Comments on: Geoff Krall Combs The Internet For Lesson Plans So You Don’t Have To

By: Ryan

Ryan — Sun, 10 Nov 2013 19:24:11 +0000

@Jim,

No need to limit the students’ creativity. If a student actually comes up with an answer that uses negatives, as you suggest, then you can limit it to positive integers…but no need to limit the creativity before. Invite them to think outside the box!

By: David Hanson

David Hanson — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 19:31:51 +0000

That’s a heart in polar coordinates

By: Gail Poulin

Gail Poulin — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 11:32:32 +0000

Whoa! I’m pretty lost with the higher level math work (r = -1- sin(theta) HUH!?) but I love puzzling over math problems. I teach kindergarten and I’m always on the look out for some great number talk ideas. Developing mathematical thinking in the early years will prepare the kids for more difficult questions throughout their school years.

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 01 May 2013 17:00:19 +0000

Sean:
I think the problem should be limited to positive numbers only, otherwise:

1,000,026
-1
-1,000,000

etc.

By: cheesemonkeysf

cheesemonkeysf — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 04:43:40 +0000

Dear Geoff,

lim (xo)^n as n-> infinity.jpg

Love,
Elizabeth (@cheesemonkeysf)

By: Sean

Sean — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:36:51 +0000

“Pick a number. Say 25. Now break it up into as many pieces as you want. 10, 10, and 5, maybe. Or 2 and 23. Twenty-five ones would work. Now multiply all those pieces together. What’s the biggest product you can make? Pick another. What’s your strategy? Will it always work? [Malcolm Swan]”

This is an amazing question. Has anyone done this with kids?

Christopher Danielson posted a video of something similar: One student selected a number, and then another had to take that number and make 20. It was fun to watch the kids so intellectually engaged.

I’d love to see one of the Danielson children take on the Swan question (or some modification of it) with Dad facilitating.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 14:58:38 +0000

I’d say his efforts here are worth at least r = 5 – 5 sin theta. Didn’t someone also compile a long list of project based learning material for various courses? I have no idea if I’m making that up or if I just lost the link.

I want to add that what I said was meant to be positive. After absorbing the things I’ve seen other people do it has jump started my own creativity to new heights. I find it hard to decide between Awesome Project A and Awesome Project B on a number of occasions.

By: Michael Paul Goldenberg

Michael Paul Goldenberg — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 13:54:59 +0000

I had seen Geoff’s offering on Thursday and immediately shared it with the teachers with whom I work. It’s an excellent, much-needed contribution to and resource for US math teachers, regardless of one’s opinion (mine is mostly negative) of the Common Core. Hats off to Geoff.

By: Sean Wilkinson

Sean Wilkinson — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 22:48:42 +0000

Dear Geoff,
r = -1- sin(theta)
Sincerely,
Sean Wilkinson