Post-It Relay Review Game

I played a Post-It Relay Review Game in Algebra 2 class today.  I saw it on twitter but I am not sure who it actually came from - so thank you both Jon Orr @MrOrr_geek and Brian @_b_p.  It was so easy to do and a hit!

We had a big unit with logarithms and conics.  I wanted a good review game that would be competition but not necessarily involve speed and time so I could use more in depth problems and not just the top/fastest kids were scoring.

So, I came up with 24 questions, so from logs and some from conics.  I did different levels of difficulty and names them 1, 2, or 3 point questions which will lead to 1, 2, or 3 sticky notes.

The kids worked in groups of four and got a worksheet with four problems.  The first two problems were the same and the last two problems were the same and between them, they were on a similar subject.  The kids cut the problems out and started working.  If they had the same problem, they checked their answer with each other and then with me.  If they got it correct, they got a small sticky note and picked a number 1-100 to stick it to on the 100 board projected on my white board.  I had 7 groups, so they were lettered A-G.  They wrote their team letter and the number on the sticky and put it on the board.  (I did this just in case the projector got bumped.) 

The kids can decide what worksheet to take.  Do they want to stick with the easier 1 pointers or move on to the 2 or 3 pointers.

It was so fun, went so smoothly, and the kids really liked it.  I will definitely do it again. 

Right before the bell rang, we had actually filled all 100 spots.  I didn't know it was going to do that but it was cool.  (They worked for about 30 minutes on it).  I used my computer to pick a random number and the lucky number was 36.  They won bragging rights!

I did take the questions and consolidate them onto one worksheet they could do on their own in case they didn't get to all the questions which they didn't. 

I keep seeing on facebook that we have to take chances in teaching and I have been taking quite a few this year.  Most of them have been successful!

Post It Relay Group Questions
Post It Relay Consolidated Questions

Rice Krispy Cones - conics!

I read this blog by Julie Reulbach last Friday.  Ordered my snowcones from amazon right then.  Got them on Tuesday and made the treats on Wednesday.  Then, we cut them in class on Friday.  Gotta love Twitter for finding great ideas! Thanks Julie.  I shared it with my colleague and we were texting each other back and forth as we were making the treats.  I thought right away - this is not worth it.  What a mess!  My 8th grade son was helping me.  We had a mini production line going as we made 4 batches for a total of 50 cones.  We learned we had to totally butter up our hands before we reached in.  We also let it cool for a few minutes because we were starting to burn off our finger tips.  Nothing like warm, yummy Rice Krispy treats! 

Here are my cones from Amazon.  I originally ordered the 4 oz but then they weren't available so I did these 6 oz which were perfect.  Don't do the smaller ones.

Here is my set up for baking.  We were ready!  Took us about an hour.

Here is one cone:

Here are all my cone babies:

I would recommend doing it the next day.  Ours were a little harder/crispier than I would have liked.  I also used the plastic knives from the cafeteria which were a little weak.  I would recommend quality knives.  Also, put down wax paper because it does get a little messy.  Here is the kids' set up:

Sawing away.  I directed the kids that they had 2 cones and had to cut 4 conics and make sure they thought about the order before they started slicing away.

Here is a circle:

An ellipse:

A parabola:

And, finally a hyberbola...

I think overall, it was a lot of work on my part, but the kids enjoyed it and were appreciative of my effort.  It was a great activity.  I recommend it and I will do it again.

Roll 6 for Logs

I was looking for a review game for logarithms, no calculator.  I found a game not related to math that had kids roll one die and try to roll a 6.  When they did, they started writing numbers 1-50.  Meanwhile, the next person in the group of four kids rolls the die and tries to get a 6.  When they do, they take the pencil from the other person and they start writing their numbers 1-50.  And, so on.  I thought I would try it with logs.  I can't get the word doc to upload correctly to google docs and show the equations, so I just took a picture.  It is so small, sorry.  I had the kids folded it in half and cover it with scrap paper so they weren't trying to figure out the problems when it was not their turn.  Then, they moved the paper down, one question at at time.

You could do it with any subject that is pretty quick to answer.  The kids really got into it.  I gave them each their worksheet, one die, and only one pencil is allowed.  This is KEY because only the person that rolls a 6 can start working with the pencil.  When the next student rolls a 6, they kindly take the pencil and start working.  The dice started hitting the floor, pencils were thrown, hair was pulled, but all in a fun competitive way.  They really liked it.  It was an easy thing to prepare.

Mystery Candy Bags

We are learning about systems of equations in my small HS math class.  Tomorrow, we will do mystery candy bags.  I have done this before and used a scale and had one equation be their weights, but the scale was so sensitive that the answers were always off.  So, I simplified it up and removed the scale/weights.  I used Rolos, Kisses, and Peanut Butter cups.  Each bag has at least one of each. 

Last year I gave the kids the bag to solve but they squeezed it and tried to "feel" the answer.  This year, they will see the bag - but no touching until they have done the math and have their guess.  They will get an index card with some information on it:

There are 3 unknowns, so they will have to come up with three equations.  I have a small class, so I only need 4 bags of mystery candy.  You could do this without doing the bags of candy but it makes it more mysterious and the kids are motivated to solve it.  I typed up all of the information for all the bags so when they are done, they can try to solve the other bags as well.  Mystery Candy Worksheet