Summer SAVY, Session 6 Day 3, Numbers Big and Small (3rd – 4th)
Today was another fun day of math with your children! We explored some of our favorite math concepts today: palindromes, probability, prime numbers, and simple order of operations.
At the beginning of the day, we played with palindromes. These are words, phrases, or number sequences that read the same backward and forward, for example: kayak, taco cat, and 343. The students had great examples of palindrome words they were already familiar with! On a chart of 1-100, we looked for palindromes and colored them purple (1, 3, 22, 99…..) We determined 18/100 or 18% of the numbers 1-100 were palindromes. Then, we learned a trick to create palindromes by adding the reversed digits. (12 + 21 = 33, which is a palindrome). We colored all those 1-step numbers red. The last numbers we looked at formed palindromes in 2 steps, and we colored them green. (19 + 91 = 110 + 011= 121). We discussed patterns on our charts for 0-step, 1-step, and 2-step palindromes.
If you roll a pair of dice 10 times, would you rather: receive $5.00 every time you get a double OR receive $5.00 every time you get any 2 even numbers? The students estimated that the even numbers would statistically come up more often. To test our idea, each student rolled the dice 10 times and tallied their results for both choices. We added up all our data and found the average for each choice. Then, we came to a class consensus and discussed why the second choice was the better option.
After lunch, we discussed prime numbers. The students mentioned that “1 was a special number that was neither prime nor composite.” They also recognized that 2 was the only even prime. We sorted through a 1-100 chart with steps eliminating numbers in order to find all the primes. The students were amazed at how simple it was to find the primes after using the steps. Then, we talked about patterns and the numbers on our charts that were both prime and palindromes.
We used an area model and multiplication to calculate how many donuts were in an extremely large box from Krispy Kreme. They estimated the number of the donuts in the 9 x 7.5 foot box. Then, the students learned more information that there were 25 x 32 donuts on each layer, and that there were 3 layers. They solved and figured the box held 2,400 donuts!
The class learned about the simple order of operations. We tried a few math problems using the acronym: My Dog Ate Spaghetti. The students tried multiplication & division first (left to right) and then addition and subtraction (left to right). For those ready for an extension, we included parentheses and solved some expressions starting with them. We mentioned Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally!
At the end of the day, the students played a Tenzi dice game. Everyone had 10 dice. We called, “Go!” All the students rolled and rolled until all their dice had the same number. Then they called out, “Tenzi!” We continued playing other rounds with various tasks (pairs adding up to 7, combinations of addition and multiplication to 6, and working as a team adding up to 43…..)
Dinner table questions:
- What were some of the palindromes today? How did you create new ones with addition?
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Which games have you enjoyed the most this week?
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What is your favorite topic?
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Which activities have you enjoyed most this week?
We look forward to tomorrow!
Warmly,
Ms. Elizabeth & Ms. Sharon