Snow Day!

    The students were filled with chatter today about the upcoming snow storm and were all excited about the possibility of a few days off, even if that means missing the Valentine’s Day dance. I have to admit I was excited about the snow coming too and am glad it provided me with time to be able to write this blog about what’s happening in 6^th grade math.

    Candy inequalities, playing battleship, reading picture books… 6^th grade math students have had quite the difficult start to 3^rd quarter. J  In standard math classes, 6^th graders used lifesavers, mints, and licorice to graph inequalities on a number line. The candy kept the students engaged and helped them practice when to use an open circle vs. a closed circle and which way to shade based on the inequality symbol. The next week the students used candy again when they identified the coordinates of smarties on a coordinate plane. Then to further practice using the coordinate plane the students played a math version of Battleship, competing to sink each other’s ships. Some games were so intense the students wouldn’t stop when time was up. Currently the students are covering a unit on measurement and are learning ballpark comparisons between the metric and customary systems. Have your child help you when you need help converting from one unit to another! When they return back to school, they need to tell me how many centimeters of snow we got (not inches). 

   In honors math the students are learning about ratios and proportions. We read a picture book called “If You Hopped Like a Frog..” and discovered that if we could hop like a frog we could jump from home plate to first base in one leap, and if we had the strength of an ant we could lift a car. The students are creating their own proportions to make a “If you could” book of their own. I’m excited to see some of the discoveries they make! Also, the next time you go shopping have your child help you figure out the “better buy.” Students used unit rates to compare the unit prices of items from different stores to compare which store had the better deal. Ask your child what store they discovered has the better deals.

So far it has been a great start to 3^rd quarter in 6^th grade math with lots of breaks because of the weather, now if only I can figure out a way to get students to turn their weekly spiral reviews in on time.

Enjoy the snow, be safe, and stay warm!

~ Mrs. Deering