All posts by lspady

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.

 

#8 Cold Weather Science Experiments

Science Mini Spark

 

Below Zero Temperatures = Science Experiments!When it is cold outside you can LEARN! Check out these Cold Weather Science Experiments and figure out if it’s real or a myth!  Don’t forget to share your results!

Spark you thinking!

1. Set up your science mini spark recording page: #8: Cold Weather Science Experiments

2. Look over this list of experiments. On your recording sheet write the title of the project you will do and  what you will need to gather for the experiment.

  1. Freezing Soap Bubbles: Head outside with some bubble solution and blow some bubbles!  NOTE:  Try heating up the bubble solution in the microwave beforehand.  You can make your own bubble solution with 2 cups of water, half a cup of dish soap, and 2 teaspoons sugar.
  2. Banana Hammer: Hang a banana outside for a few hours and it will freeze solid-solid enough for you to be able to hammer actual nails with it.
  3. Make An Ice Thrower: Fill a Super Soaker with boiling water and then shoot it out into the cold.  When very hot water meets very cold air, the water vaporizes, turning it into ice crystals…essentially, homemade snow.  Don’t have a Super Soaker, just use the pot you boiled the water in.
  4. Freeze-Fry An Egg: Don’t actually eat it, but leave a frying pan outside for about 15 minutes and then crack an egg into it.  What happens?
  5. Instant Freeze Water – Bottle Slam

If you want to go read more about your experiment this is the link to the original site.

3. Gather your materials and add a picture to your recording sheet.

4. Complete the experiment. On your recording sheet write down what you did and the results.  Don’t forget to take pictures.

5. Make a pic collage with all of the information from your project.

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

 

 

2020-21 Weekly Challenge #22: Doodling

Current Challenge

Doodle and Learn!

Vi Hart is one of my absolute favorite mathematicians and doodlers (I’m sure she has many more talents, but those 2 are the ones I admire the most).  Watch some, part, all of the videos below and create a doodle for this week’s weekly challenge (also probably the last challenge for the 2020-21 school year).  Don’t forget to submit your doodle using the link below!

 

Submit Your Work Here: https://forms.gle/hZNjptZXYiXUfsSk9

#84 Doodling in Math Class

Math Mini Sparks

What?  Did that say DOODLING?  Yes!

Have fun learning about math while doodling from one of my favorite mathematicians/doodlers…Vi Hart!

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #84 Doodling in Math Class
  2.  Choose 3 of the videos on this post to watch.
  3. Create a doodle page for each showing what you learned.
  4. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#55: 1-hand book review

Early Enrichment

Before you share a book with a friend, it helps to share a quick, ‘handy’ book review. Learn how in this mini spark.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your mini spark recording page: #59: 1 hand book review

2. Read over these instructions and write down the 5 sentence starters on your recording page.

3. Choose a book that you have recently read and enjoyed. Write the title on your recording page.

4. Open this sheet and read it. You can print it if you want. You will use this as a guide to writing your own.

5. Create your own script on your recording page.

6. Choose at least two people and read your 1-hand book review to them.

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

 

 

#59: 1 hand book review

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

Before you share a book with a friend, it helps to share a quick, ‘handy’ book review. Learn how in this mini spark.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #59: 1 hand book review

2. Read over these instructions and write down the 5 sentence starters on your recording page.

3. Choose a book that you have recently read and enjoyed. Write the title on your recording page.

4. Open this sheet and read it. You can print it if you want. You will use this as a guide to writing your own.

5. Create your own script on your recording page.

6. Choose at least two people and read your 1-hand book review to them.

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

 

 

Anne Dittrick Sonnet Writing Contest (due April 30)

MS Learning Opportunities

Middle School Division Guidelines

The contest is open to all middle school students (grades 6th – 8th). Contest winners and will receive:

  • A Shakespeare On The Green gift.

  • Reserved seating at Shakespeare On The Green for the winner and their family.

  • The winning entry will be published in the souvenir program for Shakespeare on the Green and read by a Company member On The Green

Website: https://www.nebraskashakespeare.com/sonnet-contest

Flier: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LzhTqZg-MjCms6kBWuhcqr0NmlOwnIp3/view?usp=sharing

Resources: