Megan's Math PLP Blog

The reading this week, "Two Ways of Thinking about Division," helped me to understand something I had really been struggling with:  I couldn't imagine how to represent dividing fractions visually. Until I read that article, I would have only been able to describe the procedure for dividing fractions, not demonstrate where the answer came from. Even so, the description of the area model was difficult to digest. I looked at the  links that were provided at the bottom of the "Two Ways" article and  I found this method a little easier to wrap my head around:  Divide Fractions with Circle Models (visualfractions.com) .  These videos from Khan Academy were also helpful: https://www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-sixth-grade-math/cc-6th-arithmetic-operations/cc-6th-dividing-fractions/v/visually-dividing-a-fraction-by-a-whole-number    https://www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-fifth-grade-math/divide-fractions/imp-dividing-unit-fractions-by-whole-numbers/v/visually-dividin...

NUMBER STRINGS CA/NY Mathematics Standard 2.NBT.5 - Fluently add and subtract within 100 using strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction.  Mathematical Practice 1: Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them; 2: Reason abstractly and quantitatively; and 7: Look for and make use of structure. I encountered number strings for the first time last week in Number Strings: Daily Computational Fluency and I wanted to play around with them and see what I could come up with. I put together the following general set of steps for developing a number string routine: Identify a strategy you want your students to practice (compensation, adding in chunks, etc.) Develop a sequence of math problems beginning with something the students can do and lead them toward a more difficult problem. The sequence should be designed to guide them toward using the target strategy, but they should not be discouraged from using ...

Finding Symmetry in Nature CA/NY Mathematics Standard 4.G.3 Recognize a line of symmetry for a two-dimensional figure as a line across the figure such that the figure can be folded along the line into matching parts. Identify line-symmetric figures and draw lines of symmetry. Mathematical Practices 5: Use appropriate tools strategically, and 7: Look for and make use of structure. My family’s moving day is fast approaching which means soon I will have to say goodbye to my garden. It is autumn and the days are getting colder, but there is still a lot to enjoy outside. I thought it would be a great idea to have students explore symmetry and get some fresh air at the same time. These images were made with an iPhone, a macro lens, and basic Windows Paint software. (And, yes, I know there are better apps out there, but I made the best of what I had!) Reflexive Symmetry (Horizontal): when an object is identical on either side of a horizontal axis. Reflexive Symmetry (Vertical): when an object...