Math Links for Week Ending Dec. 4th, 2015

Just yesterday I was in a workshop where Gisele Jobin was discussing ways to approach systems of linear equations in a more concrete way. She did things with physical coins and bills in cans. We have always seen those problems, you know "you have 15 bills made of 5s and 10s and they total $105". But somehow having the physical bills (or coins) in a jar (they were fake coins and bills) that kids could verify their answers with made the problem more engaging and real for students. So then I see this post from @marybourassa where she has these mystery bags with candies in them and each group gets one bag and the only info she gives is how many total candies there are and how much each candy weighs. Students actually weigh each bag to get the total weight and away they go to figure out what is in their bag. Nicely done
Curriculum Tags: MFM2P, MPM2D
http://marybourassa.blogspot.ca/2015/11/mpm2d-day-49-candy-lab-chocolate-milk.html

I have been pulling out old data sets for my new data blog. I really like this one on smoking and cancer. It's a great set to remind students that when comparing sets of data you should use similar scales.
Curriculum Tags: MDM4U, MAP4C
http://found-data.blogspot.ca/2015/12/smoking-and-cancer.html



Plinko is is a great way to demonstrate the binomial theorem. I love the video cuz I just want to tell them "drop it in the middle" but the results could also spark a good discussion about the nature of probability. And on this post there are some other good resources too. Thanks to Lindsay Novak for this one
Curriculum Tags: MDM4U
http://mathcoachblog.com/2012/08/01/lets-play-plinko-at-the-siemens-stem-academy/

Hey it's December. So that means making some parabolic Christmas cards. Thanks to Michele Cooper for this one.
Curriculum Tags: MFM2P, MPM2D, MBF3C, MCF3M, MCR3U
http://www.theguardian.com/science/alexs-adventures-in-numberland/2015/nov/26/solving-for-xmas-how-to-make-mathematical-christmas-cards

This could be the best Barbie Bungee video I've seen yet. A 27 m drop from @jgibson314. Check the link out for a nice side image and links to some of the original activities
Curriculum Tags: Gr8, MPM1D, MFM1P, MFM2P, MDM4U, MAP4C, MCT4C
http://jgibson314.blogspot.ca/2015/11/epic-bungee-barbie-2015.html

And another Price as Right Plinko example. Thanks to David Brooks for this one
Curriculum Tags: MDM4U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghLy9MoKljU&t=131

Here are some visual representations of some data about food. I like when we represent data in different ways. Thanks to Eve Anderson for this one
Curriculum Tags: Gr7, Gr8, MBF3C, MDM4U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dS8qjJ4lQ0

Want to do some linear relations with students, then maybe start with this commercial from GM. Thanks to pat hickson for this one
Curriculum Tags: MPM1D, MFM1P
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlfDKqTLnPQ

Thanks to Facebook we have this kind of fun stuff to pass along
Curriculum Tags: All
http://www.awesomeinventions.com/unusual-wi-fi-signs/

As it always goes, there are lots of examples of data that come out whenever there is a mass shooting. This one piqued my interested because when I looked at it it seemed to be way to outrageous but as it turns out it's true. Check out the link for even more data analysis. Though be a bit cautious using this as the topic is sensitive.
Curriculum Tags: Gr7, Gr8, MBF3C, MDM4U
http://www.vox.com/2015/10/3/9446193/gun-deaths-aids-war-terrorism/in/9602151