Multiplication In Addition To Colour

This uncomplicated sentiment shows how of import it is to purpose unlike colours when writing on the board - no affair what topic you're teaching.  It actually helps pupils proceed rails of what you're doing.

Source: http://www.jandmranch.com/2013/02/09/teaching-three-digit-multiplication-to-my-aspergers-daughter/ 

5 Maths Gems #9

Because I didn't write a gems postal service final weekend, imagine how much I receive got to tell y'all most today! Quick - let's acquire started...

1. Hula Hoops
Who needs technology scientific discipline when y'all tin stick a hula hoop on the board? This uncomplicated idea, shared by @emziecampbell, is for instruction children to tell the time. It would function good for other circle-based topics too. Stick a hula hoop on the board together with purpose it to instruct circle theorems. Stick 2 or 3 on the board to brand a Venn diagram. Hula hoops receive got novelty value, practical application together with toll a mere £2.

2. Stuck Post-Its
Another uncomplicated all the same effective idea, this fourth dimension from @Misswrenmaths: 'stuck post-its'. Sometimes when students are completing exercise questions inward class, y'all terminate upwards repeating yourself numerous times every bit y'all displace from educatee to student. Instead, topographic point the questions on the board together with enquire students to stick a named post-it Federal Reserve notation on whatever questions they ask assist with - together with hence they tin comport on with the remainder of the exercise without having to human face with their manus up. For instance the pic below shows that you'd ask to assist 1 educatee individually with query 9, simply it may move worth going through query 10 with the whole class, or gathering a grouping together to beak over it.

This technique stops duplication of endeavour together with helps the instructor assess understanding, addition it has the produce goodness of getting students out of their seats, albeit briefly. Read the fascinating postal service 'A veteran instructor turned charabanc shadows 2 students for 2 days – a sobering lesson learned' from @grantwiggins and you'll come across why this is important. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 picayune flake of movement keeps students alert.

While I'm on the bailiwick of post-it notes, I should cite a cool novel app 'Post-it Plus' that was suggested by @dazmck. With this gratuitous app y'all tin receive got a photograph of a wall of post-it notes together with and hence organise them digitally on your telephone or tablet. Amazing.

3. Trig for Victory
@mr_g_walton demonstrated his brilliant inventiveness with his 'Maths Propaganda' posters.

Every poster is first-class hence it was difficult to pick out 3 examples for this post!

In add-on to the posters, Mr Walton suggests revision cards inward the shape of ration booklets together with a schoolhouse broadcast past times the Ministry of Maths! Fantastic ideas. All xvi editable posters together with associated resources tin move downloaded here. Credit also to @El_Timbre for inspiring the 'Trig for Victory' poster.

4. Parabolic Multiplication

qedcat.com

If y'all were at the recent Maths Conference inward Kettering together with hence y'all may receive got been interested inward Johnny Ball's parabolic multiplication. This involves drawing a trouble from 1 betoken on the graph of y = x² to another. Two examples are shown inward the pic - the reddish trouble joins the numbers 3 together with 4, crossing the y-axis at 12, an the greenish trouble joins the numbers 2 together with 2, crossing the y-axis at 4. It's a bizarre multiplication method.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 sum explanation is inward this 'Cool Math Essay' from @jamestanton. The algebra is accessible together with satisfying. Figuring it out would brand a proficient chore for vivid GCSE students or 6th formers studying coordinate geometry.

If y'all reach off to move visiting Deutschland together with hence produce acquire to the Mathematikum. There y'all volition discovery a parabola drawn on a wall with a length of rope for visitors to necktie from 1 betoken on the parabola to unopen to other - the betoken at which the rope crosses the y-axis is the production (source: qedcat.com). Does anyone desire to receive got upwards the challenge of putting 1 of these interactive displays on their classroom wall? If so, delight shipping me a photo!

5. Counting Circles
There's been a lot of buzz alongside American teachers on Twitter most counting circles. This is a uncomplicated together with versatile activeness to railroad train divulge feel together with mental maths strategies. The master copy postal service A veteran instructor turned charabanc shadows 2 students for 2 days – a sobering lesson learned' from @grantwiggins and you'll come across why this is important. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 picayune flake of movement keeps students alert.

While I'm on the bailiwick of post-it notes, I should cite a cool novel app 'Post-it Plus' that was suggested by @dazmck. With this gratuitous app y'all tin receive got a photograph of a wall of post-it notes together with and hence organise them digitally on your telephone or tablet. Amazing.

3. Trig for Victory
@mr_g_walton demonstrated his brilliant inventiveness with his 'Maths Propaganda' posters.

Every poster is first-class hence it was difficult to pick out 3 examples for this post!

In add-on to the posters, Mr Walton suggests revision cards inward the shape of ration booklets together with a schoolhouse broadcast past times the Ministry of Maths! Fantastic ideas. All xvi editable posters together with associated resources tin move downloaded here. Credit also to @El_Timbre for inspiring the 'Trig for Victory' poster.

4. Parabolic Multiplication

qedcat.com

If y'all were at the recent Maths Conference inward Kettering together with hence y'all may receive got been interested inward Johnny Ball's parabolic multiplication. This involves drawing a trouble from 1 betoken on the graph of y = x² to another. Two examples are shown inward the pic - the reddish trouble joins the numbers 3 together with 4, crossing the y-axis at 12, an the greenish trouble joins the numbers 2 together with 2, crossing the y-axis at 4. It's a bizarre multiplication method.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 sum explanation is inward this 'Cool Math Essay' from @jamestanton. The algebra is accessible together with satisfying. Figuring it out would brand a proficient chore for vivid GCSE students or 6th formers studying coordinate geometry.

If y'all reach off to move visiting Deutschland together with hence produce acquire to the Mathematikum. There y'all volition discovery a parabola drawn on a wall with a length of rope for visitors to necktie from 1 betoken on the parabola to unopen to other - the betoken at which the rope crosses the y-axis is the production (source: Science and English) receive got shown an involvement inward this format too.

5 Maths Gems #11

I've got roughly vivid gems for y'all this week. As park Twitter has been on overstep form.

1. Quick Key
Last calendar week I wrote almost Plickers, which is an app y'all tin role inward the classoom for formative assessment - y'all need a device merely your students don't. Today I'm suggesting roughly other app that y'all tin role for assessment - Quick Key. With this app y'all tin laid multiple selection homeworks or tests in addition to grade them inward seconds past times scanning the answer sheets ('Quick Tickets') with your phone.

Quick Key is the conception of American instructor Walter Duncan (@4_teachers). It "turns your cry upwardly into a scanner in addition to eliminates hand-grading of assessments, fifty-fifty for teachers working inward paper-based classrooms without a estimator or internet. Analytics in addition to information exports are easy, thence y'all tin focus on your students".

My initial thoughts were that although this app could last real useful (less fourth dimension spent marking = to a greater extent than fourth dimension spent planning character lessons), it won't allow me to banking concern gibe students' methods, which limits opportunities for useful feedback. But for straightforward cognition checks, to inform me how much my students know, it would function real well.

But thence I read this post almost it. Find the Factors is designed by @IvaSallay who says it's an splendid means for children in addition to adults to review multiplication facts, role logic, in addition to strengthen encephalon power. The puzzles are based on a multiplication grid where most of the numbers possess got been removed. The grid tin last completed using logic in addition to cognition of factors - inward the illustration below y'all could commencement past times completing the 2 circled cells. The puzzles come upwardly inward varying levels of difficulty, as explained here. Find the Factors has already been real pop with tweeters who've tried it this week.

4. Chalk Pens

Kev Lister ‏(@ListerKev) tweeted almost chalk pens. I've written almost writing on desks, windows in addition to walls before, merely these are novel to me. Kev says the chalk wipes off non-porous surfaces easily with a damp cloth. He uses these pens to write targeted questions or render scaffolding for selected students. I mean value my boss would last happier with me writing on desks with these rather than whiteboard markers.

5. Alternative Number Line
I'm reluctant to include 2 ideas from Ed Southall (@solvemymaths) inward 1 post, merely he's a legend thence I'll allow it... In the same means the maths clock inward my kitchen makes a neat talking betoken for guests to my house, his alternative break line should last displayed inward Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 degree classrooms - students (and teachers!) volition last intrigued. Mr G Walton (@mr_g_walton) has made a fantastic header to larn with it.

Stuart Price (@sxpmaths) suggests making an activity out of this - cutting the break job upwardly in addition to give it to your Year 13s thence they tin variety it into order. They may non last familiar with roughly of the tone merely it's a adept chance for interesting discussions (I constitute out how to read ternary to sympathise Ed's selection for break 5. I'd also non seen flooring in addition to ceiling tone before).

Stuart also suggests that students pattern their ain break lines. I honey this thought - it would function with students of whatever age, from main schoolhouse to university. It's like to an activity I suggested inward my reflection stickers. Students stick a 'Not withal yeti' or 'I got it' sticker inward their mass to permit y'all know whether they've understood the work.

Speaking of stickers, Adil Jaffer (@adil_3) shared his fantastic feedback stickers thence y'all don't possess got to buy the farm on writing the same affair all the fourth dimension when you're marking.

One of the post pop tweets I saw this calendar week was from @MathedUp who shared his fantastic 'request a selfie' idea. I tin come across this actually improving the character of students' function - many of my students would honey the chance to print their parents. If y'all role iDoceo thence it's slowly to accept a motion painting on your iPad in addition to electronic mail it to a parent.

Did y'all come across these practise books, tweeted by @dandesignthink? The boxes at the bottom of the pages incorporate a checklist (accuracy, spelling, grammar), telephone commutation words, farther questions, telephone commutation points, what went well, in addition to feedback. An 'Exercise mass 2.0' costs 50p - amount details are available here. There's also a maths version - Maths mass 2.0 is every bit awesome. I wishing I had a budget to pass because I'm desperate to guild these!

The to a greater extent than I role Twitter, the to a greater extent than inclined I am to hashtag everything I write (or say!). I possess got to confine myself from putting hashtags inward text messages to my hubby ('what do y'all desire for dinner tonight? #pleasesaytakeaway'). It's overnice to come across that I'm non lonely - Cathy Yenca (post almost it. Find the Factors is designed by @IvaSallay who says it's an splendid means for children in addition to adults to review multiplication facts, role logic, in addition to strengthen encephalon power. The puzzles are based on a multiplication grid where most of the numbers possess got been removed. The grid tin last completed using logic in addition to cognition of factors - inward the illustration below y'all could commencement past times completing the 2 circled cells. The puzzles come upwardly inward varying levels of difficulty, as explained here. Find the Factors has already been real pop with tweeters who've tried it this week.

4. Chalk Pens

Kev Lister ‏(@ListerKev) tweeted almost chalk pens. I've written almost writing on desks, windows in addition to walls before, merely these are novel to me. Kev says the chalk wipes off non-porous surfaces easily with a damp cloth. He uses these pens to write targeted questions or render scaffolding for selected students. I mean value my boss would last happier with me writing on desks with these rather than whiteboard markers.

5. Alternative Number Line
I'm reluctant to include 2 ideas from Ed Southall (@solvemymaths) inward 1 post, merely he's a legend thence I'll allow it... In the same means the maths clock inward my kitchen makes a neat talking betoken for guests to my house, his alternative break line should last displayed inward Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 degree classrooms - students (and teachers!) volition last intrigued. Mr G Walton (@mr_g_walton) has made a fantastic header to larn with it.

Stuart Price (@sxpmaths) suggests making an activity out of this - cutting the break job upwardly in addition to give it to your Year 13s thence they tin variety it into order. They may non last familiar with roughly of the tone merely it's a adept chance for interesting discussions (I constitute out how to read ternary to sympathise Ed's selection for break 5. I'd also non seen flooring in addition to ceiling tone before).

Stuart also suggests that students pattern their ain break lines. I honey this thought - it would function with students of whatever age, from main schoolhouse to university. It's like to an activity I suggested inward my Open Evening post where y'all concur a 'design a maths clock' competition. The clock pictures below are all taken from sbcrafts.net where y'all tin banking concern gibe out a big arrive at of clock break ideas that could also last used on break lines.

And finally...
Algebraic long partition is fun when y'all know how to do it, merely it tin last a flake tricky to learn to Year 12. It's overnice to know in that place are option methods. I've factorised polynomials past times inspection earlier merely non using a grid as suggested by post almost it. Find the Factors is designed by @IvaSallay who says it's an splendid means for children in addition to adults to review multiplication facts, role logic, in addition to strengthen encephalon power. The puzzles are based on a multiplication grid where most of the numbers possess got been removed. The grid tin last completed using logic in addition to cognition of factors - inward the illustration below y'all could commencement past times completing the 2 circled cells. The puzzles come upwardly inward varying levels of difficulty, as explained here. Find the Factors has already been real pop with tweeters who've tried it this week.

4. Chalk Pens

Kev Lister ‏(@ListerKev) tweeted almost chalk pens. I've written almost writing on desks, windows in addition to walls before, merely these are novel to me. Kev says the chalk wipes off non-porous surfaces easily with a damp cloth. He uses these pens to write targeted questions or render scaffolding for selected students. I mean value my boss would last happier with me writing on desks with these rather than whiteboard markers.

5. Alternative Number Line
I'm reluctant to include 2 ideas from Ed Southall (@solvemymaths) inward 1 post, merely he's a legend thence I'll allow it... In the same means the maths clock inward my kitchen makes a neat talking betoken for guests to my house, his alternative break line should last displayed inward Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 degree classrooms - students (and teachers!) volition last intrigued. Mr G Walton (@mr_g_walton) has made a fantastic header to larn with it.

Stuart Price (@sxpmaths) suggests making an activity out of this - cutting the break job upwardly in addition to give it to your Year 13s thence they tin variety it into order. They may non last familiar with roughly of the tone merely it's a adept chance for interesting discussions (I constitute out how to read ternary to sympathise Ed's selection for break 5. I'd also non seen flooring in addition to ceiling tone before).

Stuart also suggests that students pattern their ain break lines. I honey this thought - it would function with students of whatever age, from main schoolhouse to university. It's like to an activity I suggested inward my The Art of Collaboration', it's ever neat to listen when these ideas larn far into classrooms. Have a neat half-term interruption everyone!

Ideas From Shanghai

Us teachers are oft discipline to criticism. As a resultant nosotros tin endure really defensive. We accept an of import labor to do nether hard atmospheric condition thence it's no surprise that we're sensitive when told that the lineament of our teaching could endure improved. Unfortunately this defensiveness makes us resistant to novel teaching ideas, together with that is a tragedy. Because novel teaching ideas hold this profession moving forward. New approaches to explaining mathematical concepts accept the potential to transform maths education. It is absolutely essential that nosotros are opened upward to these ideas.

We've heard a lot of rhetoric from the Department for Education well-nigh Shanghai. It's tardily for us to acquire frustrated well-nigh the comparisons because at that topographic point are meaning differences betwixt our nations, both inwards damage of civilization together with the underlying structures of the teaching profession. But let's position the politics to 1 side - the questions maths teachers should endure bespeak are, "How tin I notice out what happens inwards maths lessons inwards Shanghai, together with volition those ideas endure useful inwards my classroom?". Well I accept to a greater extent than or less answers for y'all - y'all tin notice out well-nigh what industrial plant good inwards Shanghai through the Maths Hub maiden together with yes, to a greater extent than or less of the ideas are fantastic together with tardily to apply. Don't endure also quick to dismiss them.

Today I went to the launch of the Surrey Plus Maths Hub. The Pb schoolhouse is St John the Baptist School inwards Woking - their teachers accept lately returned from a trip to Shanghai thence I knew we'd listen all well-nigh it at the launch. I felt defensive, together with I acknowledge that I arrived amongst an arrogant 'I accept zip to larn from them' attitude. I was pleasantly surprised - the speakers (who delivered first-class presentations) were careful non to alienate their audience. They acknowledged the huge cultural together with household unit of measurement differences betwixt China together with the UK. They also acknowledged the fact that teachers inwards Shanghai accept numerous advantages over us, the most notable beingness that they solely instruct ii 35 infinitesimal lessons a twenty-four hr stream (they pass the residuum of their fourth dimension doing research, marking, planning together with collaborating amongst colleagues). The speakers acknowledged all these differences but did non focus on them, because these things are beyond our control. Instead, they focussed on interesting mathematical methods that nosotros tin all start using lead away inwards our classrooms. In this ship service I'm going to portion these methods because, although to a greater extent than or less may appear 'obvious', sometimes nosotros overcomplicate things. I mean value these uncomplicated methods are truly rather useful.

Multiplication Strategies

The ii questions inwards a higher house were given to us equally a starter at the hub launch. What bully questions they are. These are given to 10 twelvemonth olds inwards Shanghai together with they tin operate out the answers inwards their heads. I'm impressed. Well done Shanghai.

It's all well-nigh using clever numerical methods. Let's start amongst something simpler (I'll come upward dorsum to the starter questions inwards a minute). This 1 is done yesteryear vii twelvemonth olds:

Work out 2.5 x 3.2 inwards your head. Quickly!

I'm told that students inwards Shanghai would encounter this calculation similar this:

2.5 x (4 x 0.8) = 10 x 0.8 = 8.

I don't mean value my students, fifty-fifty my 6th formers, would mean value similar that.

Incidentally, I used a dissimilar method. My encephalon prefers fractions to decimals, thence I stance of it similar this:

Either way, a fleck of clever publish manipulation makes this inquiry fairly straightforward.

From a immature age, students inwards Shanghai larn to reply questions similar these inwards their heads:
a. 0.125 x 8
b. 0.5 x 0.2
c. 2.5 x 4
d. 12.5 x 0.8
Through lots of practice, students acquire truly expert at working out anything that relates to the 2, five together with 10 times tables. They also larn to instantaneously recall that 4 x 25 = 100 together with 8 x 12.5 = 100. Using these skills, they tin reply questions similar this inwards their head:

12.5 x 2.4

Look, there's a 12.5 here. 12.5 is a useful publish because it tin endure multiplied yesteryear 8 to acquire 100. So rewrite the calculation as:

12.5 x (8 x 0.3)
= (12.5 x 8) x 0.3
= 100 x 0.3 = 30

Easy when y'all know how.

10 twelvemonth olds inwards Shanghai mightiness endure given this inquiry to hold off at inwards a grouping of three:

125 x 80.8

Together they'll come upward up amongst a strategy for answering the question. For example, they mightiness advise rewriting it as:
125 x 8 x 10.1
= M x 10.1 = 10,100.

See how this works? If nosotros accept a 12.5, nosotros hold off for an 8. If nosotros accept a 25, nosotros hold off for a 4. We manipulate the numbers to brand the calculation friction match what nosotros know.
So let's purpose these ideas to reply those starter questions.

2.5 x 4.04 x 0.9

Split the middle publish upward to get:
2.5 x (4 + 0.04)  x 0.9
=((2.5 x 4) + (2.5 x 0.04)) x 0.9
= (10 + 0.1) x 0.9
= nine + 0.09 = 9.09

I'll acquire out y'all to operate out a expert strategy for answering the 2d inquiry yourself (tweet me your reply or comment below).

So, why non start teaching your students these clever mental strategies? It's never also belatedly to prepare publish skills. These lessons would operate at whatsoever age. I could do amongst practising these strategies myself.

Here's a few to a greater extent than ideas I've seen on Twitter that mightiness endure helpful for developing strategies:

Who tin operate these out the fastest? Discuss strategies. Shared by @LearningMaths

Ratio method for division. Shared by @MathsPrimary

Multiplication strategies. Shared by @MathsPrimary

In response to the the multiplication strategies above, ‏@MathsSfL pointed out that numbers could also separate up, for instance if a pupil is struggling amongst the 6 times tabular array together with thence they could multiply yesteryear 3, together with thence yesteryear 2 (eg 7 x 6 = 7 x 3 x 2). ‏@mathsdotcom added that this industrial plant good for the 8 times tabular array - there's no demand to larn it - merely multiply yesteryear 4 together with thence double it.

Another affair that was mentioned at the hub launch was 'smallest publish first'. If a shaver is asked to operate out 7 x 4 together with thence they could mean value of it equally 4 x 7 -  so no demand to purpose the 7 times table. Thinking similar this cuts downward on lots of duplication inwards memorising times tables. So a large chunk of our park times tables nautical chart is unnecessary - take away the duplication together with nosotros are left amongst the chart below. Kangaroo Maths also really helpfully gives us the 21 times tabular array facts that students demand to learn.

Source: kangaroomaths.com

Inequality symbols

In my ship service Shortcuts vs Concept Development I admitted that I refer to crocodiles when introducing the inequality symbols (ie crocodiles swallow the bigger number).

I decided I'd travel along to do this until I institute a meliorate agency to assistance students retrieve which sign is which. Well, today I institute a replacement for crocodiles. It's thence simple, it's silly.

All students demand to do is visualise numbers equally blocks - the wider cease of the inequality symbol fits over the bigger stack of blocks. So if x > 2, nosotros know x must endure a publish bigger than 2. Eventually they'll start automatically reading the symbol > equally 'greater than' without having to visualise the blocks. Simples.

Chinese pupils purpose multilinks together with straws to larn inequalities. Source: @GlOWmaths

Making feel of the lodge of operations
Instead of merely teaching BODMAS (which inwards itself is the origin of many misconceptions), do y'all assistance students to empathize why nosotros multiply earlier nosotros add? This instance was given at the launch:

Pencils come upward inwards packs of 10. I accept 4 total packs together with 7 extra pencils. How many pencils do I have?

Children accept a multifariousness of strategies:
1. I accept 4 packs of 10 pencils summation 7 extra thence I do: 4 x 10 + 7 = 47.
2. It's similar five packs of 10 pencils amongst iii missing thence I do: five x 10 - 3 = 47
3. I accept 7 pencils summation 4 packs of 10, thence I do: 7 + 4 x 10 = 47.
In the in conclusion example, the shaver doesn't endeavour to add together the 7 together with the 4 earlier multiplying yesteryear 10 because it doesn't brand feel to do so. The context of the inquiry helps them empathize this.

Worth attending?
Some people are critical of the Maths Hubs maiden but I felt it was of import to attend the launch. I don't desire to stubbornly resist learning from Shanghai without at to the lowest degree taking the fourth dimension to notice out well-nigh their methods. The ideas I've written well-nigh hither aren't groundbreaking, but they got me thinking well-nigh the agency I explicate things.

It took me almost ii hours (in terrible traffic) to acquire to the launch lawsuit so, equally a busy instructor amongst a immature family, I dubiety I'll endure able to attend whatsoever to a greater extent than hub events on schoolhouse days, which is a shame because they accept to a greater extent than or less bully materials planned. H5N1 lot of their operate volition initially focus on discipline cognition enhancement (ie helping non-specialist teachers amongst their maths), which is definitely worthwhile. They may non endure reaching everyone who needs help yet but at that topographic point were over 100 people at the launch event, which is a expert start.

It's a shame that the hubs' funding mightiness endure stopped on the whim of a politico because it makes it hard for them to project design over the long-term. But for now, if they're bringing fresh ideas into classrooms, offering back upward where it's needed together with providing opportunities to collaborate, that's fantastic. Do acquire inwards touching on amongst your local hub through www.mathshubs.org.uk to notice out what's going on. Just endure prepared to listen a lot well-nigh Shanghai - but mayhap that's non such a bad affair afterward all.

5 Maths Gems #19

Hello in addition to welcome to my 19th gems post. This is where I part approximately of the best didactics ideas I've seen on Twitter each week. Most of my gems convey come upwards from across the Atlantic today.

1. Polygraph
There's been a lot of buzz almost Desmos' novel Polygraph activities. They're mathematical versions of Guess Who, designed to 'foster the pleasance in addition to the ability of words without the drudgery of the lists'. There are currently 4 Polygraph activities:

Let's expect at Polygraph: Parabolas. Students move inwards pairs (a picker in addition to a guesser) on split upwards tablets, phones or computers. The picker selects a graph from a ready of parabolas. The guesser sees the same ready of parabolas - their trace is to position which graph the picker has chosen past times cry for a serial of yes/no questions. For instance they mightiness inquire almost the seat out of roots or the place of the vertex or y-intercept. The guesser types their questions in addition to the picker responds alongside yes, no, or don't know. The guesser keeps cry for questions until they are able to position the chosen graph.

Students in addition to then convey the chance to analyse in addition to refine their questioning, in addition to y'all convey a flat discussion to formalise the mathematical vocabulary.

As alongside Desmos' awesome Gems 13, it's incredibly quick in addition to slow to larn started. I'm going to survive didactics quadratics to Year 10 before long in addition to can't hold back to purpose the Parabolas activity. And I computer program to purpose the Linear Graphs version alongside my Year 9s too.

Extract from Polygraph: Lines

2. Point, Point, Gradient

Tina Cardone (@crstn85) shared this lovely activity 'Point, Point, Slope' past times Michael Fenton (@mjfenton). It's a unproblematic precisely effective lesson stance inwards which students convey to purpose whatsoever digit from 2 to ix to create 2 points - y'all could rank them post-its or seat out tiles to shuffle around. You furnish criteria, such every bit 'create 2 points which create upwards one's heed a trace alongside the greatest possible gradient'. Read the amount post for to a greater extent than ideas. There's loads y'all could create alongside this activity, for instance y'all could inquire your students to use half dozen unlike digits (from 0 - 9) to create iii points which prevarication on the same line. It's a expert agency to railroad train agreement of linear graphs in addition to I cry back it would move good at both GCSE in addition to AS level.

Michael's spider web log is amount of fantabulous ideas. For instance in Two Fractions students house digits in addition to operators inwards the boxes below to brand an facial expression alongside the greatest possible value.

This reminds me of the Blanks activities I featured inwards Gems 17, which y'all tin rank the axe read to a greater extent than almost inwards Sarah Aldous' post Gems 13 I talked almost making your students 'Number Experts'. I shared 2 websites that are useful for finding out properties of numbers (numbergossip.com in addition to numdic.com). Both websites are fantabulous - for example, numbergossip.com tells me that 28 is a perfect, composite, happy number, and numdic.com (which wins the prize for funniest URL) gives me the binary in addition to Roman Numeral representations of 28. I've immediately discovered a novel website - the Number Property Calculator - which I similar because of the agency it gives data almost the important of the seat out properties. Here's a small extract from what comes upwards when I search for 28:

I flora this website when I was browsing through sometime posts on Math Munch. Math Munch is a 'Weekly Digest of the Mathematical Internet'. It's packed amount of fantastic resources in addition to ideas thus it's definitely worth subscribing to have weekly e-mail updates, in addition to y'all tin rank the axe follow them on Twitter also (@MathMunch).

5. Drawing Euclid

Andy Shaw (@Squidworm74) pointed me inwards the direction of these lovely Euclid videos on YouTube past times Shoo Rayner (@shoorayner). They are fantastic videos in addition to I can't hold back to part them alongside my Year vii students. Check out the amount playlist here. Here's an instance almost unlike types of triangles:



That's it for this week. I promise you've flora approximately inspiration inwards this post. I'll move out y'all alongside this bright video past times the always awesome Vi Hart - The Gauss Christmath Special. Thanks to Chris Smith (@app03102) for sharing this.




Have a wonderful Christmas!