All posts by lspady

Math Counts

MS Learning Opportunities

Math Counts is a national middle school mathematics competition that builds problem-solving skills and fosters achievement through four levels of fun, in-person “bee” style contests.

Math Counts Sample Problems

Bob is exactly 34 inches taller than his son, Tim. If Tim is 3 feet, 2 inches tall, how tall is Bob, in feet?

The digits 3, 4 and 8 can be used to make six different three-digit numbers in which each digit is used exactly once. What is the average of these six numbers?

If 36 + 64 + 45 + 55 + 56 + 44 + 67 + 33 + 78 + N = 500, what is the value of N?

2021-22 EY Challenge #2

Current Challenge, Uncategorized

Another Bitsbox Challenge

Thank you to those of you who tried the first EY Challenge of the year.  If you did, this challenge is an extension of that.  If you didn’t do the first challenge, no worries.  This video should help you get started.  Also, here are some basic steps:

1. Draw a picture on paper or using an app on your iPad.    Start with something simple like an animal. I drew this cow using Drawing Pad.  Take a picture of your drawing or take a screenshot.

2.  Go to Safari and type in bitsbox.com and in the upper right corner select “kids sign in” and use your Westside Google Account to sign in

3.  From there, the video below should walk you through the steps.

This code is in the video, but here is another copy of what you’ll be typing in on Bitsbox.

Don’t forget to submit your work!

This challenge closes September 24

EY Submission Form Link: https://forms.gle/h4BNyDpTESYrSjRK8

2021-2022 Quiz Bowl at WMS

MS Learning Opportunities

What is the term for a ball of gas in a liquid?

Russia and Canada are the two geographically larges countries.  Name the third largest.

Express this ratio in lowest terms: 1  3/4 to 7

answers below

The WMS Quiz Bowl team will start practicing soon.  To be considered for the team, please complete this 20-question Google Form quiz sometime before Friday, September 17.
NOTE:  Some of your answers might be counted wrong because of spelling.  I will go back and adjust the scores and NOT take off for spelling.  Just do your best!
Mrs. Weeks (8D History teacher) is the Quiz Bowl coach for WMS and she will notify you about practices, competitions, etc.

Google Form: https://forms.gle/T44MPAPmjDqm9iUR8

Answers to Questions Above: bubble, China, 1 to 4

#86 Football Roster Math

Math Mini Sparks

There is a plethora of data when it comes to sports!  Whether you’re looking at individual player stats, team rankings, or just want to see the breakdown of a particular game…MATH IS EVERYWHERE IN SPORTS!

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #86 Football Roster Math
  2. This Mini Spark has you looking at the 24-25 Westside High School Junior Varsity Football Roster.  Download and print a copy of the worksheet and roster by clicking the links below.

Click here for the 24-25 JV roster

Click here for the 24-25 JV problems

3. Add a picture of your finished worksheets to your math mini spark page.

4. Share your math mini spark recording page and your worksheet with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the Roster Math badge at the EY website.

NewzBrain Civics Challenge

MS Learning Opportunities, Uncategorized

NewzBrain provides a weekly online Civics Challenge covering a wide variety of topics.  Check out a sample NewzBrain Civics Challenge by clicking the link below to see if it’s something you’d be interested in doing.  https://newzbrain.com/StudentWeb/OnlineLeague/Demo

If you would like a NewzBrain student account to participate in the Weekly Civics Challenge, email Dr. Spady.

Weekly leaders will be posted on our leaderboard at: https://ey.westside66.org/newzbrainleaderboard

#9: How Do Insects Breathe?

Science Mini Spark

These little creatures have it all figured out. In this mini spark, learn more about how insects breathe without lungs.

Spark you thinking!

1. Set up your science mini spark recording page: #9: How Do Insects Breathe?

2. Check out this Newsela article called “How Insects Breathe” to start building your background information about this topic. Record 2 details from each of the sections on your recording sheet.

3. Watch this video. On your recording sheet, add 5 facts from the video.

4. This short article about ants will give you an idea about how oxygen circulates in insects and humans breathe differently.  Take 5 notes on your recording sheet.

5. What is interesting about the way pill bugs breathe? Look over this page about pill bugs to find the answer. Record your response on your recording page.

6. Share your science mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the Bug Breathing Badge at the EY website.

#60: 1 word sentences

Reading Enrichment

Is it possible to make a complete sentence using just one word over and over? Complete this mini spark to find out.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #60: 1 word sentences

2. ‘Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo’ is a grammatically correct sentence. How? Emma Bryce explains how this and other one-word sentences illustrate some lexical ambiguities that can turn ordinary words and sentences into mazes that mess with our minds. Record 3 details from the video on your recording sheet.

3. Try figuring out the meaning to these sentences. Record your ideas on your recording sheet.

Police police Police police police police Police police.
Will, will Will will Will Will’s will?
Rose rose to put rose roes on her rows of roses.
If it is it, it is it; if it is it is it, it is.

4. After thinking about the sentences above check out this  guide which will have clues for you and a few more example. Write about your favorite example from this page.

5. To wrap up this mini spark, use this info page to find words to help you create your own silly sentence using one word. Record your sentence of your recording page.

6. Share your language arts mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

2021-22 EY Challenge #1

Current Challenge

Welcome to the 2021-22 School Year!

The EY Team is excited to offer challenges again this year!  Check out Challenge #1 for the 2021-22 school year by visiting the website linked below and/or watching the video for instructions.

When you’re done, submit your work using the Google Submission Form.

Website Directions for Challenge #1:  Creating your own stamp in Bitsbox

Video Directions for Challenge #1:  Link

Don’t forget to submit your work!

This challenge closes September 3

EY Submission Form Link: https://forms.gle/t68yVnM1jn3uiWGX9

Math Pre-Testing

Uncategorized

Pre-Testing in Math

Pre-Testing in math is more than just a way to separate your students into two groups for a unit: those who already know it and those who don’t.  The data collected from a pre-test should inform your instruction for the unit and help you to adjust your plans…move quicker, skip it, do a more creative activity, etc.  For more information on quality pre-tests, check out Byrdseed Six Traits of Quality Pre-Assessments.

#85 Spreadsheets and Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD)

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD) is how far, on average, all data values are from the middle. To find the MAD of the you can follow 3 easy steps:

  1. Find the mean of the values.
  2. Find the distance of each value from that mean (subtract the mean from each value, ignore minus signs which is also the absolute value)
  3. Then find the mean of those distances

For this Math Mini Spark, you’ll be finding the MAD on a spreadsheet.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #85 Spreadsheets and MAD
  2.  Calculate the MAD of this data set: 3, 6, 6, 7, 8, 11, 15, 16 
    1. Find the mean of the values.
    2. Find the distance of each value from that mean (subtract the mean from each value, ignore minus signs which is also the absolute value)
    3. Then find the mean of those distances

  3. Look over the first part of this post from Math is Fun that outlines the steps. Make sure that each of the steps you did were correct.
  4.  Make a Copy of this spreadsheet by clicking the link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ndcgCZ1EeVcKausxtkmBkONVfCeilbQNE6ukdUCWYk8/copy
  5.  Watch the video and complete the steps shown in the video on your own spreadsheet.

 

7. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

NOTE:  This mini-spark can be used as 1 spreadsheet lesson for the Spreadsheet Superstar Badge.