Summer SAVY, Session 2 Day 2, Adventures in Algebra (3rd-4th)
Dear SAVY families,
Today was another fantastic day in Adventures in Algebra! This group of bright, inquisitive scholars continues to impress with their enthusiasm and sharp critical thinking skills. It’s truly a joy to watch them dive into mathematical challenges with such curiosity and confidence.
We kicked off the day with a lively and brain-boosting game called Brain Freeze, where students either identified the rule behind a pattern or extended it. The room was buzzing with excitement as they collaborated, reasoned, and stretched their pattern recognition muscles.
Next, we shifted our focus to exploring numerical patterns using Hundreds Charts. After coloring their charts, students examined the visual patterns that emerged and began making thoughtful generalizations. They discovered how these patterns reveal important concepts in multiplication and the structure of multiples. We then discussed how the Hundreds Chart functions as an array, serving as a powerful visual tool for understanding multiplication and division. Students explored how larger numbers can be broken down into equal groups and how those groups can be combined, making abstract concepts more concrete. This visual representation helped them see the structure of numbers and operations in a clear, organized way.
Our math story today, Growing Patterns by Sarah Campbell, beautifully illustrates the deep connections between mathematics and the natural world. Through a series of stunning nature photographs, the book introduced students to the Fibonacci sequence—a fascinating pattern where each number is the sum of the two preceding numbers.
During the second half of our day, students engaged in a dynamic exploration of mathematical patterns using pentominoes, delving into spatial reasoning and creative problem-solving. They also tackled a series of algebraic challenges designed to reinforce and extend concepts introduced over the past two days.
To conclude the day, students had the chance to unleash their creativity and sharpen their strategic thinking as they continued developing their board games—an engaging way to apply and reinforce the skills they’ve been cultivating over the past few days.
Extend the Learning at Home:
- Fibonacci Art Project
- Build the Sequence: Use blocks or counters to physically build the Fibonacci sequence.
- Draw Fibonacci Spirals: Create spirals by drawing squares based on Fibonacci numbers and connecting the corners.
- Find Fibonacci in Nature: Look for patterns in flowers, pinecones, and leaves.
- Play Fibonacci Games: Challenge your scholar to identify or complete Fibonacci sequences.
- Read Together:
- Blockhead: The Life of Fibonacci by Joseph D’Agnese
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- Growing Patterns: Fibonacci Numbers in Nature by Sarah C. Campbell
Warmly,
Catherine Hayes