These files are in the order of the school year . . . so scroll down to find where we are.
Hamster Math - Rates and Circle Geometry
Warm up by reviewing ratios, rates and unit rates with this Math Antics video.
Hamster Math Unit Materials and Videos
Framing Unit - Rational Numbers
The Framing Unit uses the real-world skill of construction to practice adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing rational numbers, converting measurements, creating equations to find missing values and converting between fractions and decimals. The unit is completed in class with a packet. The unit will be graded in parts. There will be a lot of hands-on activities with measuring and using models to write equations.
Why are we doing this????
A part of being a good "math citizen" is being able to apply math in everyday settings that you come across. Many students will come across framing in elective courses at MMS, or if they ever have a flood in their basement and have to tear down and rebuild walls, but cannot afford hiring it out. This is an excellent "real life" setting to practice writing equations from information in narrative form. Also, we add, subtract, multiply and divide mixed numbers and switch between numbers in base 12 and base 10. Further, we find the most cost effective way to build in the last part of the unit.
Why are we doing this????
A part of being a good "math citizen" is being able to apply math in everyday settings that you come across. Many students will come across framing in elective courses at MMS, or if they ever have a flood in their basement and have to tear down and rebuild walls, but cannot afford hiring it out. This is an excellent "real life" setting to practice writing equations from information in narrative form. Also, we add, subtract, multiply and divide mixed numbers and switch between numbers in base 12 and base 10. Further, we find the most cost effective way to build in the last part of the unit.
Framing Unit Flip Chart |
Integers Help
Below is some information to help with integers. . . . remember the balloons. The balloon model is available in the pdf below.
General Information About Calculators and Shortcuts
The Percent Button . . . . . .
Yes, your calculator has a button that will calculate percent for you. However, the calculator that you are allowed to use on standardized tests such as the NWEA MAP test and the SBAC does not have a calculator with a percent button. In order to prepare you for these assessments, you must show your work with either the percent proportion or the percent equation. Answers without any work will be assigned no credit.
The 7th grade standard says:
7.RP.3: Use proportional relationships to solve multistep ratio and percent problems.
Progress on this standard cannot be measured if you are using the percent button. I need to know if you understand the proportional relationships which you can show me with the proportion or the equation.
The 7th grade standard says:
7.RP.3: Use proportional relationships to solve multistep ratio and percent problems.
Progress on this standard cannot be measured if you are using the percent button. I need to know if you understand the proportional relationships which you can show me with the proportion or the equation.
Questions about "cross products" and "the butterfly".
I have had a lot of questions about why students are not using cross products, also called "the butterfly", to work with ratios and proportions. These are the methods you and I learned in school, and probably the methods other children in your household learned. So what happened? Why is it suddenly bad?
Well, first, it isn't "bad"; however, it does not demonstrate an understanding of how to work with ratios as fractions. The state standards are very clear in wanting students to demonstrate that they understand ratios are fractions, that a proportion is a pair of equivalent fractions and that ratios and proportions can be worked with by using properties of fractions that we understand.
Cross products and "the butterfly" are excellent tools to use when solving these problems quickly or if there are a lot of them to solve. However, being able to communicate an understanding of why they work is of paramount importance. I have included a flip chart illustrating these ideas.
Please contact me if you want to chat further about this important concept.
Well, first, it isn't "bad"; however, it does not demonstrate an understanding of how to work with ratios as fractions. The state standards are very clear in wanting students to demonstrate that they understand ratios are fractions, that a proportion is a pair of equivalent fractions and that ratios and proportions can be worked with by using properties of fractions that we understand.
Cross products and "the butterfly" are excellent tools to use when solving these problems quickly or if there are a lot of them to solve. However, being able to communicate an understanding of why they work is of paramount importance. I have included a flip chart illustrating these ideas.
Please contact me if you want to chat further about this important concept.
the_butterfly.pdf | |
File Size: | 3202 kb |
File Type: |