The Final Product

This 2011 “Maggie + Math Toy Project” was a great success on many levels! I am thankful for the support of others who stepped up to help my students complete the project.  Special thanks go to Mr. Brodt and the Senior Woodworking students, Mr. Gibson for donating the paint and brushes from the art department, Mr. Becker for being supportive and Mrs. Searcy for her positive encouragement and enthusiasm throughout the process and for helping to film and then doing all of the editing. As I reflect on the entire process wherein students achieved the prescribed learning outcomes for this unit while doing something commendable for others and the traditional classroom extended into the community, I cannot help but smile!  We proudly presented the toys, candy canes and food hamper to the Women’s Shelter on December 15, 2011.  It has been one of those memorable times as a teacher!  Congratulations students – well done!

(For a detailed explanation of the project see the blog posted on November 24, 2011)

Finishing Up

Measuring Surface Area

At this point in the project the general shapes of the toys have been carved out of the blocks of wood by the senior woodshop students. The Math 9 students are now using the skills learned in class to measure the surface area of their toys.

Math 9: Toy Project (The Woodshop)

This is just a short video of the senior wood shop students working with the plans drawn up by the grade 9 math students. The senior students are using the designs given to them by Melissa's kids and then actually cutting and shaping the wood blocks into the toys.

Manipulatives with Quiz

Recently I gave my Math 9 students an option to use linking cubes to help them write a surface area quiz (one designed by my colleague CB). Immediately some students knew they would want to use the manipulatives and collected the cubes prior to the start of the test while others waited to preview the quiz first. In the end, all of the students used the cubes to help them complete the quiz. Interesting that when given the choice, the students utilized the manipulatives!

P.S. K.T. specifically selected all pink cubes … seemed to work well for her. Great results from J.B. in this unit (10/12 on quiz; 10/10 on an assignment).
One of my top students, C.D., made a gun with his cubes but I’m pretty sure that was after he aced the quiz!