CIESEmath technology Highlight activities for January, 2006
For additional activities go to the CIESEmath website.




Olympic Records through Time
Are we faster, stronger, better than we used to be? Compare the records of gold medal Olympic winners for the last 100 years and decide.
Handout      skating.xls

Everyday Math - 6th Grade - Units 3, 4, and 5




EM Lesson 3.11 Making Change at the Boutique
In the Math Shop version of Boutique clerk is given $5.00 for an item that costs $4.22.  Assuming you have at most 9 of each coin (quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies) in your register, what are the different ways you could make the necessary change of 78¢? What’s the minimum number of coins that would make this change? What’s the maximum number of coins that make this change? (You can’t use more than 9 of any particular coin.) Make or use a spreadsheet to help you solve the problem.
http://ciese.org/ciesemath/boutique_ss.html
EM Lesson 4.3 Fraction Track
By working on this activity, students have opportunities to think about how fractions are related to a unit whole, compare fractional parts of a whole, and find equivalent fractions.
http://www.ciese.org/ciesemath/fractiontrack.html

EM Lesson 4.12 Billiard Paths
Here you will find an unusual billiard table. The dimensions are determined by the numbers on the sliders.  Your Challenge: See if you can come up with a way to predict  (1) what the number of touches will be for any given size billiard table and (2) which corner the ball will end up in.
http://ciese.org/ciesemath/billiards_s.html


EM Lesson 5.1 Getting to Know Geometer’s Sketchpad - Triangles
In this activity you will learn about triangles - Geometer's Sketchpad style. You will measure angles, classify triangles, and color them.
http://ciese.org/ciesemath/lesson5.3.html


EM Lesson 5.4 Animated PinWheel
Step-by-step instructions for you and your students to create an animated pin wheel with Geometer's Sketchpad.

http://ciese.org/ciesemath/pinwheel.html

EM Lesson 5.4 Glob Hunt
Find the hiding Glob by entering X and Y coordinates and responding to the hints that are displayed. Try to guess its location in the least number of turns.
http://ciese.org/ciesemath/globhunt.html

Transition Math - 7th Grade - Chapters 4, 5, 6


4.1 The How the West was One Challenge
http://www.ciese.org/ciesemath/west.html
Play the West game. (You will find it on your computer.) Also play the West Round Trip game which also takes you backwards from Great Gulch to the start. In the process you will learn about negative numbers!

5.1 Models of Addition
Circle 21 Challenge – Matti Applet
Circle 99 Challenge – Matti Applet
Circle 3 Challenge (decimals!) – Matti Applet

5.2 Zeros and Opposites
Make every circle add up to zero – Matti Applet & handout

5.3 Adding Integers
A tutorial for learning how to add integers. Click on Apply and Practice, then on Learning to review rules. Take a quiz. Play Jeopardy!
http://students.washington.edu/smithr3/integers/learning.html

5.6 Probability Explorer: Tossing coins
This software which you will find on your computer is purposefully designed as an open-ended learning environment with multiple ways to represent data that engage students in designing, simulating, and analyzing results of probability experiments. Try this coin toss activity. Download the handout:
http://ciese.org/ciesemath/cointosses.html


6.4 Trial and Error
 Playing with Frogs  
The Toads And Frogs Puzzle is also known under the names of Hares and Tortoise and Sheep and Goats. With no animals at hand, it can be played with two kinds of coins. The following names still reflect on the essence of the activity: Hop, Skip, Jump and Traffic Jam and Toads and Frogs Puzzle

Transition Math - 8th Grade - Chapters 10, 11

TM Lesson 10.4 Algebra Balance Scales
This virtual manipulative allows you to solve simple linear equations through the use of a balance beam.
http://www.ciese.org/ciesemath/b3.html



TM Lesson 10.7 Minimum Surface Area of a Box
You are in the container business.  A client gives you an order to manufacture a box that will hold exactly 236 cubic inches.  He wants the base of the box to be a square.  What should the height of the box be so that the total material needed to manufacture the box is as small as possible so that he can save material? Use a spreadsheet to help you. Download Activity Sheet.



TM Lesson 11.7 Shoe Size vs. Height
This activity is related to the Giant of Man photo on page 624, problem 23.
Is there a relationship between shoe size and height? If so, can you predict what Robert Wadlow's shoe size was when he was 21? According to problem 23, he was 8 2/3 feet tall. Do the following experiment with your classmates and make a prediction.
http://k12science.org/ciesemath/summer2005/shoe.html
After doing the activity, you can check out Robert Wadlow's website to confirm your answer!



TM Lesson 11.6 It's Pizza Time ( Based on problem on page 619.)

A $15 purchase will get you the most pizza if you buy: 1 large pie or 3 medium pies? Or  do you get the same? Please explain using a Sketchpad drawing.
http://www.ciese.org/ciesemath/lesson.11.6.html



TM Chapter 11 - Project 2 - Best Buys
Shopping Spree
 You’re giving a party and have to go shopping for snacks.  You’ve heard about online shopping services and want to give them a try.  Because you have a limited amount of money, you want to get the best buys that you can, so you’re going to comparison shop and buy the items where you get the most for your money.
Go to  http://www.ciese.org/ciesemath/shopspree2.html and have fun shopping.