Category Archives: Math Mini Sparks

#63: Can you KenKen®?

Learning Opportunities, Math Mini Sparks

The goal of KenKen® is to fill the whole grid with numbers, making sure no number is repeated in any row or column. If it’s a 3×3 puzzle, you only use the numbers 1-3.  If it’s a 4×4 puzzle, you only use the numbers 1-4. The “cages” are outlined in dark black.  The top left corner of each cage has a “target number” and a math operation (+ – x /).  The numbers you put in the cage have to make the target number. Sometimes a cage is one square in which case, it’s a freebie.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #63: Can you KenKen®?
  2.  Watch this tutorial to get started.

3. Record important reminders from this tutorial on your recording sheet.

4. Print out the puzzles and try to KenKen®!

Click here for a 4×4 Puzzle

Click here for a 6×6 Puzzle

5. This website has many more puzzles to try. Find 2 more to do.

6. Share your math mini spark recording page and ken kens with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the KenKen® badge at the EY badge page.

#62: Aibohphobia

Math Mini Sparks

Aibohphobia: the fear of palindromes

What’s there to be afraid of?  Palindromes are so cool!  Whether the phobia is real or made up, palindromes are definitely real and this week we’re going to have some fun with them!

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #62: Aibohphobia
  2. A palindrome is a word, phrase, number, or other sequence of symbols or elements, whose meaning may be interpreted the same way in either forward or reverse direction (i.e. mom, wow, racecar, 10501, etc.).  Create a list of palindromes using this resource.
  3. Did you know that any number can be written as the sum of 3 palindromes?  It’s true!  Check out this Numberphile video. Record 5 details.

 

4. On your recording sheet, answer these questions after watching the video

  • Describe the specific example used in the video to demonstrate how to write a positive integer as the sum of three palindrome numbers.
  • How does the presenter compare the process of finding the palindrome numbers to solving a Sudoku puzzle?

5. Practice your multiplication by playing Palindrome Products. Take a screenshot when you are done and add it to your recording page.

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

#61: Math Contest

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

Who’s up for a contest? Mathematics competitions or mathematical olympiads are competitive events where participants complete a math test. Help to prepare for these events by doing a short practice contest.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #61: Math Contest
  2. Find the contest choices here
  3. You MAY use a calculator, but please work by yourself!
  4. Pick the grade level that fits you
  5. Do all of the work on your recording page and click “I am done” at the bottom. It will score your contest for you.
  6. Take a screenshot of your contest and share it along with your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the math contest master badge for more contest practice

#60: Millions, Billions and Trillions

Learning Opportunities, Math Mini Sparks

I really thought I knew everything there was to know about a million, billion and trillion until I came across a Numberphile video with new information!  If you’re up for a challenge and making your brain stretch a little, then this math mini spark is for YOU!

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #60: Millions, Billions and Trillions
  2. How Much is a Million by David M Schwartz is one of many picture books I have on my bookshelf.  It’s a great book to help visualize what a million, billion, and trillion look like.  Listen to this book .
  3. A Million Dots by Andrew Clements is another one of my favorites.  In the book, you will actually see ONE MILLION dots!  Don’t believe me?  You can count them yourself!
  4. Print a copy (or have your teacher print you a copy) of this worksheet. You can also record the sentences and charts on your recording page.
  5. Watch this numberphile video How Big is a Billion?

6. Fill out the sentences starters and the chart after watching the video.

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

#59: World’s Favorite Cookie

Learning Opportunities, Math Mini Sparks

What is your favorite kind of cookie?  These are some of my favorite treats. Check out his math mini spark about the world’s favorite cookie! Yum!

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #59: World’s Favorite Cookie

2. Watch this video about one of America’s favorite cookies.  Jot down some facts as  you watch the video.

3. Complete this quiz after watching.  Record your score on your answer sheet.

4. Work on this Bedtime Math activity Oreos. Read the opening information. Do the “big kids math” and “the sky’s the limit” levels on your recording page. The answers are at the bottom of the webpage so don’t scroll all of the way down until you are ready to check your work.

The Truth about Double-Stuf Oreos

 

5. Celebrate National Oreo day! Read facts about this day and record what you learned.

6. Oreo Thins have a diameter of 4.5 centimeters and a thickness of 7.5 millimeters.  Record your answers to the following questions on your recording page.  Use 3.14 for pi.

a. What is the Circumference of an Oreo Thin?

b. What is the Area of an Oreo Thin?

 c. How tall would a stack of 10 Oreo Thins be?

7. Scroll to the bottom of the post and check your answers for number 6.

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

 

 

 

 

 

a. What is the Circumference of an Oreo Thin? 14.13 cm

b. What is the Area of an Oreo Thin? about 15.9 cm squared

 c. How tall would a stack of 10 Oreo Thins be? 75 cm

 

 

#58: Watch a Math Video Everyday

Learning Opportunities, Math Mini Sparks

Research has been conducted on the effectiveness of using video in the classroom. Videos are better than the written word when it comes to information retention, education, and overall experience.  Videos have a way of making information “stick” and we are in a day and age were we have access to a plethora of videos that can help us learn.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #58: Watch a Math Video Everyday
  2. Print this worksheet.
  3. As you watch a video, jot down new and/or interesting information on your recording page.  What connections can you make?  Which video did you find the most interesting?  Silly?  Entertaining?
  4. Watch at least 3 of the videos to earn this mini spark.
  5. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the Math Video Menu Badge on the EY Badge Page.

 

#46: Timeline of Mathematics

Math Mini Sparks

In this math mini spark you will explore the accomplishment of mathematicians that have shaped our math world.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #46: Timeline of Mathematics 
  2. Go to https://mathigon.org/timeline.  Click on a mathematician and read about their contributions. On your recording page, make a tiny info page for the mathematician with 3-5 details.
  3. Choose several mathematicians from each century and add the info to your recording page.
  4. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#57: Polyhedron

Math Mini Sparks

An icosahedron is a polyhedron that has twenty triangular faces.  A stellated icosahedron has each of those faces raised to a triangular pyramid. Wow!  There’s a lot of big words in that sentence!

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #57: Polyhedron
  2. Find out more about polyhedrons. Take notes on your recording page.
  3. Make a Modular Origami Stellated Icosahedron. You will need 30-35  pieces of 3 X 3 paper or origami paper.
  4.  Watch this video to help you get started.

 

5. Work on your Modular Origami Stellated Icosahedron. Be patient. It takes practice to make a shape this complex.  Take a picture of your project and add it to your recording page.

6. Respond to this prompt: How is origami related to math?

7. OPTIONAL: Find instructions for math other polyhedron. Here is a site to try. Take a picture of your project and add it to your recording page.

8.  OPTIONAL: Find instructions to make an origami animal using the WWF Together app on your iPad.

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

 

#56: Math and Animation

Math Mini Sparks

In the videos for this mini spark, Tony DeRose from Pixar talks about 3D animated characters and the math involved to make them look so smooth.  It turns out there is a TON of math behind some of our favorite animated films, and it starts with some of the math learned in middle school!

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #56: Math and Animation
  2. Watch the videos linked below and share 10 new items you about math and animation that you learned

3.  After watching the videos, click on this link and answer the questions.

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

Check out the Pixar in a Box Badge from the EY website.

#55: Coordinate Geometry

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

Coordinate Geometry is one of my favorite areas of math.  There’s just something about getting a sheet of ordered pairs and carefully plotting them on graph paper…connecting the dots to reveal a picture.  If that’s your sort of thing too, check out Option 3 below.  Happy plotting!

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page:#55: Coordinate Geometry

2. Learn the basics of coordinate geometry by watching this video.  Take picture notes on your recording sheet. 

3. Read about the inventor of coordinate plane geometry, Rene Descartes.

4. This video gives a musical explanation of his accomplishments.  Put together a note page about him.

5. Print out (or have your teacher print out) this project. Plot the ordered pairs on the graph paper and reveal a spooky surprise!  Take a picture of your completed drawing and send it to the EY Coordinator at your building.

6. Create your own coordinate plane art. Plot the points and connect them with the colored lines. Take a picture after you have practiced for at least 10 minutes.

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