Saturday SAVY, Week 3, Secrets of the MoLi Stone (3rd-4th)
Hello SAVY Families!
We had an exciting and productive final day of Fall SAVY 2024. I am so honored to have worked with these brilliant mathematicians the last few weekends!
To start our day, we were introduced to the final number system we studied: the Chinese number system. As a warm up, the SAVY mathematicians used number expanders to represent three digit numbers in our base ten system. While this was a review, it served as a concrete example of the way place value is in our number system. This was necessary as we learned about the expanded form of the Chinese numeral system. The SAVY mathematicians were quick to note the benefits and potential limitations of this system, including that the symbols were complicated, but fun, to draw. This sparked a conversation on whether or not the symbols would be easy for us to draw, had we grown up with the system. To end our study of number systems, the students were placed in groups to create a poster about a specific number system. On the posters, the mathematicians were asked to present the pros and cons of their assigned number system. Then, the mathematicians presented their projects to the class as a group. Finally, using the Chinese number system, the mathematicians were able to crack the code of the MoliStone
As a culmination of our class, the SAVY mathematicians came together to brainstorm the qualities of an effective number system: an assigned base, groupings, symbols, easy to understand, and more. The SAVY mathematicians had to create their own number system using each of the qualities of an effective number system. First, the mathematicians created the design elements of their number system. Next, they created a rough draft of their system and a MoliStone to show what may be purchased and for how much in their system. Finally, the mathematicians created a poster to visually present their number systems to the class. Seeing the mathematician’s creativity through this project was a highlight of our time together.
I am so grateful to have learned with and from the SAVY mathematicians this week. I hope that all of the mathematicians have an excellent remainder of the school year, and I look forward to seeing each of them in a future SAVY class.
Discussion Questions:
- What is the Chinese numeral system? How is the Chinese numeral system the same as our system? How is it different from our system?
- What are the qualities of an effective number system?
- What are the elements of your created number system?
Sincerely,
Miss Gruchot