Section 20 Math Inquiry Questions for NCTM, October 17, 2002
Here are some Mega Math Sites to use to begin your search:
I've been going through the NCTM website < http://www.nctm.org >
looking for references to the Standards (there's a lot of good stuff at this site) and I came across another wonderful
site within NCTM.
It's the Illuminations site and it has lots of examples of activities for just about everything you could wish
to teach in mathematics. I suggest you explore the site. http://illuminations.nctm.org/index2.html
There's stuff on roller coasters, combinations, ...
Another great mega site is Math Forum found at http://www.mathforum.org and
the Pac Bell site at http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/bluewebn/
Don't forget our own Math Central at http://mathcentral.uregina.ca and our very own mathed searchable database at http://dev.www.uregina.ca/mathed
Object factory at
http://www.schoolnet.ca/vp-pv/amof/index.html
NCTM and NCMT Illuminations, Math Forum, Math Central, the Mathed database, and Pac Bell and general searches on Google < http://www.google.ca > should provide you with a lot of information. You still may need the odd article or book or library reference help.
Some other great mega sites are:
Mathematics and Computer Science Hotlist at http://sln.fi.edu/tfi/hotlists/math.html
Websites for Little People--all subjects at http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/listprimaryjm.html
Math Forum links at http://mathforum.org/library/levels/p/ for Pre-K-grade 2 and http://mathforum.org/library/levels/elem1/ for grades 3-5 and a general link for primary children at http://mathforum.org/varnelle/index.html and Murray--a link for you for thousands of sites at http://mathforum.org/library/levels/middle/
To help you locate some resources for your questions I have basically explored the above sites. As I have time I will continue to do this, but you also need to do some exploring. Don't rely on me to find all your resources for you.
Here's an interesting site for children--and for all of us. http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/KidsClick!/
Another large site that seems to have potential for a number of your questions is Math Cats at http://www.mathcats.com/
Also, don't forget the Eric Database for journal articles and online fulltext articles. Go to http://ericir.syr.edu/Eric/ and enter your search item to get some journal article titles.
Please carefully check the following chart. I am preparing a master chart for the conference -- that I wll pass
out to the teachers -- and I want to be sure that I have your questions worded correctly. Also, please write in
any websites or books/articles etc that you have found for your question. If there isn't enough room below please
write them on scrap paper (with group #) and give them to Lois with this chart.
The math lab will be open from 1:00 - 2:30 on Thursday Oct. 10 for you to work on your projects. I can also be
here on Thursday evening for anyone who wants to work late (from 6 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.). Other times can probably
be arranged.
| Gp # | Names | Math Inquiry Question | Materials Needed | Resources |
| 1 | Jenny Aldred and Jane Robertson | How can a code be broken? | Books: Breaking the Code: Cryptography for Beginners by Bud Johnson Code, Cyphers, and Secret Writing by Martin Gardner This combinatorics dictionary may help http://www.math.uic.edu/~fields/comb_dic/index.html Try looking at these books (some sample pages) http://hallgames.com/games/119.shtml Object factory at http://www.schoolnet.ca/vp-pv/amof/index.html Another good resource http://www.math.niu.edu/~rusin/known-math/index/05-XX.html Just found another combinatorics site http://www.math.ilstu.edu/~day/courses/old/305/www.html Here's a puzzlemaker site http://puzzlemaker.school.discovery.com/cryptogramSetUpForm.html |
|
| 2 | Sarah Brown and Victoria Sharp | What is conservation and why is it so important to an understanding of mathematics? | blocks | |
| 3 | Yvonne Brown and Melissa Pusch | What is the significance and relevance of the abacus? | Vi's 3 abaci and instruction book | http://werwolf.ee.ryerson.ca:8080/~elf/abacus/ |
| 4 | Courtney Campbell and Chantal Knelson | What mathematics is involved in the running of a roller coaster? | http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/news/features/park_jobs/ | |
| 5 | Rebecca Dueck and Kim Stadel | What is the significance of number 10 as the base of our number system? | ||
| 6 | Michelle Ehrmantraut and Kirsten Moore | What mathematical vocabulary is used in the primary grades? | ||
| 7 | Lindsay Enns and Brea Hainstock | Why do geese fly in a v-shape? | ||
| 8 | Erin Forman and Jodie Hendrikson | How can statistics bend the truth? | ||
| 9 | Salema Forrest and Allison Norbeck | What is the Fibonacci Sequence and where can it be found in nature? | http://www.mcs.surrey.ac.uk/Personal/R.Knott/Fibonacci/fibnat.html http://www.schoolnet.ca/vp-pv/amof/e_fiboI.htm |
|
| 10 | Jennifer Friesen and Tanya Krchov | How can large numbers be represented concretely? | ||
| 11 | Korrin Graham and Chad Lechner | What is the importance of the number zero in the understanding of mathematics? | Easel and chart paper -- get from Professional Development Office | |
| 12 | Kristina Greenley and Ashley Teske | What makes up a calendar and where does our modern calendar come from? | http://www.calendarzone.com/ | |
| 13 | Erin Lindenbach and Carol Cunningham | Why are our present day calendars organized the way they are? | http://www.calendarzone.com/ | |
| 14 | Chandra McNabb and Janelle Towler | What is a geodesic dome and why is it used in construction? | http://www.domeincorporated.com/index.html http://www.ozarkdome.com/ |
|
| 15 | Christine Ruten and Nikki Senft | What role does mathematics have in the formation and movement of tidal waves? | http://www.thirteen.org/savageseas/neptune-main.html http://www.pbs.org/wnet/savageearth/tsunami/index.html http://www.geophys.washington.edu/tsunami/intro.html |
|
| 16 | Jill Ryan and Murray Sidebottom | Why are decimals so important in timing? |
If you wish to change your questions please let me know as soon as possible. Be thinking of what materials you
need to (A) design and develop your backdrop, and (B) design and develop your hands-on activity.
The math lab has a good supply of materials. However, if you require special materials that we do not have I need
to know in advance so that I can purchase them for you.
The large cardboard backdrops-which get "bent" into trifolds-are located in room 323. Let me know when
you are ready for them. If you need to laminate please let me know in advance. A student in section 40 is in charge
of the materials lab and the lab is open for laminating on certain evenings. Any laminating that you do for this
project will be paid for by the math subject area.
Please complete the above chart for your question. Please send it back to me with the completed information. You
are getting this in hard copy format and also on WebCT mail so please respond in whatever format you wish.
As I come across resources that I think "fit" your question I will post them under resources in the above chart beside your question. If you find resources that fit your question or someone else's question please let me know and I will post them above in the appropriate boxes.