By: Vernon Myers IIMath Specialist

Our Train Made Stops At:

• Measurement in 4th Grade • Equivalency with the Math Group• Transformations in 1st Grade

Objectives/Standards• Math Group

– Evaluate algebraic expression in order to solve an equation through an interactive video game.

• Technology Standard: 7.3.A.1.b. Use teacher- selected, technology tools that enhance learning

• First Grade– Recognize a transformation in order to identify and demonstrate slides,

flips, and turns• Technology Standard: 1.3.A.1.a. Explore and use teacher selected technology

tools, including software and hardware, to learn new content or reinforce skills

• Fourth Grade– Read customary measurement units in order to measure the length of

objects to the nearest ¼ inch• Technology Standard: 4.4.A.1.a. Explore and use teacher selected technology

tools, including software and hardware, to learn new content or reinforce skills

First Stop: 4th Grade

In Ms. Ray’s class, we utilized the ELMO and the Interwrite Board to review with students how to measure objects to the nearest ¼ of an inch.

Ms. Ray wrote this enrichment activity for

the students to complete.

Each students wrote their

response on the board.

One of the students uses the ELMO to write their response on the paper.

Each student came to the board to show how they

arrive at the answer.

In our evaluation, I copy and paste two clip arts to allow the students come up and determine the measurement of the objects.

Second Stop: Math Club

Lure of the Labyrinth is a digital game for middle-school pre-algebra students. It includes a wealth of intriguing math-based puzzles wrapped into an exciting narrative game in which students work to find their lost pet - and save the world from monsters! Linked to both national and state mathematics standards, the game gives students a chance to actually think like mathematicians.

All eight members of our math group were given a username and a password to participate in this game. In this lesson, we exposed our students to equivalency by having them complete a puzzle. They had to follow a recipe by combining the correct amounts of four different ingredients. The three measuring cups provided may not match the quantities specified in the recipe, so players must transfer the ingredients between measuring cups, sometimes in multiple combinations, to obtain the correct amounts to add to the mixture in the vat. Although our students range from grades 4 – 6, we believe they have the potential of solving these problems.

What is …

All of our math club members receive an opportunity to play the game together as a team, before playing it on their own.

Last Stop: 1st Grade

In Mrs. Cutts’ class, we utilized the ELMO and the Interwrite Board to review with students how to slide, flip, and turn objects using shapes from PowerPoint. We used the lesson from Tammy Worcheser’s book,

50 Ways to Use Math in PowerPoint.

Translation

Mrs. Cutts’ Class

Translation (Slides)

Each student and their teacher came to the board and slide each object either up, down,

left, or right.

Rotation (Turn)

Each student and their teacher came to the board and rotated each object to the right.

Reflect (Flip)Each student and their teacher came to the board and flipped each object horizontally.

We reminded students that when a object is flipped to pay attention to its point.

slide

turn

flip slide

Each student was given a task to either slide, flip, or turn an

object.

More Slides Please

Conclusion• As the math specialist I gave my "Elmo" a tour of the Mighty Mustang Blvd and

visited three places. Our first stop was in Mrs. Ray's Fourth Grade classroom. We reviewed how to measure objects to the nearest 1/4 of an inch. Then, we visited the Mustang Math Crew, an afterschool program that encouraged the students to see way math is utilized throughout our world. We explore a new program that is being adopted in Maryland Public Schools, The Lure of Labyrinth. Lastly, we visited Mrs. Cutts' First Grade classroom. We reviewed how to slide, flip, and turn objects.

In all three experiences, I utilized the Elmo and the Interwrite Board. I used the ELMO to capture pictures of students and the worksheets to be displayed on the Interwrite Board. All of the teachers and students had an opportunity to utilize the Elmo in some form (i.e., showing how to answer the problem, doing guided practice, or encouraging students how to use the device. I enjoyed using the program very much and sharing it with other students. I just wish we could get rid of all of the cords we have to use and have a way to use the Elmo as a recording device when students are given a presentation to their classmates.