Last week in Geometry the students did a hands-on activity where they measured the circumference and diameter of a variety of circular shaped objects. The students worked at measuring old coffee cans, rolls of masking and duct tape, Frisbees, and hula hoops. They then divided the circumference by the diameter and came very close to calculating Pi!
This week students used their new found knowledge of Pi to calculate the circumference and diameter of other circles. This presented new challenges as they began using calculators to figure multiplication and division using Pi or 3.14. Working with decimals and calculators like this can lead to issues of lack of or over confidence. Many of the students are apt to take whatever answer comes from the calculator as correct no matter how outrageous. We are working on estimating the answer to the problem in an effort to check the answer from the calculator. Often students have hit the wrong keys on the calculator and by estimating they hopefully will see that some answers don't make logical sense.
After 3 or 4 successful calculations the students find this to be just as routine as all of the other work we have done. With hard work and a cycle of success, the students are ready for increasingly difficult challenges.
Some students have asked for a challenge problem to work on at home. Below you'll find an archery target. Calculate the circumference of each zone of the target including the yellow or gold center.
Remember that the formula is:
C = d X Pi and Pi = 3.14
Hello! Things have slowed down drastically in 5th Grade Coding and in 3rd grade we have hit a bit of a wall also. Many of the students have had difficulty in advancing their programming beyond the basic concept they came up with several weeks ago. They have great ideas but are stuck after having built the basic framework of their game. With this in mind we are shifting to a new set of lessons planned for the upcoming weeks.
I will create small programs for the students to "remix" and fix. Each will focus on a new set of skills that they may find helpful in writing their own programs. My thinking is that these lessons may get them past their difficulties. While they may not finish the project they have planned, they will gain the skills needed to finish the project.
If your student is really interested in finishing this project, they can continue working at their own pace, on their own time, and finish when they are able. I can continue to provide assistance to these students through the next semester, as some of these projects are quite good and deserve the chance to be seen through to the end. I feel like these are worthwhile goals and maybe we were just over reaching for the time we had available in the semester.
Click on the picture below to link to the Scratch site for our first remix:
