Beginning Math Projects : How Many?, Tile Factory, and What is the Problem?

Beginning Math Projects : How Many?, Tile Factory, and What is the Problem?
6-8 years

Fall - How Many? - This class is designed for the beginning mathematician who knows how to count and knows how to add and subtract single digits. This class is full of math projects using people, animals, land, water, our own things, the walls, whatever is around us. We'll make an animal sanctuary and keep track of what animals are in or out - each week there will different circumstances and needs for the animals so we;’ll have to adjust (add and subtract animals and things in and out). We'll learn about number sentences and write stories in numbers instead of words. We’ll learn how to add and subtract in ancient Chinese, Egyptian and Mayan for fun. We'll play lots of games from around the world. By the end of the session, the concept of adding and subtracting will have been applied in many amazing ways. We’ll even get into higher level math stuff like: What’s an additive sequence? Plus there are lots of little tricks and games to play along the way. Mathematical concepts covered: addition, subtraction single and multi-digit, adding and subtracting in different bases like base 5 or 8 , math using things: blocks, beads, string, and knots, number sentences, logical thinking (figuring things out), additive sequences, patterns, how addition relates to multiplication. But mostly the focus here is to have fun with math. To experience it as something other than memorizing a set of facts, though that is also important, but it is only part of the story, we’ll explore the rest of it.
Winter - Tile Factory - We will be making tile designs for customers of all different kinds using percentages, fractions, decimals, area and perimeter. We’ll paint some, draw some, make things. We will also play with pretend money by creating stores and businesses,, and selling and buying things. Mathematical concepts covered: How percentages, decimals, and fractions work together and separately., the interesting relationships between area and perimeter, how to keep track of your work (organization of ideas), how money works - giving change, adding and subtracting dollars and cents, selling with percentages taken off prices, keeping track of money.
Spring - What is the problem? We will tackle problems of all kinds - by constructing and drawing, some will come in the form of games, some in the form of designs and art, some are read as words, then you figure it out the solutions in a picture or with equations, charts, graphs, making coordinates on a grid and explanations. With a good picture and a few labels you can figure out just about any problem in the world. Mathematical concepts covered: Collecting mathematical data, using pictures, grids, graphs to show results of data, using the Cartesian coordinate system, using equations to work out a problem, using logic/deductive reasoning to solve a problem, visualizing space, calculation, how to take a problem and work it out mathematically. This is not an algebra class, so we’ll be doing it all visually with pictures and charts, simple equations, number sentences and so on.

This is for those children who are ready for the next step after learning their basics. OR it is for students who have a hole to file or want more reinforcement in a certain area of their math .