Friday Fun In Math.

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What did you do last Friday in class with your kids? We played darts!!!!

Some of my classes learned prime and composite and after hitting the dartboard each kid told the class whether his/her score was prime or composite. We also kept track of kids that hit the board and those who did not. We figured our class's percentages of hits and misses. With partners, the kids did calculations on the chalkboard and white marker boards in my room.

My other classes did the prime and composite when we threw the darts, but we cranked it up a notch after that. We kept track of four categories: (1) Was the hit prime? (2) Was the hit composite? (2) Did the throw hit the board but scored no points? (4) Did the throw miss the board altogether? Then we found the percentage of each category. Finally we learned percent increase and decrease and applied it to the score of each throw that hit the board. For example, what is the percent change in this set of scores; 7, 20, 9, 9, and 12?  Every kid was involved. . . up and writing the info on the boards. Every kid got 3-4 throws in class and worked on calculations in between. We even got on our digital portfolios and created the tabs for what we learned. Monday we are going edit our portfolios. We are collecting our info in a LiveBinder.

Even though we are in our second year of one to one, I still think it is important to stick to the basics of what works best for our kids. I teach 7th graders. They are social and like to be active. They are a different animal and sometimes we just have to do something fun. There is always a way to find some math in anything. Kids need to learn to think on their own and not rely totally on a computer!

Are You Ready For Some Football?

Are you Ready for some Football??????

I know I am, and last year I found out how much my kids loved it.  Last year our schools went one to one. Every Monday and Tuesday during our passing periods a handful of students checked their fantasy football stats.  They loved it and couldn’t get enough.  There was even the occasional, shall we say “debate” about whose team was best.  Sometimes their checking of scores would spill into class.  I would have to ask them to wait until later on to check them.  Why?  If they are motivated to do it, let’s run with it.

Here is an examplethat I copied from teacher (Mr. Hagen).  My kids are going to create their own, but this will show you how it could be used.

1/8(T) + 1/24(V) +1/48(P + R + C) - 1/12(I) - 1/16(F) = W              Copyright NFL Image

T = number of touchdowns scored by passing, rushing, or receiving

V = number of two-point conversions scored by passing, rushing, or receiving

P = number of passing yards divided by 25, then rounded down to the nearest whole number

R = number of rushing yards divided by 10, then rounded down to the nearest whole number

C = number of receiving yards divided by 10, then rounded down to the nearest whole number

I = number of interceptions thrown

F = number of fumbles lost

W = total points scored for one week for one individual player

This will be an optional activity in my class. My class is layered so the ones who don’t care for it will have other options.  First we are going to look at different leagues and their scoring systems.  Then we will create our own equation to find each team’s score. Every class will probably create a different equation to use. I am thinking about making the equation change from week to week between fractions, decimals, and percentages.  Surprisingly, I don’t play or even like fantasy football so as a group we will have to figure this out together.......problem solving, teamwork, cooperation. 

The great thing is this activity could cover a ton of math.  Think about the possibilities.  You could graph the different weeks scores and cover slope, rate, central tendencies, fraction, decimal, and percentages.  Not to mention the algebra of creating an equation, substituting, variables, coefficients....wherever you want it go or where the students take it. 

Hopefully I can find pockets of students who will want to do this for different

sports. I have even heard of fantasy NASCAR. The possibilities are only limited

by the number of sporting activities and the imaginations of my students.

If you have a question about this activity or if you have something to add, just join

in the conversation in the comments below, or you can also email me at tilljapache@gmail.com.