Tag: Math

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Hello My Name is… Decimals Version

3 Heads Are Better Than 1

Last month we introduced our students to Hello My Name Is … Place Value activity. As we moved into our unit on decimals we carried on this familiar activity. Students were asked to fill in their name plate with their names and a decimal number that at least had a digit in the thousandths place. Students were asked to circulate, introducing themselves by name and saying their decimal number aloud. Variations can be applied to this activity such as:

  • Ask students to introduce themselves and read their partners name and number.
  • Ask students to introduce themselves and find someone in the room with a 9 in the ten millionths place, or a 6 in the thousandths place.
  • Ask students to introduce themselves to someone who has a number of greater value or lesser value.

Check out this activity and more at our Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Hello My Decimal Is template
Math, Teachers Pay Teachers

Hello My Name is … Place Value Activity

3 Heads Are Better Than 1

The first weeks of school have started and as always it’s a flurry of activity for our students. New teacher, new classroom, new classmates. This activity is great way to get curriculum started and allow students to meet their peers and teacher. Students simply write in their favorite large number, tape it onto their shirt and circulate the room introducing themselves and their number as if it were a conference. The activity is designed for quick interactions with multiple people and is easily adjusted to whatever suits your needs.

Check out the activity at Teachers Pay Teachers!

Possible Variations

  • Ask students to introduce themselves, tell their partner something they should know about them and then read their number.
  • Ask students to introduce themselves and read their partners name and number.
  • Ask students to introduce themselves and find someone in the room with a 9 in the ten millions place, or a 6 in the thousands place.
  • Ask students to introduce themselves to someone who has a number of greater value.
Hello My Number Is … Place Value Activity
Grade 6, Math, Provincial Achievement Tests, Science, Social, Teachers Pay Teachers

Provincial Achievement Test Preparation

3 Heads Are Better Than 1

In May and June, the Alberta government administers Provincial Achievement Tests (P.A.T.s) in May and June for grade six and grade nine students across the province. Grade six students write tests on the following subject areas: Language Arts (reading comprehension and writing), Math, Science, and Social. Although it can be a stressful time of year, it is an important milestone for our grade six students in particular, as it helps prepare them for high school exams, the grade 9 PAT, and grade twelve diploma that are to come.

Beginning with the Right Mindset

Before we review for these tests, we encourage students to begin by having the right mindset. We tell students to start with positive thoughts: we have all worked hard together and they can do anything if they put their mind to it! These tests are also only one way to evaluate their learning; it does not define them. If they don’t understand some concepts yet, they can get there with hard work and support. It is also not about comparing themselves to others – it is about their inner confidence.

PAT Review

We have shared several strategies for students and parents to help them review and retain the curriculum they have learned:

  • Classroom Review – We have found that arranging classroom time for review is essential with helping students prepare. What this may look like is providing “Scheduled Review” or “Bell Work” in the morning as soon as students walk in the classroom. The question on the board (or on Google Classroom) could be related to one or more subject areas. After observing and helping students, the question could be addressed in pairs, small groups, and as a whole class to discuss thoughts and questions.
  • Flash Cards – Research has shown that flash cards can be an important tool to improve and understand concepts. Students can make flash cards in class with coordinated colours for each subject. They can also be made digitally through web applications such as Quizlet, so that they do not forget them to and from school.
  • Quest A+ – This a website by the Alberta government that provides practice tests for grades six, nine, and twelve on the following subject areas in English and French: Language Arts, Math, Social, and Science. These questions and answers are helpful, especially because they are from released PAT’s and diplomas.
  • ExamBank – ExamBank is similar to QuestA+ in that it provides sample practice tests, but for a wide range of grades (K-12). One advantage is the way in which they provide randomized sets of questions either per subject unit, or as a whole. While this is a great advantage, ExamBank does require payment of logins. School districts, individual schools, teachers, or parents are able to pay for logins for students.
  • THE KEY – Some parents have found it helpful to purchase “THE KEY,” a series of workbooks that contains questions and answers related to certain curriculum. “THE KEY Study Guide – Math 6” can be found in Chapters, along with the following subject areas for grade six: Language Arts, Social, and Science.

PAT Prep Bundle

To further assist students with reviewing the curriculum, we have created a PAT Prep Bundle. This bundle is a combination of 6 volumes, making it six weeks worth of Math, Science, and Social questions. This resource also comes equipped with response sheets for students, an answer key, a “how to study” guide, and a spot to jot notes on what students need extra help on.

Students work on one Math, Science, and Social concept a day. By the end of six weeks, they have reviewed all the curriculum!

We have noticed an improvement with students’ study habits. By working on these questions each day, students have been learning to pace their studying, as opposed to cramming a lot of information in a short amount of time.

We have also noticed that there has been an increase in the responsibility of students’ learning with this PAT Prep Bundle. Students have been taking the initiative to work on these questions. We have seen them huddled together in small groups throughout the day – on the bus, during lunch, or even at recess – to discuss the questions together so that they can find success with the PAT’s. It is quite the sight, to see grade sixes so willingly take this on every single day!

Overall, success on the PAT’s can be found through hard work, preparation, and dedication. By preparing students with the right mindset and a toolkit of strategies will they be able to find the inner confidence to show the best that they got by the time the PAT’s arrive. 🙂

Grade 6, Math, Teachers Pay Teachers, Transformations

Math Transformations

3 Heads Are Better Than 1

Translations, reflections, rotations. These types of transformations are part of a geometric concept that our grade sixes are required to learn in our Alberta curriculum. While it is an interesting math concept, we have found that it can be a difficult concept to grasp for students. We have used a couple strategies to help students understand transformations.

Transformation Strategies

Transparency Sheets – For our transformations unit, we provide students with transparency sheets to help them visualize the transformations. Each student is provided with a square-cut out that can be placed over a transformation question. Students use their whiteboard marker to trace the original shape, then rotate, reflect, or transform the shape to its image. This visualization is particularly helpful, especially for our visual learners!

Transformation Movement Games – Creating movement has also been beneficial with reinforcing transformation concepts. Combining movement with games also makes learning more fun!

  • Translation – Ask students to stand up, face the front, and translate around the classroom according to your directions. For example, “Translate 4 steps right, 1 step down.”
  • Reflection – Draw a vertical line in the middle of the whiteboard. Stand on one side of the line and ask a student stand on the other. Ask the student to reflect your movements. For example, if you dab right, the student should reflect the dab appropriately on the other side.
  • Rotation – Ask students to stand up, face the front, and perform a rotation according to your directions. For example, “Rotate 1/4 turn counter-clockwise.” Last person standing, wins!

Transformation Tetris

While it can be a difficult concept to grasp, we also have a passion for creating math projects connected with our curriculum that are fun, engaging, and differentiated for students. It has been shown that one way for students to practice and reinforce concepts in an engaging manner is by connecting them with games – we have done just that! We just released a Math transformations activity inspired by Tetris in our TPT store. It can be used after teaching math transformations.

This resource is a low floor, high ceiling activity that allows students to complete the task to their level. Some students may be able to find a solution in one step, others may need more.

What made it most engaging in our classrooms was the fact that it was based off a real game: Tetris! It was a great introduction to this 80’s game for those that were not familiar with it, and it intrigued students with how they can apply the skills of motion geometry to complete the 6 levels of this particular Tetris game. Students also found opportunities to collaborate with others by comparing their transformation descriptions, as there are multiple ways to move each shape to its image.

What’s Included in This Resource?
• 6 leveled game boards with different scales in full colour; as well as:
• A Grey-scale option
• A Black & White version for a low floor, high ceiling activity that can also
help foster spatial awareness
• A blank scale/level option for all of the above
• A sample answer key
• Student Tetris Piece “Cheat Sheet”

So, cue the Tetris theme song and let your kids transform their learning!