Stuck

One of the 11 Best Illustrated Books of 2011, Stuck by Oliver Jeffers would not be at the top of my list of books that can be used to teach traditional math concepts. However, I think it is a fantastic book for conveying the value of perseverance and persistence in problem solving. The story begins with Floyd getting his kite stuck in a tree then proceeds with his comical attempts to throw a variety of different items into the tree in his attempts to dislodge the kite.

TEACHING TIP:
Read aloud Stuck to your students then discuss the attributes that helped Floyd solve his problem. For example, persistence, trying alternative solutions etc. Relate these attributes to solving math problems. Later, when student face a challenging math problem, remind them of Floyd.


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Who sank the boat?

Mr Grumphy's Outing by John Burningham and Pamela Allen's Who Sank the Boat? provide the perfect excuse to splash around in a cool tub of water on a hot July afternoon. In both stories the characters pile into the boats until they reach maximum capacity and ultimately sink the boat. As each new character is introduced children can make predictions of what will happen next. After reading the book children can investigate the sinking scenario as described below.



Teaching Tip
A lot of math and science can be explored with this activity. Give each child or small group a square sheet of aluminum foil (6" x 6") and ask them to shape the foil into a boat. Then children then place identical objects (marbles or bottle caps or pennies or paper clips etc.) into their boats until the boat sinks. The goal is to place the most objects into the boat before it sinks.

A detailed lesson plan for the foil boat activity can be found here. Extend the lesson by having different students use different objects then chart the results. Which objects needs the fewest to sink the boat? The most?

Math Wizardry for Kids

Although the school year has just ended and summer only officially kicked off last week, I've already heard from parents who are searching for ideas to help their children fill their vacation time with productive activities. First, planning a weekly trip to your local library is always a great idea. While at the library look for a copy of Barron's Math Wizardry for Kids, it is full of projects you can turn to respond to the child who is already lamenting, "Mom, I'm bored. I don't have anything to do!"

In Math Wizardry for Kids, authors Margaret Kenda and Phyllis S. Williams have have created a rich resource packed with dozens of creative projects that will not only keep children busy, but also encourage them to discover many of the mysteries and wonders of mathematics. The list of materials and clear directions are for each activity, accompanied by simple illustrations, empower children to work independently. I predict that many parents will enjoy completing projects right alongside their children.

Teaching Tip
Teachers will find Math Wizardry for Kids a handy resource for creative projects that students can do in and outside of class to reinforce math concepts and discover mathematical understanding for themselves. For example, Chapter 9 includes a project titled, "Build a Sun Clock." Students can use their sun clock to tell time as well as learn about measurement and angles.

Fun Summer Reading

Sometimes you just want to kick back with a good book and read. There are a number of books with a math bent that are also just plain fun to read. This week the summer soltice begins and many of us will be searching for books to read while soaking up the sun. Here are a few suggestions for books to tuck into your beach bag.

Crimes and Mathedemeanors by Leith Hatoutis is a delightful collection of short detective stories that will challenges teenagers and adults alike. The main character, Ravi, is a 14-year-old math genius who uses mathematics and physics to help the local detectives solve perplexing cases.



The Parrot's Theorem, an International bestseller by Denis Guedj is an interesting cross between mathematical history and a murder mystery combined with a charming parrot that will discuss math with anyone.



Finally, for younger readers, check out The Great Number Rumble: A Story of Math in Surprising Places by Cora Lee and Gillian O'Reilly. A book that aptly illustrates that math is indeed all around us.

KenKen Puzzles

For our final suggestions of fun resources to consider using while celebrating National Brain Training Week (June 11-17, 2011) we will look at KenKen puzzles. Just as with the magic square and sudoku puzzles discussed earlier this week, KenKen puzzles help children develop problem solving skills and number sense. Puzzles also help develop concentration.

Here are a few good sources of KenKen puzzles:

Will Shortz Presents I Can KenKen! Volume 1: 75 Puzzles for Having Fun with Math is recommended for children ages 9-12. Shortz has also published volumes 2 and 3 for the same age range of children. All of the titles in the series include a "Home and Classroom Guide for Parents and Teachers" written by Marilyn Burns.

KenKen puzzles are also available as a handheld game.

Teaching Tip
The bulletin board idea mentioned in the June 15 posing on Sudoku can be adapted for KenKen puzzles.

As an alternative, instead of incorporating the puzzles we have talked about this week into classroom instruction, consider just having number puzzle books available for children to enjoy in their leisure time. Parents might consider having a few number puzzle books available in the car to occupy children on long trips. Magic Squares, Sudoku and KenKen are a great way for children to enjoy math with out any pressure. Let's always remember to create opportunities for children to enjoy the wonder and beauty of mathematics.

Sudoku

Continuing with our look at number puzzles in observance of National Brain Training Week (June 11-17, 2011) today we look at Sudoku, the number puzzle that quickly went from something no one had every heard of, let along pronounce, to becoming a global phenomenon. The traditional 9 x 9 grid Sudoku is easily adaptable for a range of age and ability levels. Books such as Will Shortz Presents the Monster Book of Sudoku for Kids: 150 Fun Puzzles begin with a short introductory lesson on solving Sudoku and entry level 4 x 4 grid puzzles before advancing to 6 x 6 then the traditional 9 x 9 grid puzzles.

In Sudoku Puzzles for Kids, author Michael Rios also modifies puzzles for children by only using the digits 1 - 6 in his puzzles rather than the typical 1 - 9.

Sudoku is accessible to even the youngest students with puzzles like those found in Kindergarten Sudoku by Peter Kattan and Sudokids.com Sudoku Puzzles For Children Ages 4-8: Every Child Can Do It. For Kids At Home or At School by Jonathan Bloom.

Teaching Tip
Carol A. Buckley describes a clever use of Sudoko in her November 2008 article, "Using Sudoku Bulletin Boards to Teach Mathematical Reasoning." Just as you can surmise from the article title, Buckley's idea is to create an interactive Sudoku as a bulletin board display. Using an enlarged 9 x 9 grid made of poster board mounted on a cloth covered classroom bulletin board, Buckley staples digit cards in the appropriate squares to replicate the given numbers of a puzzle she has selected from resources such as the books listed above. Velcro tabs are placed in the open spaces. Students use digit cards, with Velcro tabs on the reverse side, that Buckley makes available in an envelope positioned beside the grid. Throughout the day students can work individually or collaboratively to solve the puzzle. Once a puzzle is completed, Buckley can easily replace it with a new puzzle.

National Brain Training Week

In observance of National Brain Training Week (June 11-17, 2011) here are a couple of books that will give you and your students a good brain work out. What better way to put your mind through the paces than with number puzzles?

First let's ponder the challenges in magic squares. In Before Sudoku: The World of Magic Numbers Seymour S. Block and Santiago A. Taveres take readers on an engaging tour through time from the earliest appearance of the magic square (some 4,000 years ago in Ancient China) through modern times.

While Before Sudoku is more appropriate for high school students and adults, younger students will enjoy reading Ben Franklin and the Magic Square by Frank Murphy.

Benjamin Franklin's Numbers: An Unsung Mathematical Odyssey by Paul C. Pasels may be most appropriate for the mathematicians among us.

Teaching Tip
Try this Magic Square Generator students can use to create puzzles to share. Or select one of these classroom ready worksheets of magic squares built from whole numbers, fractions or decimal numbers.

Field Trip

Here in Washington D.C. you can't go to any of the museums or historical spots without being surrounded by the swarms of excited children in town for spring field trips. While not every school can send students to the nation's capitol, there are just as many, if not more, great field trip destinations that are local. Whether traveling near or far, there is still the question of where the class will get the funds needed for transportation and other expenses. Planning the trip and raising the cash can provide for just as much learning as the trip itself.

Such is the case in How the Second Grade Got $8205.50 to Visit the Statue of Liberty.
It makes a great read-aloud.

Teaching Tip
After reading it lead a discussion where children share their own ideas for raising money or their own experiences with ventures such as lemonade stands or doing chores to raise cash. Have the students re-read the book keeping track of the profits and expenses. If your school allows, you class could launch their own fundraiser to collect monies to donate to recent disaster relief funds.

Royal reading and problem posing

Now that all of the hub-bub over the royal wedding between Prince William and now Princess Katherine of Wales is over, do you or your students want just a bit more pomp and ceremony? Perhaps imagining the joyous journey Margaret Mahy shows us in 17 Kings and 42 Elephants or pondering the clever conundrum the bright princess poses in One riddle, one answer by Lauren Thompson will satiate a longing for palaces and pageantry. This list would not be complete without including The King's Commissioner's by Marilyn Burns, and I would be remiss if I did not mention the many math adventures by Cindy Neuschwander--but a mention is all that you get today, because I am saving Cindy for a future author spotlight. Stay tuned!

Teaching Tips
17 Kings and 42 Elephants can be used as a bridge into a lesson on place value and/or double-digit addition. A related lesson plan was created by Mary Elizabeth Hoffman. Children will also enjoy place value games.

Counting strategies come to the rescue in The King's Commissioners. Check out this lesson plan from Betty Psychogios.

Rusty Bresser wrote a great lesson plan to accompany One riddle, one answer. He uses the book as a catalyst for student to first solve Princess Aziza's riddle then begin to create their own riddles.

Even though this blog is about math, I thought those of you who are homeschoolers might be interested to know that MacMillan provides this review sheet for One riddle, one answer as well as other online resources.

What ten things can you always count on?....Your fingers!

Now that the month of May is finally here most teachers will begin to breathe with a sigh of relief because they have the final goal line in sight. It has been a long school year. You've done your best to create a rich mathematical learning environment. Now, with only a few weeks left, you want to keep your students motivated through the end of the school year. Why not bring out a collection of jokes, riddles and puns that will not only tickle their funny bones, but also keep students engaged until that end-of-year bell rings?

"Where do math teachers eat? On multiplication tables, of course!" says Joan Holub in Riddle-Iculous Math. It is filled with jokes, puns and riddles that will get your math-laugh-fest off to a great start. Another perfect choice is Arithme-Tickle: An Even Number of Odd Riddle-Rhymes by J. Patrick Lewis. The most recent addition to this genre, Math Jokes 4 Mathy Folks, by my NCTM colleague G. Patrick Vennebush is a must have for every math classroom. Don't miss Patrick's blog for more math puzzles, wit and humor. You can revisit my April 7 post for the titles from Greg Tang filled with riddles and fun.

Hard to find, but worth looking for in your local library:
See you later, Escalator!:Mall Math by Time-Life Books
How Many Feet? How Many Tails? by Marilyn Burns

Teaching Tip
Challenge students with some amusing riddles as part of the daily class routine. Include puns and knock-knock jokes on worksheets or quizzes. Have them write original riddles to display in the classroom or exchange.

The article Math Riddles:Helping Children Connect Words and Numbers by Carl M Sherrill provides suggestions and guidelines for student authored riddles.

Author Spotlight: Greg Tang

Today I want to introduce you to an incredible author, Greg Tang who was inspired to begin writing for children after tutoring math in his first grade daughter's class. His first book, The Grapes of Math, is a clever collection of puzzles and riddles that challenge students to look for patterns, combinations, and other strategies to solve math problems quickly and efficiently. Since then his series has expanded to a total of eight titles each of which is filled with clever verse and engaging puzzles and riddles.



Teaching Tip
Students will benefit from simply reading Tang's books and solving the riddles. You can extend the experience by having students write, illustrate and exchange their own puzzles and riddles. Post the student work in a school hallway for other students to enjoy.

Math Curse

One of my all-time favorite pieces of literature that connects with math is Jon Scieszka's Math Curse. Jon's engaging text, accompanied by the eye-popping illustrations created by Lane Smith, draws readers into a day in the life of our main character, but it isn't any ordinary day--this day is 'cursed' from the moment he wakes up. Cursed because he sees math problems in everything he does. Students will enjoy solving the problems as well as coming up with their own.

Teaching Tip:
Have students write, illustrate and exchange math problems that are based on the math that they encounter in their own daily life. Combine the student authored problems into a class book.

One is a snail, Ten is a Crab

Author April Pulley Sayre has written a book that takes the classic "counting by feet" problem to a whole new level. Beautiful illustrations of beach scenes depict various sea creatures. In the beginning the reader is simply counting by the number of legs in each scene. After the initial introductions, we see different combinations of legs that help us count up to 100.

Teaching Tips:
The scenario lends itself to a rich problem-solving experience where student can write and exchange original problems based on the book characters. You can find other teaching ideas and sample student work related to this book in the Teaching Children Mathematics article, Legs, Legs, Legs by David and Phyllis Whitin. In my humble opinion David and Phyllis are the math and literature gurus and can always be counted on for rich ideas that work great in the classroom. I've included one of their teaching resources below.