Calling all math detectives!! This is a challenge that combines writing and math.
Spark your math thinking!
Set up your math mini spark recording page: #82: Math in a book
Watch this video and pause it at 34 seconds. Try to figure out the pattern that this poem uses. Hint: It has to do with math. Write down your guess. Continue watching.
When you are done, create your own short poem using the first 10, 15 or 20 numbers as your guide. Write your poem on your recording page.
Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.
A triangular number or triangle number counts objects arranged in an equilateral triangle.
Spark your math thinking!
Set up your math mini spark recording page: #81 Triangular Numbers
Use this interactive tool to construct triangular numbers until you can see the pattern to answer this question.
This is a teaching page that REALLY gets into the math behind these types of problems. Use the formula and see if you can get the right answer to the counter problem.
When you have a solution and a written statement about what you did to solve the problem you can click here to see the solution.
Check out this triangular number chart. After looking over the first page, click on “getting started” to explore this resource.
Connection: Research the original Lite-Brite, a 1960s toy. Come up with some unique ideas on how teachers can use these toys to teach math, science, and art.
Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.
What is the biggest number you can think of? What does that number mean? For this math mini spark, you will be exploring some “really big numbers” and what they mean.
Spark your math thinking!
Set up your math mini spark recording page: #79 Really Big Numbers
In the episode, “Have You Seen This Snail?”, SpongeBob SquarePants is given a challenge of hitting a paddle ball 29,998,559,671,349 times in a row. This causes SpongeBob to neglect Gary (his pet snail) and so Gary leaves. Write this number out in words.
4. How many different positions are there on a standard Rubik’s Cube? Visitthis siteand record the number in your notebook. BONUS: Write the number out in words.
Set up your math mini spark recording page: #78 If I had a million…
For inspiration, listen to How Much Is A Million by David M. Schwartz.
3. Explore the length of ONE MILLION objects. You have two options for your recording sheet: you can either print a copy or fill out a digital version. You can also make the charts on your recording page.
4.Create a visual to display your information. You can use an app of your choice on your iPad or computer. You can also draw/color on paper.
5. Share your math mini spark recording page and ONE MILLION object page with your teacher/EY coordinator.
We are surrounded by information (data) and it’s important to organize it into presentable and easy to understand ways! For this math spark, you are going to display some information of your choice.
Spark your math thinking!
Set up your math mini spark recording page: # 77 Organizing Data
Start by watching The Great Graph Contest.
3. Now, choose a topic that you want to graph, the information, and the way you represent it.
4. Write 5 questions that can be answered from your information. Please also include the answers to your questions.
5. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.
Sure, most cats are soft and furry. But this one has gone bonkers. Sophie the cat holds the world record for the longest cat fur. Measuring more than 10 inches long, Sophie’s fur might be longer than your own hair.
Judging from the look on her face, we’re not sure she likes having all that fur…and you can’t blame her. Her owners have to brush her out 2-3 times every week to keep it neat. But now that she holds the Guinness World Record for furriest cat, maybe it’s worth it.
Spark your math thinking!
Set up your math mini spark recording page: #76 World Record Cat
Check out this post about the world record cat, Sophie!
Go to the world record’s page and read about Sophie.
Create a PicCollage on the topic of Sophie and some of the facts . Do a bit of extra research to add a few more bits of information related to the topic.
Research other animals that hold world records. Add this information to your PicCollege.
Create some of your own math problems using the data from the post about Sophie. Add these and the answers to your PicCollage.
Share your math mini spark recording page and your PicCollage with your teacher/EY coordinator.
What do these numbers have in common? What pattern do you see? These numbers are a part of what is known as the fibonacci numbers. Fibonacci numbers are found by adding the two previous numbers. So the number after 144 would be 233. The Fibonacci Sequence is a simple sequence of numbers that anyone can learn!
Spark your math thinking!
Set up your math mini spark recording page: #74 Fibonacci Fun
“Too much of the mathematics we learn in school is not effectively motivated.” ~Mathemagician Arthur Benjamin. Watch his TED Video about the Magic of Fibonacci Numbers. Take notes on your recording page.
3. Watch this Numberphile video about Random Fibonacci Numbers. Take notes on your recording page.
4. Then, try the activity he explains in the video using a coin. Record your project. My sons Toby and Trevor and I recorded ourselves doing the activity here:
Do you have your own secret code that you use with your friends? Do you like writing notes to people? Do you like to write in a diary? Do you like solving puzzles and finding patterns? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might want to check out this math mini spark.
Spark your math thinking!
1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #73: Codes Are Cool
3. Learn about the Pigpen cipher (also known as masonic cipher, Freemason’s cipher, Napoleon cipher, and tic-tac-toe cipher) by watching this video. Take notes on your recording sheet.
4. Write a message using what you learned.
5. Watch this video about the Enigma Machine at Numberphile
6. Write about something new you learned.
7. Learn about the Caesar Cipher by watching this video
8. Create a message for someone else to figure out. Be sure to include the shift number!
9. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.
image source: 
3. Take a snapshot of anything that reminds you of a math concept/problem.
