murphy
- "Sir Cumference and the First Round Table" by Cindy Neuschwander
- "On Beyond a Million" by David M. Schwartz
- "Sir Cumference and the Great Knight of Angleland" by Cindy Neuschwander
- "Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi" by Cindy Neuschwander
- "Sir Cumference and the Sword in the Cone" by Cindy Neuschwander
- "G is for Googol: A Math Alphabet Book" by David M. Schwartz
Skills/Concepts we have Explored:
- Sudoku/Number skills
- Addition/Subtraction/Multiplication/Division
- Binary Numbers/Binary Expansion
- Data: Mean, Median, Mode
- Rhombicosidodecahedron, with 240 triangular faces and 122 edges.
- Euler's formula that can calculate vertices (v), sides (s), and edges (e): v + s = e + 2
- Probability from our group game "Skunk": they learned that there is a 1/6 chance of rolling a 1 on one dice, and a 1/36 chance of rolling two 1's --> (1/6 x 1/6 = 1/36).
- "Independent Events" with probability - rolling a 1 on the dice once does not impact the next roll, there is still a 1/6 chance of getting any number 1-6.
- Patterns and logic puzzles
- Chance and choice through the game "Skunk"
- Using variables to solve equations
- Prime numbers, factors, divisibility rules, and fact families in the game "PrimePak"
Class Introduction Letter:
Resources for Students:
- Website for Binary Magic Trick: http://www.edb.utexas.edu/resources/mathclub/magictrick/index.html
- Binary Magic Card Kit: http://www.edb.utexas.edu/resources/mathclub/magictrick/lessonkit_magic.pdf