Making Tessellations

We have had so much fun with this project. All entries are due Friday. Below are a couple of videos if you have forgotten how to get started or need a little inspiration.

Tessellation Instruction Page

Cool Tricks for Multiplication

I ran across this video over the weekend and thought it was pretty cool! 

And here is the link to the website we looked at today. Have you found any favorites?

http://mathtrain.tv/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dezV0ruH0k&list=PLE822B3199A298F94

More on 3D Figures

Do you need a little extra help with parallel edges, parallel faces, congruent faces, and perpendicular faces? It can be difficult to keep all the terms straight. And it is difficult to get everything counted correctly. I have found a few things that you can watch that reviews these concepts.

This one is a little long, but has lots of great information and great graphics!

Can you draw these figures?

A Review of Probability

Today we reviewed experimental probability.

Great video for review.

Fun with Logic Problems

We have had such fun working on logic problems this week. We have spent a lot of time this year talking about making "stronger brains". We talked about how athletes get better at their chosen sport through hard work. Good mathematicians must also work hard to grow strong brains. Logic problems are an excellent way to strengthen reasoning skills. We have tried out a few from the site below. See if you can work any of these problems. HAVE FUN!

http://mathcentral.uregina.ca/QandQ/qsearch

Do We Really Need Geometry?

Not sure why you need to know geometry? Check out the video below.

Need a refresher on parallel, perpendicular, and intersecting? This video is a great review.

Practice Edges, Faces, and Vertices 

Solid Geometry

Solid Geometry

 is the geometry of three-dimensional space, the kind of space we live in ...

Three Dimensions

It is called three-dimensional, or 3D because there are three dimensions: width, depth and height.

Properties

Solids have properties (special things about them), such as:

• volume (think of how much water it could hold)
• surface area (think of the area you would have to paint)
• how many vertices (corner points), faces and edges they have

Polyhedra and Non-Polyhedra

There are two main types of solids, "Polyhedra", and "Non-Polyhedra":

Counting Faces, Vertices and Edges

When we count the number of faces (the flat surfaces), vertices (corner points), and edges of a polyhedron we discover an interesting thing:

The number of faces plus the number of vertices
minus the number of edges equals 2

This can be written neatly as a little equation:

F + V − E = 2

It is known as Euler's Formula (or the "Polyhedral Formula") and is very useful to make sure we have counted correctly!

Let's review parallel and perpendicular lines.

http://learnzillion.com

Coordinate Planes

  Today we looked at transformations on grids. We discovered that some of us need a little refresher on labeling points on a graph or grid. Let's review:

 A coordinate plane is an important tool for working with these equations. It is formed by a horizontal number line, called the x-axis, and a vertical number line, called the y-axis. The two axes intersect at a point called the origin. You can locate any point on the coordinate plane by an ordered pair of numbers (x,y), called the coordinates. You can determine where to plot a point on a graph by how far along and how far up it is:

The coordinate plane is divided in 4 quadrants.

 Check out the video on the basics of plotting points.

 This video goes into a little more depth on graphing points.

Need a little practice? Try a game.

coordinates interactive game

hit the coordinate

coordinate graphing game

Mathematical Art

Geometry is my favorite branch of math. I am a visual learner, so geometry just makes sense to me. I have also always loved art. This post is dedicated to both - art made with math!

Math and art have had a long relationship. Since ancient times the Egyptians and Greeks incorporated mathematical relationships in the design of their most famous monuments. Artists such as Polykleitos, Piero della Francesca, Leonardo da Vinci and M.C. Escher made use of mathematics in their work.

Are you intrigued? Want to know more? Watch the videos below and try making some of your own "mathsterpieces".

 

Transformations

In geometry transformation means to move a shape so that it is in a different position, but still has the same size, area, angles and line lengths.

Turn, flip or slide are the basic moves

Study Jams transformations video

 

 

 transformation games

transformation games

Extra Practice with Measurement.

Are you still a little unclear about volume? Can't quite figure out area? I have attached a few practice pages that you can print at home to help you practice the measurement concepts that we have just covered in class.

area and perimeter
converting measurements
converting measurements
converting measurements
mixed measurement
time and temp
volume
volume

The Kingdom of Gallon

Ask your student to tell you the story of the Kingdom of Gallon and how is helps us with liquid conversions.

Friday Quiz Review

Here is the answer key to last Friday's quiz. Please make certain you check over your mistakes before the cba.

Measurement Conversions

Measurement conversions.  This can be a difficult concept for 5th graders.  We are learning 2 processes to tackle converting from one unit to another. One method is a favorite of mine, drawing a model, the other uses a function table to organize the data.

Below is a link to MANY excellent measurement games. If you are searching for ways to prepare for the upcoming CBA, try some of these activities.

StudyJams

Elapsed Time

 Elapsed time, and all time concepts, are tricky. Why? For one, time is more abstract. There isn’t an algorithm to turn to in a pinch. Even adding and subtracting time presents problems when going over an hour span. Another reason might be that students have limited clock experiences. I find that students will stand and walk to the door to view the digital clock in the hall rather than use the analog clock hanging in our room. Not many people wear watches anymore with the advent of cell phone clocks. Finally, adults might be to blame. How often do you tell your children, “Three minutes” only to have five or ten go by before you realize it? It happens to me all the time in the classroom. No matter the reason, elapsed time can be especially difficult to master. Here are two of my favorite strategies for teaching elapsed time. The first is elapsed time using a number line. The second is elapsed time using a t-chart. I have found that most students prefer the number line method. Some do not need to make as many "hops" as shown in the video, but rather make larger "hops" of 10 to 15 minutes.  I encourage the students to label ALL elapsed time problems with the words "start time", "end time" and "elapsed time" and to then analyze to see which they are solving for in the problem.

http://learnzillion.com

 http://learnzillion.com

Using the Big 7 Method for Long Division

The “Big 7” - An alternative division strategy

This strategy is nicknamed the “Big 7” because the division box looks like a 7. This strategy  helps students understand long division as they utilize estimation, critical thinking skills, and the whole numbers involved in a given problem. It does not require finding the “best” multiple to be found at each step. Nor does it involve asking mathematically incorrect questions (i.e – How many times does 6 go into 8? This is an incorrect mathematical statement since the value of the number is not 8, it is 800)
Students will use numbers that make sense to them throughout the process; therefore, although the answer to the problem will be the same, the number of steps taken to solve the problem will vary based on students estimation skills and number sense.

 Try this video if you still have questions. Think you have it? Try working the problems below using the Big 7.

Friday Quiz

Tomorrow our quiz will have problems including perimeter, area, volume, elapsed time and change in temperature. One things that everyone needs to improve is writing out the formula that you need to use for perimeter, area and volume. Another is drawing a picture and labeling the sides. 

Are you still have problems with elapsed time? Try the link below for an online quiz. 


http://marg.mhost.com/MathGr5/elapsedtime.htm

Volume of Rectangular Prisms

Today we continued lesson over area. We viewed the following video teaching how to find the area of an irregular shape or compound shape. We also discussed finding the volume of rectangular prism. 

Could you use a little more practice on basic volume problems? Try the ones below.

Finding Area of Simple Shapes

Today we began working with area of simple shapes.  Most of you felt pretty comfortable with finding the area of squares and rectangles, but we will be adding to that learning tomorrow by working with finding the area of compound shapes. 

 Do you need a bit more practice finding area and perimeter of simple shapes? Check out the link below.

http://www.funbrain.com/poly/

New Beginnings

Welcome 5th graders and parents!

I am quite excited to get started on this blog with all of you in mind. I plan on using this space in conjunction with our class activities and assignments. You will see helpful videos, anchor charts from our room, copies of assignments from class and much more. I hope to "see" you on here frequently and look forward to your thoughts and responses.

Much like our math classes, some of this blog will be fun and silly, but our main focus will be to "grow our brains" in the area of math. Sometimes difficult, sometimes fun, sometimes boring; many different math related items will make an appearance. Don't look for a new something everyday, but I will do my best to add what I can to this site to keep it exciting and relevant!
 
Parents, if there is something that you think would be helpful to you and your student, please let me know. I can't make any promises that this will be everything you need or want to help, but I look forward to your feedback.

Ms. Echols