This idea comes from Burkard and Giuseppe @ the fabulous MATHOLOGER channel. Students can make a pattern called a cardioid that pops up all over math according to Burkard.
Follow these steps. There is a pdf file below the first diagram for printing exercise sheets.
And then watch the MATHOLOGER video for a really interesting explanation.
It doesn’t matter what’s written in the curriculum, the biggest problem in maths for students is
BOREDOM.
Here, to tackle boredom are:
41 Maths things to do before you’re 12
“A growing body of research shows us that outdoor play leads to better physical and mental health, has positive effects on cognitive function and learning, and reduces the incidence of behavioural problems.” Maria Zotti, Nature Play, SA.
Peter Dunstan, Principal Kilkenny PS, SA, writes in SAPPA magazine, Primary Focus, that outdoor play fosters “wonderment, independence and freedom” as well as “social skills, imagination, creativity and problem solving”.
Inspired by SAPPA and NaturePlay, Mathspig has produced her own outdoorsy maths list:
It’s Autumn in UK & FALL in the USA so it’s the perfect time for a little bit of outdoor math for Grade 3-5 with AUTUMN leaves. Of course, you don’t need FALL LEAVES for this exercise, but it is colorful.
This fab idea comes from Juliet Robertson, an outdoor education consultant in Scotland. Her blog Creative star learning is one of the most inspiring outdoor maths blogs you will find.
This idea comes from Burkard and Giuseppe @ the fabulous MATHOLOGER channel. Students can make a pattern called a cardioid that pops up all over math according to Burkard.
Follow these steps. There is a pdf file below the first diagram for printing exercise sheets.
And then watch the MATHOLOGER video for a really interesting explanation.
“A growing body of research shows us that outdoor play leads to better physical and mental health, has positive effects on cognitive function and learning, and reduces the incidence of behavioural problems.” Maria Zotti, Nature Play, SA.
Peter Dunstan, Principal Kilkenny PS, SA, writes in SAPPA magazine, Primary Focus, that outdoor play fosters “wonderment, independence and freedom” as well as “social skills, imagination, creativity and problem solving”.
Inspired by SAPPA and NaturePlay, Mathspig has produced her own outdoorsy maths list:
They take their maths seriously in Germany. They have monuments to mathematicians. They name streets after mathematicians. They take maths into shopping malls.
They think maths is so important they even put maths on stairs. Here is some times tables art from Germany.
Once upon a time, Grade 2 students did very boring work in maths. And they had to do lots of tests too.
Sometimes evil witches wrote the test questions. These Year 2 (Grade 2) questions were very, very scary. Here is one of those very scary questions. It was so scary lots of people turned into angry birds when they saw this question. The angry birds tweeted that this question is ” too hard’. Tweet! Tweet! (The Telegraph , UK, 9 May, 2016)
A very wise old Mathspig worked out the answer.
X -19 +17 = 63
X = 65
Mmmmm, this is a scary question for Grade 2.
Many Grade 2 teachers are Wonderful Maths Wizards. They make maths magical and fun everyday. Students must sharpen their pencils and put on their wizards thinking hats to practise their maths. But maths can be magical and fun too. So here is:
A MATHS FAIRY STORY
by Mathspig
A Wonderful Maths Wizard teacher can read the story out loud and the little Grade 2 Maths Wizards can write down their answers.
So you are in Grade 3. You are asked to do this:Use the repeated multiplication strategy to solve: 5 x 3. Here’s your answer:
……………………………………………………………………..
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Firstly, give the kid a cigar. According to The Telegraph, UK, the kid is only in Grade 3 and can read: repeated multiplication strategy without their head exploding.Secondly, this kid understands the question.
5 x 3 = 5 + 5 + 5 except, according to the teacher, this answer is wrong.
The answer should be:
3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3
……………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………..
According to The Telegraph :The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) in the US defended how the paper was marked, saying it gives students a better understanding of the problems they are solving.
Of course, the NCTM is suggesting:
5 x 3 = 5 times 3 = 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3
5 x X = 5 times X = X + X + X + X + X
But what about:
X x 3 = ?
X x 3 = X times 3 = 3 times X = X + X + X
Mathematicians have to think like this! They must be nibble. Mathematicians must think for themselves.
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Too many kids hate maths due to FEAR or BOREDOM. How much would you hate maths if you got correct answers marked WRONG?
And how much would you FEAR the next maths test?
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Needless to say, I’m with Bart. Math teachers should not mark right answers wrong for any reason.More reasons why kids hate maths here: BEWARE OF MATHS FUNDAMENTALISTS
Mathspig Blog 
