An "Eggs"ellent Math Unit!!!

Here you will find dozens of math ideas. I am working with the Easter Bunny and he is "making deliveries" every day. Please check back frequently to see the new "developments"!

 

Sort It Out

You will need the following materials:

Easter candy graph (I like to use the large floor graph) feely box chart paper for recording results

 

1. Take half of your candy and put it inside the feely box. Take the other half and keep it out of sight.
2. Have the children sit in a circle on the floor.
3. The first child reaches in the feely box and takes out a piece of candy. Ask everyone to give describing words for the piece of candy that was drawn.
4. Ask what they think the next piece drawn will be.
5. The next child in the circle pulls out a piece of candy and, once again, everyone describes it.
6. Continue until everyone has had a turn drawing a piece of candy from the feely box.
7. After all children have had a turn, look at all the candies laid out in the middle of the circle. Let children generate ideas of ways to sort the candies.
8. Try some of the sorting ideas that were generated.
9. After several ways of sorting, choose one of the sorting ideas and lay the candies down on the floor graph with headers. For example, if the children decided to sort by types of wrappers, the headers could be: shiny wrappers, not shiny wrappers, no wrappers).
10. Discuss the graph and record the results. Some good questions would be as follows: "Which group has the most? the least? Is there anything that is the same? How many pieces of candy without wrappers? with shiny wrappers? not shiny wrappers? etc.
11. The next day, pull out the other half of the candy you had saved. Show the children the candy and let them make predictions based on information from the previous day.
12. Record the predictions on chart paper or the board.
13. Graph and compare the two graphs.

     

    Easter Candy Estimation

    You will need the following:

    bag of Easter candies clear plastic container for the candies chart paper or chalkboard

     

    1. Have the children look at the candy in the container and make an estimate of how many pieces. Record the estimates.
    2. Count the pieces and discuss the results!

        

       Egg Size

       You will need the following materials:

       One sheet of grid paper for each child (I suggest larger squares for younger children) 6 real-sized construction paper eggs

        

       1. Have each child look at the construction paper egg and estimate how many squares will be covered when it is laid on the grid. Put their guess on the bottom of the grid.
       2. Let the children trace their construction paper egg onto the grid and then color it. Children should use soft colors so they may still still the boxes on the grid.
       3. Children count the squares that the egg covered and record that number under their estimate.

       A note to the teacher: Before doing this activity, you should decide if full squares only will be counted, or if all squares covered will be counted.

        

       

        

       Egg Weight

       You will need the following materials:

       Balancing scale unifix cubes,crayons,tiles, or anything else you desire to use for balancing How many will balance my egg? worksheet hard boiled egg for each group of students

        

       1. Put the children into groups of four.
       2. Pass out the estimation sheet to each child. Have them estimate how many of each of the objects it will take to balance the egg.
       3. Color the number of squares in each column.
       4. Pass out another sheet for their actual count. Color the number of squares it took to balance the egg.
       5. Cut out the squares of estimates and actual amounts and glue the two next to each other on a large piece of construction paper.
       6. Discuss the results.

           

          How do you like your eggs?You will need the following materials:

          large floor graph Header cards for the large floor graph (can use 3X5 index cards) individual graphs for each child egg shapes cut from construction paper (one for each child)

           

          1. Discuss with the class different ways that eggs can be prepared.
          2. Use the index cards to make a header card for each category.
          3. Hand each child a construction paper egg and let them put their name on it. (They can decorate it as well, if time allows.)
          4. Get the children seated in front of the floor graph with headers and let each child place their egg under the category they like best.
          5. When each child is finished, interpret graph.
          6. Give each child a paper of the graph and let them color in the proper number of squares for each header.
          7. Prepare some eggs whichever way was the favorite and enjoy!!
          Note to teacher: The individual graphs should be made ahead of time. Here are some examples of categories your children may use: scrambled, boiled, egg salad, fried, deviled, etc.

           

          "Eggs"tensions

           

          Egg Symmetry-
          1. Make a large egg pattern for each child. Have the student fold it in half.
          2. The child will make a design on one half and give it to another child to unfold and try to copy it on that half.

          Easter Egg Dye and Sort- Dye Easter eggs letting the children choose how to dye their eggs. See how many different ways the eggs can be sorted when dry. Graph the results.

          Easter Egg Numeral Recognition- Get a bag of plastic eggs (any size) and put a numeral on each one. Have jelly beans available and let the children put the number of jellybeans inside of each egg that matches the numeral. For older children, you may want to put addition problems on the outside in place of the numerals.

          Better By the Dozen- Take an egg carton and write numerals on the bottom of each space. Take plastic eggs and write the number word on it. Children take turns matching the eggs to the correct space.

          Egg-carton Graphing- Make a graph using several egg cartons. Cut the tops off and tape the short ends together. Mount on the wall. Now you are ready to work with the children. Read "Animals Born Alive and Well" and "Chickens Aren't the Only Ones!" by Ruth Heller. Divide the class into two teams: oviparous and viviparous. Give each team a supply of construction paper squares (1 1/2" X 1 1/2"). Have the team members work together to think of animals for their category. Write the animal names on their paper squares and tape them to the egg carton sections on the graph. When each team is finished, interpret the results.

           

The Almond Blossom Festival and Parade

The Almond Blossom Festival and Parade are held the second week in March. The parade typically starts at 10:00 AM, proceeding down 50th Street West from Avenue M to Avenue L-8. This occasion includes all of the trappings, such as bands, floats, VIPs, equestrians and classic/antique cars.

Coincidentally with the Almond Blossom Parade, sometimes before or after, is the Quartz Hill Pet Parade, where the citizens and their children proudly show off their animal friends.

Carnival will be set up by 4:00 PM on Friday,and available Friday night, Saturday and Sunday also. The Festival is from 10:00AM to 5:00 PM Saturday and Sunday. The Nutty Runners will start Saturday, March 10 at 7:30 AM at Joe Walker Middle School Track.

Following the parade(s) is the Quartz Hill Almond Blossom Festival, held at George Lane Park (55th West and Avenue L-8) for the remainder of Saturday and all day Sunday. The festival has food, entertainment, community agencies, businesses and craft vendors.

Math is No Mystery

Tips for Parents:  Math | PDF Español/Spanish: Consejos para padres - Las matemáticas Math is No Mystery Is that 16oz. can of tomatoes a better bargain than the 12oz. can?  You make dozens of calculations in your daily life, from balancing a checkbook to figuring how long it will take to drive to a cross-town soccer game.  That’s math at work. As a parent, you can help your child be a whiz at math, even if it wasn’t your best subject.  Here are Tips for Parents on how: Be positive about math.  Express confidence in your child’s ability to do math.  Don’t stress either your own fear of math or how difficult math is or how much you admire anyone who can do math.  Remember, everyone can and does use math all the time. Show your kids math at work in their world.  Get your kids used to math by thinking out loud when making calculations.  Then, let your children work out some real-life puzzles themselves.  For example: Let them measure when you bake. Ask them to figure out how long of a hose you need to reach from the faucet on the side of the house to the garden. Let your child figure out how many miles you’ll be driving on your next trip by using the information on a map. Sort silverware by knives, forks, and spoons.  Sort cards by suit or numbers. Make math a game.  Math games are fun and inexpensive.  They are a wonderful way to get your kids to enjoy working with numbers, as well as improve their number skills.  Here are a few suggestions: Many games that we take for granted are excellent math lessons.  “Go Fish” teaches counting and grouping in sets.  Games that use play money teach how to make change.  Board games that use dice teach addition and counting.  Backgammon teaches addition, subtraction, and strategy. Beans, stones, or marbles can be used to play number games.  Let your child develop his or her own games by sorting beans into different sizes or types, setting up the rules for a counting game, or using different types of pasta to make a picture. Give your children a geometry lesson by letting them create a collage of circles, squares, and triangles.  Challenge them to come up with as many different shapes as they can using only triangles. Play store with the items in your cupboard. A pan of water and some jars or cups of different sizes will amuse a child for hours while teaching capacity and volume. Math Tips for Parents: Beyond 1, 2, 3, 4… Encourage creative problem-solving.  Problem-solving is the basis of good mathematical thinking, and the problems don’t have to involve numbers.  “How many different ways are there to walk to school?” “What’s another way to arrange the furniture in this room?” “How many different ways can I measure flour to get half a cup?” Try to come up with more than one solution for everyday problems. Choose gifts that develop problem-solving skills.  Blocks, building sets, geometric tile sets, puzzles, board games, weather stations, maps, puzzle books, calculators, strategy games,  scales, and origami are just a few of the gifts that will give your child pleasure and knowledge at the same time. Get Involved at School Talk to teachers.  Teachers have materials that you can copy and ideas that you can use at home.  They also have access to books, kits, and professional organizations that can enlarge both your own at-home math lessons and the math program at your school. Volunteer in your child’s class.  By being in the classroom during math, you can see how concepts are taught and follow through with the lessons at home.  This has two advantages.  First, it reinforces the classroom lessons.  Secondly, you are more at ease with math and with the concepts your child is learning. F

Standardized Testing: Is It Good for Our Children?

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Standardized Testing:  Is It Good for Our Children?

 

The California STAR Test is one of the biggest problems plaguing the education of our children in this state.  
In theory, standards-based education makes sense.  It is a framework by which educators can ensure they are teaching in way that is coherent and structured.  In addition, it gives educators, parents and students a way to monitor progress.  In reality, the task of meeting the standards can be monumental due to a diverse population of learners, an increase in class sizes, and a decrease in budgets.  Oftentimes, we hear that educators are “teaching to the test,” which means that most of the lessons and activities that students engage in are designed to improve the coveted score that ultimately is scrutinized by stakeholders to determine whether sanctions may be imposed on schools that do not meet certain benchmarks imposed by the State.  
The biggest losers are the learners.
While the essence of the test has some inherent value, it is lost in the mad focus on the outcomes.  Many students are repeatedly told they are failures based on their STAR test results.  However, because of the way the test and the standards framework are constructed, most students will have a difficult time raising their scores as they progress in school.  Eventually, they begin to perpetuate the self-fulfilling prophecy that they cannot learn, and they give up.
One of the problems is that the test asks students to engage in higher level thinking skills which many students have not been able to develop adequately because they are being bombarded by too many concepts throughout the year. The material is taught broadly and superficially rather than in a concentrated and thorough manner that allows students to truly master concepts and skills in their own time according to their individual learning styles.
Are the STAR Test results important for our children?
While the expectations of bureaucrats can be unreasonable, the STAR Test and the State standards can be helpful tools in determining the areas in which students may need remediation. Engaging in higher level thinking skills and mastering the concepts on the tests are good goals. We can help students improve in these areas, but most likely we are going to have to supplement what they are getting in the classroom. Many helpful materials can be found at bookstores and online.  In addition, tutoring services like Math Magicians, Inc., can help bridge the gaps that may exist between the students’ mastery of concepts and their ability to think critically and what the State will measure on the STAR Test in the spring.  
What can we do to help our children improve their STAR Test scores?
Math Magicians, Inc. offers a Reach for the STARS workshop that helps students prepare for the test.

 On the first day of the workshop, students are assessed to determine areas of weakness.  Materials that are closely aligned to the test are used to strengthen skills and bridge learning gaps. Students are asked to engage in higher level thinking skills and critical thinking activities in order to prepare them for the California STAR Test.  The workshop is March 19th to March 22rd from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm.  The cost is $89.  If you’re interested in registering your student, please call us at 661.718.3699 or visit www.mmtutor.com for more details.  

 

Math Magicians, INC...Where Homework Disappears

Math Magicians, INC...Where Homework Disappears

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