Math LInks for Week Ending Aug. 30, 2013

Data from Twitter has given empirical data to measure the subtle differences between a nerd and a
geek. 2.6 million tweets from Dec 2012 were analyzed to find terms associated with geek and nerd and a cool graph was born.
http://slackprop.wordpress.com/2013/06/03/on-geek-versus-nerd/
Curriculum Tags: MDM4U

From Kyle Pearce we have a new addition to the 3Act Task cannon. This time dealing with linear relations, proportional reasoning and mowing the lawn.
http://tapintoteenminds.com/2013/08/24/mowing-the-lawn-three-act-math-task/
Curriculum Tags: MPM1D, MFM1P

Everyone that teaches quadratics will eventually use a "frame" problem. Here is a nice rework of an already good activity dealing with this type of problem from the I Speak Math blog
http://ispeakmath.org/2013/05/02/quadratic-frames-totally-nguyening/
Curriculum Tags: MPM2D, MFM2P

Is algebra needed? Some words from a novelist telling us why we don't need it. Do you agree?
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-08/argument-against-algebra
Curriculum Tags: All

New from Vi Hart. Doodling in Math class returns. This time the dragon curve fractal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdyociU35u8
Curriculum Tags: all

Everyone needs a calculus cartoon
Curriculum Tags\: MCV4U
http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=3087

Math Links for Week Ending Mar 29th, 2013

Here is a super fun activity that puts a gaming spin on drawing circles. Its an
app that asks you to draw as good a circle as you can (with your mouse) and it will then judge how good you are (based on the comparison of perimeter and area). And just to make it even funner, you get a picture of a cat (angry or happy) depending on how well you do.
http://mdbigg.me.uk/maths/circledrawing.html
Curriculum Tags: Gr8, MPM1D, MPM2D, MFM1P

I just can't get enough of the Desmos online graphing calculator. Just found out that they have a great youtube channel (http://www.youtube.com/desmosinc) and a nice Pinterest Page (http://pinterest.com/desmos/). Lots of good stuff here
Curriculum Tags: All







Dan Meyer has a really interesting problem that he asks about regular polygons.

Sure you may be able to draw a regular polygon with 7 sides or 12 sides but what about 3.5 sides? Its a really neat exercise for some deep discussion about geometric principles. It is also pretty cool how his readers came to his aid to produce a variety of dynamic options to look at all the possibilities (even one that uses Desmos)
http://blog.mrmeyer.com/?p=16747
Curriculum Tags: Gr7, Gr8, MPM1D

Here is a tough trig assignment that would be good assessing basic trig functions
http://www.greatmathsteachingideas.com/2012/03/12/trigonometry-pile-up/
Curriculum Tags: MPM2D, MCF3M, MCR3U








I really like this Trig identities activity where students seem to graph different functions but upon actually graphing them they are all the same. Nicely done. Worksheets included.
http://samjshah.com/2013/03/22/dan-meyer-says-jump-and-i-shout-how-high/
Curriculum Tags: MCR3U, MHF4U

Here is an activity about ratios, scale diagrams and proportions that uses a lot of real pictures (and maybe some contrived contexts but they are fun). Worksheets included.
http://mrmillermath.wordpress.com/2013/02/27/investigator-training/
Curriculum Tags: Gr7, Gr8, MPM1D, MFM1P





Here is a cool activity about area of irregular shapes. Students actually measure their
own areas.
http://authenticinquirymaths.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/what-is-my-area.html
Curriculum Tags: Gr7, MFM1P







Interesting article about the math used when running a marathon. Could be used for simple number sense calculations and possibly rates. I know when I am running I am constantly using rates to calculate splits.
http://www.mpnnow.com/blogs/readers_on_the_run_blog/x694781091/Pythagoras-Never-Ran-a-Marathon
Curriculum Tags: Gr7, Gr8

Sometimes math can be wielded incorrectly under the guise of expert testimony. That is the premise of a book called Math on Trial. Here are some stories of how math was used incorrectly to convict innocent people. Especially where probability is concerned.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/27/opinion/when-judges-cant-do-math-justice-suffers.html?_r=0
Curriculum Tags: Gr7, Gr8, MDM4U

Some funny images:
http://photos.ellen.warnerbros.com/gallery-images/2011/12/010212_Unknown.png_full.jpg

Math Links for Week Ending Mar 22nd, 2013

Was in a session with John Scammell today and was reminded of this great starter for a problem. The largest gummy bear. So here is a blog post that has links to a few different people that have used this (including John). http://musingmathematically.blogspot.ca/2012/08/gummy-bear-revisited.html

Curriculum Tags: Gr7, Gr8, MFM1P, MPM1D, MFM2P, MPM2D

Nice beginning of a 3Acts from Dan Meyer (who else?) This one is about discounts and the premiss is about what kind of discount would you choose. The nice thing is the links to the similar and real coupons that ask similar questions (from 101qs.com)
http://blog.mrmeyer.com/?p=16525
Curriculum Tags: Gr7, Gr8

What a great project Advanced Functions. Why not make families of functions into an art project. I love the way this teacher displays them for the entire school to see like an art opening. Awesome
http://samjshah.com/2013/03/12/families-of-curves-3/#
Curriculum Tags: MHF4U

I like this post from I Speak Math about doing homework. I struggle with the idea of giving homework. Yes it is important for kids to practice but our weakest kids often don't do the homework because they either don't think they can and aren't willing to try or when they do try they get frustrated and quit easily. I don't know that there is any one strategy that always works but anything is worth a try. From the blog: "The homework is always easier than the work we do in class.  I do not want them to struggle at home where I can’t help them.  I just want to reaffirm the main ideas in class."
http://ispeakmath.wordpress.com/2013/03/17/i-just-cant-grade-homework/
Curriculum Tags: All

Want to calculate Pi without all that pesky business of circles and stuff? Have all kinds of toothpicks and don't know what to do with them. Why not use them to calculate Pi using the Buffon's needle experiment. A great way to show how probability is connected to Pi
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/cocktail-party-physics/2013/03/14/
Curriculum Tags: Gr8, MDM4U

Here is a nice activity for calculus about related rates. Well laid out and includes some introspective stuff about why to do related rates.
http://samjshah.com/2013/02/12/related-rates-yet-another-redux/
Curriculum Tags: MCV4U

Here's a fun little activity dealing with properties of quadrilaterals. It is to use the idea of an Instagram profile that kids have to make for different quadrilaterals. Its an activity that doesn't have to be specific to any quadrilateral but could be used for any thing that has characteristics that could be described.
http://drawingonmath.blogspot.ca/2013/03/instagram-for-quadrilaterals.html
Curriculum Tags: Gr7, Gr8





Taboo is a game where you are given a word that you have to describe for your friends to guess. The catch is that you are given four other words that you cannot use while describing your mystery word. Why not create some cards to do the same thing in math. This teacher did and has her students actually create the word sets.
http://fawnnguyen.com/2013/03/08/math-taboo-game.aspx
Curriculum Tags: All

Math Links for Week Ending Dec 28, 2012

Possibly one of the best TED talks on data visualization. David McCandless (who calls himself a data journalist) shows simple representations of data that convey a very definite message. None of the vagueness of normal graphs. Check out the stuff on his website too: http://www.davidmccandless.com/
Curriculum tags: MDM4U, Gr7DM, Gr8DM

How much would a gallon cost? Here is a great ratio & proportions activity that looks at what certain things would cost if purchased by the gallon (for example Mio drink mix). Worksheets are included
http://www.mathycathy.com/blog/2012/11/i-am-a-witness-to-perplexity/
Curriculum tags: MPM1D, MFM1P, Gr7PA, Gr8PA

Visual Patterns is a new website launched by Fawn Nguyen (check her own post about it here). The site is for helping students develop algebraic thinking through visual patterns. This should be perfect for the intro to linear growing patterns or linear relations, even non linear growing patterns
http://www.visualpatterns.org/
Curriculum Tags: MPM2d, MFM2P, MPM1D, MFM1P, Gr7PA, Gr8PA

Here is a nice blog post about ideas for using student white boards in class. Need some whiteboards? Check out Spectrum or http://www.dryerase.com/
http://musingmathematically.blogspot.ca/2012/12/my-whiteboarding-framework.html
Curriculum Tags: All

Add to the list another site that students (both math and science) can access for video tutorials and online MC practice questions.
http://www.goorulearning.org/gooru/index.g#!/home
Curriculum Tags: All

Another TED talk, this time about the power of an algorithm. I like the bit about an algorithm that lead to a trench to be dug from NY to Chicago. All to save 3 milliseconds on a transaction. The first graph he shows is also pretty cool.
Curriculum Tags: MDM4U, All
Here is a YouTube video of Keith Devlin (NPR's Math Guy) having a debate about whether math is more of an art or a science. Its long though.
Curriculum Tags: All

XKCD doing what they do. Nice reference to Zeno's Paradox
Curriculum Tags: MCV4U

The media often gets it wrong. Here is a simple place value error. What makes it worse is its right in the headline.
Curriculum Tags: Gr7NS, Gr8NS