


Discovering Pi (3-16 thru 3-22)

In observance of Pi week (Pi day is March 14 -- 3.14), we had the children discover Pi as the ancient Chinese (3), Babylonians (25/8), Egyptians (256/81), and the Greeks (3.1485) did.

Working with Integers Operations(+-*/^) (3-9 thru 3-15) 3rd, 4th and 5th Graders

This week, we embarked on a new journey working with integers with all operations including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, parentheses, and exponents.

The attached pdf has detailed explanations of each operation.  Each Mathlete should try to complete the riddle puzzle and additional worksheets to the best of their ability.

This may be a great opportunity for parental guidance.

Subtraction Really is Addition (3-9 thru 3-15) 1st and 2nd Graders

In the 1st and 2nd grade classes this week, we reinforced the notion that subtraction really is addition. For example, 12-8=4 is the opposite as 8+4=12; 101-98 is really the same as 2+1=3.  What do we have to add to 98 to get to 101.  Also, 85-48 is 2+30+5=37.


Also, we worked on subtraction as compared to negative numbers. For example 11-7=4 is the same as -7 + 11 = 4. 

There is a detailed explanation of these concepts in the attached pdf as well as additional practice.

Olympic Standings: Who is the world's best? (3-2 thur 3-8)

It has always intrigued me to look at the Olympic standings in the New York Times and watch the United States in first place by total medals.  The first thing I think about is the relative unimportance of a gold vs. a bronze.

The Canadian papers show Canada in first place with Germany at second and the USA in third.  They go by number of gold medals.

Diagonals in Polygons (2-23 thru 3-1)
