Can You Level the Towers?

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Can You Level the Towers?

Recently, I've been trying to notice a agency to organize many of the amazing resources I've flora online hence I tin role them to a greater extent than easily inwards the future.  Don Steward's blog is an absolute treasure trove of activities as well as interesting problems for whatever mathematics classroom.  A few weeks ago, I went through every unmarried 1 of his weblog posts as well as took greenback of all of the activities that aligned alongside my Algebra 1 standards.  There were Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 LOT of them!  

One of the activities that caught my oculus was called "Equal Sharing."  Students are given a gear upward of towers as well as asked to brand all of the towers possess got the same height.  You must maintain the same issue of towers.  The only affair you lot tin alter is the organization of the blocks.  

I took Don's activeness canvass that featured 10 problems, stuck it inwards a publisher file, enlarged it to fit on 11" x 17" paper, as well as added a championship alongside a cute font.  I printed the puzzle on unopen to 11" x 17" cardstock (affiliate link) that is amazing for creating activities that tin easily locomote worked on past times multiple students at the same time.  It also makes pretty awesome posters!     

Then, I stuck each activeness into 1 of my novel 11" x 17" dry out erase pockets (affiliate link) to brand the activeness reusable.

I allowed students to locomote on this activeness inwards groups of ii or 3.  A few of my students chose to locomote alone.  The bulk of students were inwards pairs.

I didn't give them many details earlier I permit them loose.  I instructed them that their challenge was to rearrange the blocks hence that each tower was the same height.  They had to terminate alongside the same issue of towers that they started with.

Even though I told students earlier nosotros started that they had to terminate upward alongside the same issue of towers that they started with, I silent flora myself answering that enquiry over as well as over as well as over.

It was interesting to sentinel students examine to convince their partners that they had a superior strategy equally I circulated.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 few minutes into the activity, I saw students changing upward their strategy.  At the outset of the problems, the students were mark out boxes as well as moving them 1 at a time.  This worked, but students shortly flora it tedious.  Instead, the students started counting all of the boxes inwards all of the towers.

I stopped past times a grouping merely afterwards they reached the determination that in that place were 28 blocks inwards the towers.  With a perplexed hold back on my face, I asked them why that data was useful.  The grouping informed me that because they knew how many towers they needed to terminate upward alongside that they could accept the issue of blocks as well as merely split past times the issue of towers.

I exercise possess got to acknowledge that non all of my groups made this realization.  Some were enough happy to maintain using the same method that worked over as well as over as well as over.

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When my students got to enquiry 6, they began to choke confused.  Really confused.

My students who were rearranging the blocks 1 at a fourth dimension flora themselves left alongside 4 extra blocks as well as 8 towers.  How does that work?

Some groups decided to cutting the 4 blocks inwards one-half as well as distribute 1 one-half block to each tower.  The groups that were adding upward the blocks as well as dividing past times the towers seemed to possess got less problem alongside this problem.  Many groups, however, got frustrated as well as gave upward when the employment didn't locomote out evenly.

After the groups had fourth dimension to effort MOST of the problems, I began a course of written report discussion.  I asked the groups to portion their strategies.  One educatee inwards each course of written report would select upward the fact that they had flora a shortcut.  They hence proceeded to push clitoris how they had added upward all the blocks as well as divided past times the issue of towers.

After they finished explaining, I asked them what mathematical concept matched upward alongside what they had merely done.  It was hence exciting to encounter their eyes lite upward equally they realized they had merely flora the mean!

I promise that my students walked away from this lesson alongside a meliorate agreement of what the hateful is instead of merely knowing the steps to choke far at the mean.

Thanks Don Steward for this awesome activity!

I possess got uploaded my eleven x 17 sized file of Don's activeness here.

Practice Finding Measures of Central Tendency past times Playing Tenzi

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Practice Finding Measures of Central Tendency past times Playing Tenzi

Disclosure: This postal service contains affiliate links. 

I dearest a expert die game.  I've blogged earlier near playing Farkle alongside my students.  I don't recall I've ever gotten some to blogging near it, simply my hubby as well as I dearest playing statistics course.  This year, I decided to contain Tenzi (and a variant of the game called Splitzi) into Algebra 1's unit of measurement on Data Analysis.  

So, what is Tenzi?  

It's a die game that comes inwards a bully tube.  I received my Tenzi game for either Christmas or my birthday.  The subway scheme contains 4 sets of 10 dice.  Each laid of die is a dissimilar coloring to brand them easily differentiated.  This volition allow 4 people to play.  

Tenzi also produces a Party Pack version that volition allow vi people to play at once.  

   

One of the things I dearest most near Farkle, I discovery myself explaining as well as re-explaining as well as re-explaining again.  With Tenzi, my students are ready-to-go afterward a unmarried explanation!    

Every histrion is playing at the same fourth dimension which keeps the game fast-paced.  This agency students don't convey fourth dimension to goof off or acquire distracted!  After i of the players says "Go!" all of the players coil their 10 dice.  The goal of the game is to acquire all of your 10 die to exhibit the same number.  Players examine their die to determine what value to coil for.  Dice showing that value are laid aside.  Dice showing a dissimilar value are re-rolled until all 10 die exhibit the same number.  The firstly histrion to acquire all 10 die showing the same number yells "Tenzi!"  That ends that round.  

Even though the game's rules are super-simple, the game is withal fun as well as quite addictive!  I've played the game alongside groups ranging from my husband's describe of piece of job solid unit of measurement to a grouping of middle-aged women at a Bunco number to my students.  It's e'er sum of fun as well as laughter.  

To spice the game upwards as well as continue you lot on your toes, the makers of Tenzi convey created dissimilar variations of the game.  There is an entire page on their website dedicated to these variations. 

Here are some of them:  (Image Source) 

I decided to run the master copy Tenzi game as well as the Splitzi variant to aid my Algebra 1 students do finding the mean, median, mode, as well as arrive at of a information set.  

To aid them organize their data, I created a sail for them to gum into their interactive notebooks when nosotros were finished.  

To brand the game suitable for information collection, I had my students non solely race to attain Tenzi earlier the other people inwards their group, simply they had to count the number of rolls it took them to attain Tenzi.  Some of my students would acquire as well as therefore caught upwards inwards trying to win that they would forget to count their rolls!  

Students played 8 rounds as well as recorded the number of rolls they required to attain Tenzi each round.

Another alteration I had to brand to Tenzi to acquire far piece of job for information collection was to require every unmarried histrion to continue rolling until Tenzi was reached.  In the actual game, game play ceases afterward soul yells "Tenzi!"

After students finished playing 8 rounds, they had to discovery the mean, median, mode, as well as arrive at of their data.

Of course, my VERY competitive students had to compare their measures of key style alongside i another!

Next, I taught my students the Splitzi variant.  Instead of rolling your die until all 10 exhibit the same value, you lot must coil your die until v of your die exhibit i value as well as the other v of your die exhibit a dissimilar value.

I asked my students to predict if it would live easier or harder to attain Splitzi than Tenzi.  

My students were pretty divide on their opinions near this matter.  Some insisted Splitzi would live easier.  Others insisted it would live much harder.  I told them that nosotros would discovery who was correct past times analyzing our data. 

In the future, I would add together a writing assignment to this activity.  I would convey my students write a hypothesis earlier start to play Splitzi. 

Then, they would demand to write a paragraph describing their findings.  Students would demand to include prove for each finding.  

I won't spoil the fun as well as portion our findings.  You'll convey to play for yourself as well as discovery out!  

After doing this action alongside 3 dissimilar flat periods, I learned a few tricks as well as tips I should in all probability share.  

Put each laid of 10 die inwards a plastic cup.  These cups volition stack as well as rest semi-organized throughout the day.  Students tin forcefulness out run the loving cup to aid them coil their die if they choose.  

For large flat sizes, the audio of the die hitting desks tin forcefulness out live almost deafening.  We played Tenzi at the terminate of i flat catamenia as well as Splitzi at the start of the adjacent flat period.  To continue myself from losing my hear from the audio of the dice, I had my students play Splitzi on the floor. 

I approximate that's why the instructor I did my pupil education alongside vi years agone had foam dice!  

The makers of Tenzi convey created a deck of 77 variations of the game.  I expect forrard to using some of these variations when nosotros start our science on comparison information sets.

I desire to convey my students motion through stations that each characteristic a dissimilar version of the game.  They volition count the number of rolls needed to attain the goal.  Then, I volition convey them house a sticker on a point plot for that version.  This volition allow us easily compare the dissimilar versions of the game.  So excited to come across what nosotros discover!

The file for this Tenzi/Splitzi action is uploaded here.

Always, Sometimes, Never amongst Measures of Central Tendency

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Always, Sometimes, Never amongst Measures of Central Tendency

Recently, I tried out the Always, Sometimes, or Never? exercise construction amongst my Algebra 1 students.  We used this equally a last-minute review earlier our quiz over finding measures of key tendency.  

I gave students this laid of xi problems.  They were allowed to dyad upwardly to function through the problems.  I laid a timer on my telephone for five minutes.  Students worked inwards pairs without whatever aid from me during these five minutes.  

After the timer went off, nosotros went through each problem.  Groups shared their initial thinking, as well as thence the disagreements started!  I dear when my students disagree inwards math degree because it way they are thinking as well as explaining their thinking.

It was awesome to run across students alter their minds equally their immature human being students shared sets of numbers that disproved their hypotheses.

I definitely desire to contain this exercise construction into my classroom on a to a greater extent than regular basis.

One of my twitter friends suggested that I ready 3 sections of the room to signify Always, Sometimes, as well as Never.  Instead of having students but say their answers, they convey to physically movement to stand upwardly inwards the department that represents their thinking.  Then, students percentage their thinking.  Students maintain to percentage their thinking until the degree comes to a consensus as well as is standing inwards the same area.  Doesn't that audio awesome?!?

I've uploaded the file for this activeness here.  The Always, Sometimes, Never statements are non original.  I establish them on page 135 of this PDF.  I volition likely modify the questions earlier using them again.  My students were quite miffed that in that place ended upwardly beingness thence many "Sometimes" equally the right answer!  

New Timers Thanks to a Generous Donor

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New Timers Thanks to a Generous Donor

Earlier this semester, I had the chance to attend a Steve Spangler workshop at the Science Museum of Oklahoma.  During the workshop, i of the teachers stood upwards together with told us that nosotros should all brand certain nosotros joined a facebook grouping called "Oklahoma Education Needs/Donations."  I'd never heard of this grouping before, but I made a signal of checking it out when I got home.  

If you're reading this from a solid set down that is non Oklahoma, you lot powerfulness non realize the terrible solid set down of instruction funding inwards the state. 

Check out this graphic: 

Oklahoma schools maintain to accept their funding from the solid set down cutting due to revenue failure after revenue failure.  The coin for basic classroom needs only isn't in that place anymore.  

The finish of the facebook grouping is to connect teachers who require classroom materials amongst those who tin assistance run across those needs.  

My Algebra 1 students are currently working through our unit of measurement on Data Analysis.  We accept been using iii OERB workshop. 

These timers accept definitely been well-used this twelvemonth inwards my Physical Science class.  But, iii timers inwards a cast of twenty some students isn't enough.  

I decided to ship my require of timers inwards the Facebook grouping together with see what happened.  If my require wasn't fulfilled, I would hold upwards no worse off than before.  

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 yoke of days later, I got a message that a gear upwards of half dozen timers had been purchased together with would before long hold upwards delivered to my school.  They were kindly purchased for my classroom yesteryear a identify unit of measurement friend of our scientific discipline teacher.  

Six MyChron timers (affiliate link) arrived inwards the postal service yesterday! 

And, nosotros were able to position them all to operate today amongst a information collection action inwards Algebra 1.

We measured how long it took us to discovery dissimilar items inwards a Highlights Hidden Picture Puzzle.  Then, nosotros made box-and-whisker plots of our information that nosotros used to compare our hidden moving-picture exhibit finding skills to those of our classmates.

I'll ship to a greater extent than close this action SOON!

I'm together with thus thankful that in that place are together with thus many generous people willing to pace upwards together with assistance my students when those funding the schools are failing them.

How good tin you lot approximate thirty seconds?

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How good tin you lot approximate thirty seconds?

How good tin sack yous approximate thirty seconds?  This is the inquiry I posed to my Algebra 1 students a duo of weeks agone every bit purpose of our unit of measurement on information analysis.  

My master computer program together with the computer program I carried out during get-go menstruum was to projection an online stopwatch on my SMARTBoard.  

I had all of my students unopen their eyes.  I told them the exact instant that I pressed "Start" on the timer.  Their task was to opened upwards their eyes when they *thought* thirty seconds had passed together with to tape the amount of fourth dimension that genuinely passed.  

This would in all likelihood have got worked only fine if my students hadn't been then excited past times this activity.  One of my students get-go hr opened his eyes, saw that he was at precisely thirty seconds, together with yelled out a scream of glee.  This, of course, caused my other students to opened upwards their eyes together with also orbit near-perfect results.  Not precisely what I was going for!  

For my ii afternoon classes, I pulled out my develop of OERB workshop.  I received an additional 6 timers from a local donor through the OK Education Needs Facebook group.  

Students were instructed to accept turns estimating thirty seconds inward PAIRS.  This took a chip to a greater extent than than twice every bit long every bit doing it every bit an entire class, but the information was then much to a greater extent than accurate!  

One pupil would unopen their eyes together with approximate thirty seconds spell their partner timed how long their approximate genuinely was.  Then, they would switch.  

Here's the information collection shape I gave students to gum inward their interactive notebooks: 

Silly me gave students a box titled "Your Time." In retrospect, this should have got been titled "My Time!"  Earlier inward this unit, I didn't give students a designated infinite to tape their information value.  This led to lots of confusion later on on.  Lesson learned!  

Another alteration I demand to brand for side past times side twelvemonth is to give students a specified house to write the information inward order.  I had to squelch this in, together with it would expect meliorate if it had a box of its own.

Students copied downwards the information from the other students inward their shape every bit I recorded it on the SMARTBoard.  We ended upwards rounding our times to the nearest 2d to brand calculations together with pretty much everything easier!  

After putting our information inward companionship (see above!), I had students abide by the 5 release summary, IQR, together with cheque for outliers.

sixth hr discovered that 49 was an outlier.

For side past times side year, I would add together a inquiry to the bottom that asks if at that spot are whatever outliers.  When my students took this quiz, many of them struggled when I asked them to write a judgement explaining if at that spot were whatever outliers.  I demand to brand certain my students are writing downwards a judgement to justify the presence or absence of outliers each fourth dimension nosotros practice!

On the within of our booklet foldable, students were given infinite to brand a box-and-whisker plot, point plot, stem-and-leaf plot, together with histogram.

See that annoying trouble that the school's re-create machine position through my page?  My students were genuinely really excited virtually it because many of them used it to shape the release trouble for their box-and-whisker plot.  In the future, I volition give students a pre-printed release line.  Then, they volition entirely have got to produce upwards one's heed how to release their release trouble to capture all of the data.  This should relieve a chip of precious shape time!

I would render a pre-printed release trouble for the point plot, too.

I intend I mightiness genuinely have got them brand the point plot on top of the release trouble together with brand the box-and-whisker plot nether the same release line.  I did this amongst a Tenzi (affiliate link) activeness I have got notwithstanding to weblog about, together with it worked pretty well!

Since our information was then unopen together, my students together with I chose to brand a separate stem-and-leaf plot.  Originally, I idea my students would survive genuinely opposed to this alteration of the stem-and-leaf plot, but they popular off along suggesting fourth dimension after fourth dimension that nosotros separate the stems.  Many of them fifty-fifty chose to separate the stems on their quizzes!

Next year, I desire to position some graph newspaper inward the background to aid students trouble upwards their digits.  This volition also ensure that all of the digits goal upwards taking the same amount of space!

Finally, my students made a histogram from our information of estimating thirty seconds.  In the future, I would also position graph newspaper inward the background.  This should aid students brand all of their equivalent towers equivalent heights.

The file for this activeness tin sack survive downloaded here.