Comments on: Kindergarten mathematics http://divisbyzero.com/2009/10/12/kindergarten-mathematics/ A blog about math, puzzles, teaching, and academic technology Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:59:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Kindergarten Mathematics (part 2): a report « Division by Zero http://divisbyzero.com/2009/10/12/kindergarten-mathematics/#comment-814 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:37:27 +0000 http://divisbyzero.com/?p=2195#comment-814 [...] Mathematics (part 2): a report Last week I wrote a blog post asking for suggestions for math to present to my son’s kindergarten class. My readers posted many great comments. [...]

]]> By: toomai http://divisbyzero.com/2009/10/12/kindergarten-mathematics/#comment-812 Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:54:10 +0000 http://divisbyzero.com/?p=2195#comment-812 The way I approached it was I first showed them a single strip of paper. I asked them what shape it was (a rectangle was their answer). I taped the two ends together without a twist. Now what shape? (a circle). I cut it in half, but asking them first what I would get (two circles). So they saw that I got two circles. No surprises yet. Next I took another strip, put a half-twist in it and taped the ends together. What shape is it (no one knew). I explained that this is called a Moebius strip. What do I get when I cut it in half? (two moebius strips, they naturally assumed). I did the cutting, and if things work out just right the strip with a full twist that you get naturally falls into a heart shape. This was shocking to them! For the other two shapes I cut up they were making all kinds of guesses as to what the outcome would be (e.g. a sock, a snowman).

]]> By: Dave Richeson http://divisbyzero.com/2009/10/12/kindergarten-mathematics/#comment-769 Sat, 17 Oct 2009 13:29:09 +0000 http://divisbyzero.com/?p=2195#comment-769 I really liked the sequence suggestion. I think there is a very good chance that I’ll use it on Wednesday when I visit the class. The Mobius band example was my very first thought when I was asked to meet with them. I was a little concerned because it might be difficult the get them involved (I’m not sure they’re dextrous enough to carefully cut around the loops)—but maybe I could do it and have them guess the outcome, like you said. Also, as one previous commenter mentioned, I think they are young enough that they don’t really know what is surprising. To older kids it is weird to have a 1-sided surface or one in which it can be cut down the middle and not become disconnected. But I was a little afraid that it would be lost on the kindergartners. Maybe doing several different examples with different outcomes would be fun for them.

I’m looking forward to exploring the rest of your blog. Thanks!

]]> By: Dave Richeson http://divisbyzero.com/2009/10/12/kindergarten-mathematics/#comment-768 Sat, 17 Oct 2009 13:21:50 +0000 http://divisbyzero.com/?p=2195#comment-768 Misha. Thanks, yes, that’s a great one. Maybe I’d have them use a sippy cup just in case…!

]]> By: toomai http://divisbyzero.com/2009/10/12/kindergarten-mathematics/#comment-766 Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:16:15 +0000 http://divisbyzero.com/?p=2195#comment-766 Someone already pointed you to my post about number sequences which really did go well. Here is another session I did with my son’s class with cutting moebius bands and generalization. It wasn’t so much hands on for the kids since I did all of the actual cutting, but I had them guess what we would end up with and they loved it:

http://toomai.wordpress.com/2008/03/30/math-with-scissors/

What I love best about kindergartners is that they haven’t learned to be afraid of math yet.

My feelings on the game Set: There would be some kids who would get it right off and some for whom it would be completely opaque. I play it with my wife 8-year-old and 6-year-old (with the full deck). The standings usually come out like this:
1)wife
2)6-year-old
3)me
4)8-year-old

]]> By: misha http://divisbyzero.com/2009/10/12/kindergarten-mathematics/#comment-762 Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:06:25 +0000 http://divisbyzero.com/?p=2195#comment-762 Try the Dirac belt trick or the coffee cup trick related to it.
http://gregegan.customer.netspace.net.au/APPLETS/21/21.html

]]> By: Cathy http://divisbyzero.com/2009/10/12/kindergarten-mathematics/#comment-746 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:37:05 +0000 http://divisbyzero.com/?p=2195#comment-746 I’m sorry that I can’t be more specific, but it was over 30 years ago. It set really hard (like paint) after a few minutes, but was slightly translucent, so our creations really were quite beautiful. Maybe an art supply shop or a hobby shop would have some ideas about what you could use.

]]> By: Scott http://divisbyzero.com/2009/10/12/kindergarten-mathematics/#comment-745 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:09:43 +0000 http://divisbyzero.com/?p=2195#comment-745 here’s one of the Berkeley Math Circle activites for elementary school: http://mathcircle.berkeley.edu/archivedocs/2009_2010/lectures/0910lecturespdf/lesson3_report.pdf

]]> By: Dave Richeson http://divisbyzero.com/2009/10/12/kindergarten-mathematics/#comment-744 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:34:06 +0000 http://divisbyzero.com/?p=2195#comment-744 Thanks for the link and the suggestions. As I wrote above, the full version of Set would definitely be too difficult, but I think removing a trait brings it into reach by kids this age. I’m always surprised by how well kids do with this game.

]]> By: Dave Richeson http://divisbyzero.com/2009/10/12/kindergarten-mathematics/#comment-743 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:31:15 +0000 http://divisbyzero.com/?p=2195#comment-743 Thanks for the book and activity suggestions. I’ll have to look for books by the authors you suggest!

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