Measuring Up in Third Grade

I was inspired by my third grade students during a lesson in our Measurement and Data unit last week.  All of my students are Deaf/Hard of Hearing and English Learners.  Some have had interrupted education and others have health challenges that has impacted their access to learning.  Therefore, it is super-important that I begin every lesson by probing for prior knowledge and listening to their personal connections with the content I'm about to teach.  Real world applications make learning meaningful. I presented visual supports to discuss the measurement tools we would be using in the lesson.  Once they understood the vocabulary, they excitedly relayed experiences of being measured by a seamstress for special occasion dresses!  I quickly adapted my activities to include mock-dress measurement exercises.  They had a blast!  The take away?  Stop and listen to our students.

Tangrams: Hands-on, Minds-on Geometry Experiences

What are Tangrams? Click here to read their history!

Watch this video for an explanations of how to make your own tangrams:

 

Watch this tangram story by an elementary class!

 

Illuminations Lesson on Tangrams

Tangrams are tailor made for use in an elementary geometry lesson.  They are fun, easy to make, and there are a myriad of resources to be found online.  I have included just a few in the links and videos above.  Tangrams lend themselves to hands-on and minds-on activities.  There are some basic parameters: all 7 pieces must be used and they must touch, but not overlap.  Other than these guidelines, there is no "right" or "wrong" way to use tangrams to create novel shapes and patterns. 

I will be using tangrams to teach  about geometric shapes and spatial awareness.  The geometry standard in kindergarten is that students will "correctly name shapes regardless of their orientations or overall size." (KCAS Math K.G.2)  Through creating tangram pictures, students will have exposure to many shapes that are in different orientations.  In first grade, students will "...create a composite shape and compose new shapes from the composite shapes." (KCAS Math 1.G.2)  By changing the tans into various animals or objects in a story, students will discover the way one or more tans compose new shapes.

A Brief Look at Kentucky Core Academic Standards for Elementary Mathematics

Kentucky Department of Education: Math Standards

 



The purpose of the new Kentucky math standards is to teach skills and understanding that will enable students to be college and career ready by the time they finish high school. The standards are taught from the beginning of Kindergarten and continue through high school. 

The focus of mathematics education has shifted from merely teaching student to memorize facts and formulas.  We realize that our nation's youth must be prepared to think creatively and critically about problems they encounter.  Another trait of successful students will be to persevere in problem solving.  By allowing students to construct their own understanding of mathematics, and connect that understanding to prior experiences, today's learners will have a deep sense of what numbers represent and how they relate to their environment.

The lessons taught in my classroom will be aligned to these standards.  By using the activities and learning strategies that represent best teaching practices, it is my goal to encourage students to embrace, not fear, math as they use it to better understand the world around them.

What is Singapore math?

PBS Website article about Singapore Math

Fayette County Singapore Math Information

 

The implementation of the Common Core Standards for Mathematics education has been accompanied by many new math programs at the elementary level.  The above link leads to an article about Singapore Math, which has been adopted by some of the schools in our district. 

 

During my observation in one classroom, I have noted the inclusion of parent volunteers.  It is very important that parents encourage their children to develop math skills that do not just involve memorizing lists of facts and formulas.  I was impressed by the open mindedness of the parent volunteers in the classroom. 

 

Some exciting features of this program include the use of model drawings to solve word problems.  The approach of using concrete items to teach concepts before introducing the abstract numbers and formulas allows students to truly visualize the process of the mathematics that they are doing.  I believe that I can use these concepts in my classroom to help student's increase number sense and other foundational math skills.

Video Links: Geometry

Watch the videos below to learn more about geometry in our environment. 

The first video has music in the background.  The second video has English captions.

 

 

 

 

 

Student Resources

Dear Students,

I think you will enjoy exploring these websites and playing the games.  Please let me know what you think and also share any interesting links you think I should include in this blog. 

Thank you,

Mrs. McMaine

1. Tangram Games! 

2. Math Funbrain Games for the Summer Vacation

3.  More Games and Problem Solving Fun

4. Cool Math Games (Try Roller Cactus!)

5.  Rube Goldberg Guinness World Record-Purdue University

What geometric shapes are in the design of this machine?  What sort of challenges did the creators of this contraption have to overcome?

 

Parent and Teacher Resources

1.  Click on the video embedded below for a thought provoking approach to math education.

This video is a must-view!!! I first saw it two years ago and feel that this teacher has a very relevant perspective on how to engage every learner in the discovery of mathematics.

2. Blogs of Ted Talks about Education

This collection of conversations is a refreshing way to reconsider many aspects of education, including the essential traits of successful mathematicians: creative thinking and problem solving.

3. KY Dept. of Education Mathematics Instructional Resources

This website provides an extensive list of online resources for  teachers of mathematics.

4. Math Games (Jeopardy, Problem Solving)

5. http://www.mathmamawrites.blogspot.com/

This blog is constantly updated with explorations into students' problem solving.  The writer of this blog also includes many additional resources which I found to be interesting, informative and potentially useful, depending on the math content being taught.