Marshmallow Maths
Have you ever used marshmallows in your maths class? Today, Grade 4 had a sweet morning! We made 3D shapes with marshmallows! We used toothpicks to represent the edges and the marshmallows to represent the vertices. Ms.O’Dwyer gave us clues and we had to work out which object to make. Then we had to record its name, as well as how many faces, edges and vertices that shape had. Sometimes it was difficult to work out whether to build a prism or a pyramid. The hardest shape was the one with 24 edges, which turned out to be an octagonal prism. It was also tricky because the shape was always unsteady. The best thing was that after we finished making and recording, we got to eat the marshmallows! It was a very yummy lesson. By Kota &...
Read MoreCan you make a square meter that’s not a square?
Can you make a square meter that’s not a square? We did! Last week, we enjoyed an investigation into area and perimeter. We were challenged to make two shapes with the same area of exactly 1 square meter but different perimeters. All our shapes looked different: triangles, hexagons, octagons and even an icosagon (20-sided polygon)! In each case, when we changed the form of the shape, the perimeter increased. At the end of the task, we recorded our understanding in a mathematical reflection. Take a look at Kazuki’s excellent explanation of the task below. Great mathematical thinking, Grade 4! It is wonderful to see you talking to each other, asking questions, checking measurements and solving problems! Square meter investigation new from...
Read MorePatterns help us solve problems.
In this math unit, we learned about patterns. We learned to find and create many types of patterns. We made repeating patterns and growing patterns with numbers. We worked out the rules and used these to make predictions. We even learned to solve patterns with algebra. We especially enjoyed working in groups to solve problems with matchsticks. Some of them were hard but our patterning skills helped us. Have a look at our patterns video below! By Na Youn, Hyun Seo & Kaopoon...
Read MoreGroovy Geometry
We have recently completed our math investigation into geometry. After learning about the work of Greek mathematicians during our Ancient Civilizations Unit, it was our turn to make discoveries! Using compasses, rulers and protractors, we were challenged to construct 2D shapes, tessellations and patterns. We discovered the properties of circles, strategies for folding right-angled triangles and the mysteries of pentagons. The diagonals of pentagons hold many secrets! In these hands-on inquiries, we developed problem-solving skills and a deeper understanding of geometry. Here are some of our cool tessellations. Ask us about rotation, reflection and translation! Ask us about lines, angles and polygons!...
Read MoreWhat can you do with 5000 years & 1 piece of paper?
This week we had a challenge: to create large-scale timelines to represent each ancient civilisation. Our timelines needed to include: an appropriate, accurate scale dates from 3000 B.C.E. to 2000 A.C.E 10 significant historical events We were given a blank piece of paper and access to all information sources and measurement tools in our classroom. We needed all our Math and research skills to complete the task. Here we are, hard at work: Here are some of our finished timelines: We were marked on understanding of scale, measurement skills, quality of information, presentation and cooperation. We assessed ourselves before Ms O’Dwyer added her comments. What did you enjoy ? What was the hardest part? What did you learn from this task? Now we can compare our timelines to better understand the order, span and key legacies of each...
Read MoreGeometry Hunters: Ancient Greek legacies in our school!
Did you know that the ancient Greeks made lots of mathematical discoveries? This week, we have been looking at ancient architecture and learning about lines, angles and 2D shapes. We still use ancient Greek geometry in our art, architecture, music and games today. In small groups, we hunted for geometry around our school. We earned a point for every mathematical legacy we could find, name and measure. Here is a group of Geometry Hunters and their findings: What did you learn about the properties of 2D shapes this week? Why is mathematics important in architecture? Why is mathematics important in...
Read More