Math Links for Week Ending Aug. 29, 2014

I really like this series of posts from Dan Meyer. The premiss is that we need to do a better job of developing what is going on in our math classes rather than just doling it out. And I don't think these are posts necessarily about Problem Based Learning (if that's your thang) but more about how (and why) you can tweak what you are doing so that it's a little more interactive for the kids
In my opinion though, I think one of the issues is that most of us got into teaching because we like to show people how to do stuff. So it's hard to switch gears and not be so explicit about everything (regardless of whether it's good for kids or not). Check out the series with the links below.
Curriculum Tags: All 

http://blog.mrmeyer.com/2014/developing-the-question-why-students-dont-like-math/

http://blog.mrmeyer.com/2014/developing-the-question-good-work/

http://blog.mrmeyer.com/2014/developing-the-question-needs-improvement/

http://blog.mrmeyer.com/2014/developing-the-question-ask-for-a-sketch-first/

http://blog.mrmeyer.com/2014/developing-the-question-ask-for-a-sketch-first-ctd/

http://blog.mrmeyer.com/2014/developing-the-question-bike-dots/

Note that there are a lot of links this week so I will probably be brief in my descriptions.

Which waffle is a better deal? This 3Acts combines rates, and area of a circle.
Curriculum Tags: Gr8, MPM1D, MFM1P
http://whenmathhappens.com/2014/08/10/waffles/

I like this 3Acts because I have tried to do this in my own home. The red light comes on in the fridge to say that the filter needs replacing but how it decides to come on is a mystery to me. Is it some sort of timing thing or is it actually measuring something in the filter to determine that the water isn't as clean. This 3 Acts uses extrapolation as the main tool but currently doesn't give a complete Act 3. We'll have to wait until he drinks more water.
Curriculum Tags: MPM1D, MFM1P, MDM4U, MAP4C
http://whenmathhappens.com/2014/07/29/water-filter/

Here is a nice little activity to help develop ideas of congruency. Students are given sets of shapes and asked whether they are the same or not the same (with explanation).
Curriculum Tags: Gr7, Gr8
http://function-of-time.blogspot.ca/2014/08/arguing-about-shapes.html?m=1

In this task students are asked whether a pattern is linear or not. As it is laid out there would be some graphing involved so it connects best with grade 9 applied or academic but could also be extended to grade 10 or simplified for grade 7 or 8.
Curriculum Tags: Gr7, Gr8, MPM1D, MFM1P, MPM2P, MFM2D

http://function-of-time.blogspot.ca/2014/08/is-it-linear.html?m=1

Understanding the difference between zero slope and undefined slope is important when learning this concept. Here is an activity that tries to address this issue.
Curriculum Tags: MPM1D, MFM2P

http://function-of-time.blogspot.ca/2014/08/zero-and-undefined-slopes.html?m=1g

I like encouraging activities in the grade 11 university course. This one is dealing with recursive sequences and using Skittles to do so. Fun and Nutritious :-)
Curriculum Tags: MCR3U

http://ispeakmath.org/2014/08/25/recursively-defined-sequence-with-limits-investigation-skittles-activity/

I always had trouble with random variables. Here are a series of videos to help with this. Check out the website link as well for more information.
Curriculum Tags: MDM4U 

http://learnandteachstatistics.wordpress.com/2014/08/18/random-variables/

New research seems to show that we are born with an innate ability to understand simple probability. I wonder why that seems to change (ie why are lotteries so popular).

Curriculum Tags: All
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/

Kyle at the Tap Into Teen Minds blog took the Ice Bucket Challenge and turned it into a 3Act task dealing with scatter plots and extrapolation. Check out the link below for all the videos in their individual form.
Curriculum Tags: MFM1P, MPM1D, MDM4U, MAP4C

http://tapintoteenminds.com/3act-math/ice-buckets/

With all of the hoopla about the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge (here's my attempt if you are interested) there have been a lot of people saying this or that about it and it's effectiveness. There is no denying that it has spiked donations to ALS but this infographic compares money raised with deaths by disease. Thanks to Michael Lieff for this one.
Curriculum Tags: Gr7, Gr8, MBF3C, MDM4U
http://www.vox.com/2014/8/20/6040435/als-ice-bucket-challenge-and-why-we-give-to-charity-donate