31st August 2011
3 Interesting Things
1) 4 divided by 2/3
This is the toughest problem I've encountered throughout this course. My brain just doesn't get what does this equation means, and the only method I can use is to make 4/1 times 3/2 (what I was taught in primary school). However, upon using the coloured paper and seeing the fractions in pictorial form on the coloured papers, I can understand what this equation means. Sometimes, the simplest things are made complex by the human mind.
2) MRT Station
This was an exciting excursion for us. It showed us that maths is all around us!
My group's answer:
We measured one step to be 15cm.
There are 4 sets of stairs in total, and each set has 16 steps.
16 X 4 = 64
There are 64 steps.
64 X 15 = 960cm.
The total height is 960cm.
3) The most appropriate-sized container to fit 15 beans
From this activity, I realized we really underestimated the volume of a container and how much it can contain. Perhaps the number 15 was comprehended to be quite a big number, which explains why many of us made a container that size when in actual fact it is much to big. And I still thought that my group's container was really small and I was even wondering if it could fit 15!
Reflection:
Maths is not always what it seemed to be - boring and lifeless. Maths is all around us, for example the MRT station activity, even just shapes around us and it is a subject that is logical and simple in its complexity. I have learnt that maths can be made fun through the activities we teachers conduct in class, and it all comes down to how we teach a concept and not just drilling or formulas to be spoon-fed. This is my first experience of enjoying maths at all, in all my years of schooling. Thank you Dr Yeap, for planning a continuous array of activities that really enhanced our mathematics experiences! I like the way you immediately think of an interesting activity to do even though it was a spontaneous topic or thought someone brought up! You know your stuff really well and convey them interestingly! :)
Friday, September 2, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
5th Lesson: 3 interesting things
26th August 2011
3 Interesting Things
1) The 'Dot' Pattern
This is the first time I have heard of the Pick's Theorem. I have to admit it was introduced in a really interesting way though - by getting us to draw as many different sized squares as possible. And I was pretty surprised by myself as I could figure out more than 6 ways to draw the different squares!! Calculating the area was tough, I was extremely impressed with the "add the number of dots minus three" relationship that my classmate came up with! Kudos to her!!
2) The Graph Chart
Graph is my favourite topic especially when teaching children. It sparks interest in them and they can all participate and see their "cube" on the graph chart. The graph can be anything from "My Favourite ______" to "How I Travel To School" etc. However, it was a challenge to come up with a graph without proper instructions (look at how used we are to listening to instructions), but we quickly decided to come up with what we could!
3) Quiz Question
"Monsters can have 3 eyes or 2 eyes. How many monsters are there if they have 19 eyes altogether?"
My first instinct was to do trial and error method, as I was taught in school. However my intelligent partner pointed out later on, that Dr Yeap had taught us number bonds! From 19, 10 and 9 can be taken out and 10 can be divided by 2 while 9 can be divided by 3. Altogether it would be 5 + 3 which would make the answer 8 monsters altogether!
Reflection:
Overall, it was a really interesting lesson although the topics were familiar. Yet they felt unfamiliar. Probably this is evidence that we are exploring the same topic from a different angle which is really crucial in any good curriculum. To make the familiar unfamiliar. (:
3 Interesting Things
1) The 'Dot' Pattern
This is the first time I have heard of the Pick's Theorem. I have to admit it was introduced in a really interesting way though - by getting us to draw as many different sized squares as possible. And I was pretty surprised by myself as I could figure out more than 6 ways to draw the different squares!! Calculating the area was tough, I was extremely impressed with the "add the number of dots minus three" relationship that my classmate came up with! Kudos to her!!
2) The Graph Chart
Graph is my favourite topic especially when teaching children. It sparks interest in them and they can all participate and see their "cube" on the graph chart. The graph can be anything from "My Favourite ______" to "How I Travel To School" etc. However, it was a challenge to come up with a graph without proper instructions (look at how used we are to listening to instructions), but we quickly decided to come up with what we could!
3) Quiz Question
"Monsters can have 3 eyes or 2 eyes. How many monsters are there if they have 19 eyes altogether?"
My first instinct was to do trial and error method, as I was taught in school. However my intelligent partner pointed out later on, that Dr Yeap had taught us number bonds! From 19, 10 and 9 can be taken out and 10 can be divided by 2 while 9 can be divided by 3. Altogether it would be 5 + 3 which would make the answer 8 monsters altogether!
Reflection:
Overall, it was a really interesting lesson although the topics were familiar. Yet they felt unfamiliar. Probably this is evidence that we are exploring the same topic from a different angle which is really crucial in any good curriculum. To make the familiar unfamiliar. (:
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