Get ready fellow math geeks, "Pi Day" is almost here! The day to celebrate the wonderfully simple and yet, at the same time complex, number pi. And of course, a fantastic excuse to PARTY! :) I'm so excited to help you prepare, and want to share a fun resource that can be used with kids of all ages! This Pi Day Sing Along has been recently updated, and now includes two pages of goofy math songs! *Please Note: This post contains affiliate Keep Reading...
Pythagorean Theorem Lego Proof
Are you familiar with the Pythagorean Theorem? Even if you know the equation, do you know what it means? What all the letters stand for? Why it even matters? Understanding and then using and applying the Pythagorean theorem is important for students because it is so foundational. It can be applied to all kinds of right triangle problems in trigonometry and geometry and is incredibly useful in the real world to determine measurements and right Keep Reading...
Exploring Surface Area of Pyramids and Cones!
As promised, I have another surface area lesson to share today! This builds on students' previous knowledge from the prisms and cylinders lesson to get them thinking about other three dimensional shapes: pyramids and cones. This FREE surface area of pyramids and cones investigation is a sure way to get kids thinking and better understanding area. It is also a fun, hands-on way to help them form a conceptual understanding, rather than trying to Keep Reading...
Exploring Surface Area: Hands-On Lesson!
One topic that I believe is too often rushed through, whether in pre-algebra or geometry, is the surface area of three dimensional objects. Because it is often seen as an "easy" topic where students are expected to simply "plug the numbers into the formula," it can be easy to say, "Here's the formula, GO." And while this may work for some students, especially students who have a strong foundation in geometry vocabulary and a strong understanding Keep Reading...
Hot Chocolate Math Investigation: Estimation and Measurement!
My kids love hot chocolate. It's such a special treat! When the weather is nice, they love to curl up in the yard at night and star gaze with a large cup of hot chocolate. When the weather is cold and snowy, they love to warm up with a cup! The problem is, they tend to fight over silly things, like who gets which cup. Whether they want a particular mug, or a certain color, it drives me insane to have them argue over which cup they get! However, Keep Reading...
Math Art: Learning about Circles with Bubble Prints
There are lots of different ways to explore shapes with your kids. So why not get creative? (And gloriously messy?!) Because I love using art as a way to teach and discover math concepts (and because it helps me to be intentional about letting my kids get messy and creative, something that I do not naturally want to do), I decided to make a batch of bubbles and let the kids "paint" with bubbles. We then used our creations to talk about circles Keep Reading...
Disney Math: Frozen Fractal Snowflake {FREE Printable}
Do you know what a fractal is? I LOVE fractals! Fractals are geometric shapes with self-similar patterns, created by repeating a process over and over again. While there is a wonderful complexity to fractals, there is also a beautiful simplicity that even small children can enjoy! In this next post in my Disney Math series, I'm sharing how I introduced my kids to fractals, based on the movie Frozen. Learn how to make a simple fractal snowflake, Keep Reading...
Exploring Triangles with “The Greedy Triangle!”
The Greedy Triangle, by Marilyn Burns, is a great way to introduce shapes to young kids. It explores various shapes and gives copious examples of shapes in the world around us, and gave us a great starting place for exploring triangles! In addition, it provides an important character lesson: be content with who you are! Or as Dr. Seuss put it, Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you." *Please Keep Reading...
3D Shapes Teaching Resources!
If you have upper elementary or middle school students, you will want to check out some of these 3D shapes resources! There's a lot to learn when it comes to 3D shapes, so hopefully this list of lessons, activities and games will get you started! A fun way to introduce shapes to kids of any age (my kids have made these, at ages 4-5) is to build the shapes using their nets! This free nets printable pack includes nets for 8 different Keep Reading...
3D Shapes Activity Pack! {FREE Download!}
One of the most important geometry topics covered in middle school math is three-dimensional shapes and their nets. There's a lot to learn regarding 3D shapes-vocabulary, measurements, angles, surface area and volume, etc. But it has to start with a basic understanding of the different shapes, and what makes them different from each other, as well as two-dimensional shapes. If you'd like to start by creating these (and more) shapes with your Keep Reading...
