Mystery Blocks (6-8)

More blocks. This time with 45% more work with percents and probability! Math Lab with the upper graders usually takes 2 math periods a week (with accelerated old-school book and paper work the other two days). This means we have more time to go greater in depth. Day 1 was pretty fun and included some jumping cheers when predictions were correct. I have some great pictures of the excitement, but we always ask for parents' permission to publish images of their children. Today they were told EVERYbody gets their writing on the blog, and I saw a huge improvement in length of writing and inclusion of some math thoughts. They have a real audience! 

Solution: 5 tan, 2 blue, 3 yellow 

Tomorrow we'll graph the results on a bar graph and learn how to convert percents to degrees to make an accurate pie chart using the real ratio. 

Settlers of Catan (3-5)

To be continued...

Mystery Blocks (3-5)

If 10 blocks (blue, yellow, and tan) were placed in a bag, how many draws would it take to be able to make a good guess about the number of each color? 5? 50? 500? Students drew a block and replaced it 20 times. The 4 groups compiled their information, graphed it, and made predictions. 

The results: 

Animal Tracker (3-5)

Animal counters were hidden around the classroom of different types, sizes, and colors. The students collected animal samplings from their ecosystem, decided what characteristic to study, recorded the data, shared and combined their data, made a chart, graphed, and speculated about why the numbers might be different (acting as real scientists). 

Animal counters (with special guest Yertle the Turtle who demands to be seen)