For our final class of Math Pentathlon for 2008 students played one-on-one in mini-tournaments. The kids were awesome at really thinking about their next move out when playing each other and yet the classes were also full of good sportsmanship.
See you next year!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
WEEK TWELVE: 12/9
This week each class hosted Earthquake game play and/or started their mini-tournaments. Until now we have been having the students play two-on-two as teams to work together to learn the winning strategies of the math games. During the mini-tournament, the students will play one-on-one with tournament rules to get their first experience with the process.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
WEEK ELEVEN: 12/2
This was the last week of instruction for DIV I & DIV II games and review of all the games for DIV III. For the next two weeks we will have Earthquake play and mini-tournaments. The kids are really catching onto the games and it's been fun watching their growth and learning as well as how they help their fellow students.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
WEEK TEN: 11/25
This week Math Pentathlon students in all divisions spent the afternoon playing their current game for more hands-on experience. Have a super Thanksgiving Holiday!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
WEEK NINE: 11/18
REMINDER: There will be Math Pentathlon Class on 11/25.
DIV I: Started learning the third game, SHAPE UP.
"The game of Shape Up integrates fact families with geometric shape recognition, attributes, spatial visualization, and directionality. The former two abilities relate to the goal of Shape Up. The Shape Up game board is comprised of a connected network of circles which each contain a large or small version of a geometric shape. There are eight different shapes which are rotated and shaded in different ways. To win the game, students are to position one of their chips on the small version and the other chip on the large version of the same shape. What enriches this task is that in order to win students are to focus on the attributes of shape and size and disregard the rotation and shading of the shape. Chip movement is based on the roll of a die. Students choose to move one or both of their chips up or down on either side of the game board. Strategic play is based on using fact families effectively to determine better options." -- www.mathpentath.org
DIV II: Started learning the third game, KWATRO-SINKO.
"Both computational and spatial reasoning are required in this alignment game where chips are moved along the game board’s connected horizontal, vertical, and diagonal pathways. One player has five even numbered chips and the other, five odd-numbered chips. The goal of the game is to create a spatial and numerical alignment, which results in an answer of four or five. To play this game effectively students must know many number sentence combinations of adding two even chips and subtracting an odd numbered chip (or vise-versa) to get an answer of four or five." -- www.mathpentath.org
DIV III: Continued learning JUGGLE.
DIV I: Started learning the third game, SHAPE UP.
"The game of Shape Up integrates fact families with geometric shape recognition, attributes, spatial visualization, and directionality. The former two abilities relate to the goal of Shape Up. The Shape Up game board is comprised of a connected network of circles which each contain a large or small version of a geometric shape. There are eight different shapes which are rotated and shaded in different ways. To win the game, students are to position one of their chips on the small version and the other chip on the large version of the same shape. What enriches this task is that in order to win students are to focus on the attributes of shape and size and disregard the rotation and shading of the shape. Chip movement is based on the roll of a die. Students choose to move one or both of their chips up or down on either side of the game board. Strategic play is based on using fact families effectively to determine better options." -- www.mathpentath.org
DIV II: Started learning the third game, KWATRO-SINKO.
"Both computational and spatial reasoning are required in this alignment game where chips are moved along the game board’s connected horizontal, vertical, and diagonal pathways. One player has five even numbered chips and the other, five odd-numbered chips. The goal of the game is to create a spatial and numerical alignment, which results in an answer of four or five. To play this game effectively students must know many number sentence combinations of adding two even chips and subtracting an odd numbered chip (or vise-versa) to get an answer of four or five." -- www.mathpentath.org
DIV III: Continued learning JUGGLE.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
WEEK EIGHT: 11/11
DIV I & DIV II had fun today with EARTHQUAKE play while DIV III students started learning their third game.
EARTHQUAKE play gives the kids ample opportunity to play all the games they have learned and with several different friends, by mixing the kids up among the various seats and tables mid-game. When the coach says “EARTHQUAKE” the children finish their turns and then move to a different table. Then they pick up where someone else’s game left off (a different game then the one they were just playing) and they resume that game with a new opponent.
This gives our students opportunities to play the games one-on-one (remember we have been learning these games with partners) without fear that they will lose every game to another student. During instruction we mix grades so older students can help younger students learn strategies, but during this exercise we match grade students so a 2nd grader plays a 2nd grader--just as it will be at tournament.
DIV I: EARTHQUAKE play with CALLA & HEX-A-GONE.
DIV II: EARTHQUAKE play with FIAR & PAR 55.
DIV III: The third game our 4th and 5th graders are learning is JUGGLE.
"In this game players “juggle” polyominoes in order to be the first to complete their 9x9 grid-like gameboards. The roll of two dice determines which pieces are selected from five different types of polyominoes, including pentomioes and tetrominoes. In the process of playing the game students develop a deeper understanding of mathematical relationships involving area, perimeter, and transformational geometry (flips, turns, and slides). Spatial and logical reasoning skills are enhanced as students try to balance probability and chance, as well as numerical and structural relationships." -- www.mathpentath.org
EARTHQUAKE play gives the kids ample opportunity to play all the games they have learned and with several different friends, by mixing the kids up among the various seats and tables mid-game. When the coach says “EARTHQUAKE” the children finish their turns and then move to a different table. Then they pick up where someone else’s game left off (a different game then the one they were just playing) and they resume that game with a new opponent.
This gives our students opportunities to play the games one-on-one (remember we have been learning these games with partners) without fear that they will lose every game to another student. During instruction we mix grades so older students can help younger students learn strategies, but during this exercise we match grade students so a 2nd grader plays a 2nd grader--just as it will be at tournament.
DIV I: EARTHQUAKE play with CALLA & HEX-A-GONE.
DIV II: EARTHQUAKE play with FIAR & PAR 55.
DIV III: The third game our 4th and 5th graders are learning is JUGGLE.
"In this game players “juggle” polyominoes in order to be the first to complete their 9x9 grid-like gameboards. The roll of two dice determines which pieces are selected from five different types of polyominoes, including pentomioes and tetrominoes. In the process of playing the game students develop a deeper understanding of mathematical relationships involving area, perimeter, and transformational geometry (flips, turns, and slides). Spatial and logical reasoning skills are enhanced as students try to balance probability and chance, as well as numerical and structural relationships." -- www.mathpentath.org
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
WEEK SEVEN: 11/4
Math Club T-Shirts were distributed today and they look AWESOME! Thanks again to Betsy Melton for submitting the winning design. FBE will definitely stand out at tournament.
DIV I: In Hex-a-Gone, strategy primarily comes into play when the game board is almost completely filled, at which time players must think a few turns ahead so that they can guarantee that they play the final piece for the win. Todays investigations helped kids focus on that strategy.
DIV II: PAR 55 is a race to 55 on the game board and the key is to determine where to place a block from the bank on the board so that you can maximize the number of spaces you are allowed to move. Exercises in class today focused on that as well as recognizing how to get a certain score that might be needed to win or "bump" an opponent.
DIV III: An EARTHQUAKE Game Play day, these students were able to play both CONTIG 60 and FAB-A-DIFFY to practice the games and have fun!
DIV I: In Hex-a-Gone, strategy primarily comes into play when the game board is almost completely filled, at which time players must think a few turns ahead so that they can guarantee that they play the final piece for the win. Todays investigations helped kids focus on that strategy.
DIV II: PAR 55 is a race to 55 on the game board and the key is to determine where to place a block from the bank on the board so that you can maximize the number of spaces you are allowed to move. Exercises in class today focused on that as well as recognizing how to get a certain score that might be needed to win or "bump" an opponent.
DIV III: An EARTHQUAKE Game Play day, these students were able to play both CONTIG 60 and FAB-A-DIFFY to practice the games and have fun!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
WEEK SIX: 10/28
After a week off for early release day, we spent our Math Club time reviewing our second game and improving our strategies.
DIV I: Learned the rules and played the game of Hex-A-Gone.
DIV II: Learned the rules and played the game of PAR 55.
DIV III: Practiced the game FAB-A-DIFFY.
Math Club T-Shirts came in today so we'll sort them and hand them out at class next week!
DIV I: Learned the rules and played the game of Hex-A-Gone.
DIV II: Learned the rules and played the game of PAR 55.
DIV III: Practiced the game FAB-A-DIFFY.
Math Club T-Shirts came in today so we'll sort them and hand them out at class next week!
Friday, October 24, 2008
October Family Fun
All three divisions were represented as parents and students of the Math Club challenged each other to games of Calla, Hexagone, FIAR, PAR 55, Fab-a-Diffy, and Contig 60. Join us at our next Friday Fun Night: February 6th, 2009.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
10/24: Family Fun Friday
On Friday, October 24th, come to the school cafeteria from 6:30 ~ 8:00 PM to see what all the excitement is about! Play Math Pentathlon games with your kids or watch what they've learned as they play a friend. This evening is an optional night designed for fun while reinforcing the learning concepts at Math Club.
NO CLASS 10/21
Tuesday, October 21st is an early release day so there will be NO Math Club meetings next week.
WEEK FIVE: 10/14
We continued learning our second game or learning about the attributes that make up our second game.
DIV I: Learned the game rules for HEX-A-GON where students use pattern block shapes to cover the board.
DIV II: Spent more time learning and comparing the attributes of the game pieces used in PAR 55: Color, Shape, Size, and Thickness.
DIV III: Learned the game rules for FAB-A-DIFFY -- a game about making fraction equivalents.
DIV I: Learned the game rules for HEX-A-GON where students use pattern block shapes to cover the board.
DIV II: Spent more time learning and comparing the attributes of the game pieces used in PAR 55: Color, Shape, Size, and Thickness.
DIV III: Learned the game rules for FAB-A-DIFFY -- a game about making fraction equivalents.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
WEEK FOUR: 10/7
We've moved on to a new game and for most of us, we spent today preparing to learn our second game next week by becoming familiar with new game pieces and their characteristics.
DIV I: We learned the colors and nomenclature of the shapes of the different blocks used in HEX-A-GON. We have a yellow hexagon, blue rhombus, brown rhombus, green triangle, orange square, and red trapezoid. We talked about the block characteristics, their proper placement when played (must share one common edge with other shapes), and how to create one type of block using smaller blocks together (for instance, two green triangles placed back-to-back will build a blue rhombus). We created our own designs and had our friends copy them and we also tried to cover a pre-printed designs using the blocks to get familiar with how to fill a space.
DIV II: We learned about attributes and specifically the ones used in our game PAR 55: COLOR, SHAPE, SIZE, and THICKNESS (CSST). We practiced describing the game pieces using CSST and then we made one-way, two-way, and three-way trains with our BANK of pieces. For example: if our train engine was a yellow triangle, large and thin we tried to find a yellow triangle that was large and thick to add to our one-way train; a yellow triangle, small and thick to add to our 2-way train, and then finally a yellow square that was small and thick to add onto our three-way train. This is fun math!
DIV III: Getting ready to play FAB-A-DIFFY next week, we reviewed lots of fractions, how to make fraction equations, and how to determine fraction equivalents. We also played a few fun games like fraction concentration!
DIV I: We learned the colors and nomenclature of the shapes of the different blocks used in HEX-A-GON. We have a yellow hexagon, blue rhombus, brown rhombus, green triangle, orange square, and red trapezoid. We talked about the block characteristics, their proper placement when played (must share one common edge with other shapes), and how to create one type of block using smaller blocks together (for instance, two green triangles placed back-to-back will build a blue rhombus). We created our own designs and had our friends copy them and we also tried to cover a pre-printed designs using the blocks to get familiar with how to fill a space.
DIV II: We learned about attributes and specifically the ones used in our game PAR 55: COLOR, SHAPE, SIZE, and THICKNESS (CSST). We practiced describing the game pieces using CSST and then we made one-way, two-way, and three-way trains with our BANK of pieces. For example: if our train engine was a yellow triangle, large and thin we tried to find a yellow triangle that was large and thick to add to our one-way train; a yellow triangle, small and thick to add to our 2-way train, and then finally a yellow square that was small and thick to add onto our three-way train. This is fun math!
DIV III: Getting ready to play FAB-A-DIFFY next week, we reviewed lots of fractions, how to make fraction equations, and how to determine fraction equivalents. We also played a few fun games like fraction concentration!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
RED WINS
We had the students in Math Club vote for their favorite T-Shirt design and the RED T-Shirt with the Math Pentathlon Shooting Stars won the popular vote by a landslide! One section of students actually tied 10-10 between the two finalists, but in most classes the vote for this design was overwhelming and it won both the electoral college vote and the popular vote! As part of the Math Club all students will get a T-Shirt but if you want one too and haven't ordered one, be sure to contact us right away!
WEEK THREE: 9/30
We continued playing our first games this week and reviewed a few game worksheets to help us think about strategy and imagine some what if scenarios. This was our last week for learning CALLA, FIAR, & CONTIG 60 but not our last week playing it! After each learning section, we'll have an Earthquake Game Day where the kids will have fun playing the games we have learned to date while having to be on the move from game to game and continuously changing their thinking.
The best part of this program is cooperative learning! We play in groups of four with two students on each team, who sit across the table diagonally from each other. The number one goal for our kids at this point is to say, "Partner, I'm going to make this move, because . . . What do you think?" We are trying to help our friends with learning the game and understanding strategic moves that help us to play better. We know that we are supposed to help each other now, so we can all play well at tournament when we are playing against students from other schools. The kids are really cognizant of including their partners in their decision making. This translates to better sharing and math skills for everyone.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Need Game?
The Math Pentathlon Institute is having a Back-T0-School Special on their games. If you are interested in purchasing a set for home use, be sure to visit their website soon! Offer expires October 5th.
http://www.innovativeecom.com/b2c/browse.pl?owner=90
http://www.innovativeecom.com/b2c/browse.pl?owner=90
Thursday, September 25, 2008
T-Shirt Finalists
Here are our two T-Shirt Design Finalists! We had 17 entries and the decision to narrow the field was so difficult we had two rounds of voting. These designs will be sent to the students next Tuesday when they will vote for our club T-Shirt.
CONGRATULATIONS to FBE Mom & Artist Betsy Melton for both of these designs!
A special honorable mention for all of the artists who shared their time and talents in creating fantastic artwork for our club T-shirts: Stephen Dudley, Lauren Mack, Chanta Sheidow, Nikki Muirhead, and Lisa Mack.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
WEEK TWO, 9/23
Today we learned the How-To's of our first game! For a quick look at the game highlights and rules, follow the links below.
DIV I: Calla
http://mathpentath.org/pdf/highlightsdiv1.pdf
DIV II: FIAR (Four-In-A-Row)
http://mathpentath.org/pdf/highlightsdiv2.pdf
DIV III: Contig 60
http://mathpentath.org/pdf/highlightsdiv3.pdf
The kids did GREAT today! We had a fun time.
DIV I: Calla
http://mathpentath.org/pdf/highlightsdiv1.pdf
DIV II: FIAR (Four-In-A-Row)
http://mathpentath.org/pdf/highlightsdiv2.pdf
DIV III: Contig 60
http://mathpentath.org/pdf/highlightsdiv3.pdf
The kids did GREAT today! We had a fun time.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
WEEK ONE, 9/16
Hopefully, by now, your student has shared some of their fun from today's class with you! All of the classes reviewed what it means to be a PENTATHLETE and a member of the Fern Bluff Math Pentathlon Bobcats. We also talked about the purple FLAG CARD that students pass from player to player to indicate which person has the current move.
DIV I: Students learned a lot about standard configurations (how numbers appear in a way that is easily recognized such as found on dice, cards, or dominoes). We also practiced how to set up the CALLA game board using standard configurations. Send homes included a reference sheet for standard configurations and a few practice sheets.
DIV II: Learned three games which progressively became more challenging where the object was to get your chips lined up three in a row. The game "Five Chip" was sent home for practice play. Ask your student how to play! No need to get blue or red chips: use pennies and dimes as markers.
DIV III: After a brief review of standard configuration, students rolled dice to play "Cover Up" where the object is to cover a bingo type board of numbers by adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing the numbers showing on the dice.
NOTE: Send home worksheets are always optional. This is a club that teaches math, but is supposed to be FUN! If you have time and desire to do these, fantastic, that's why we are sending them home.
DIV I: Students learned a lot about standard configurations (how numbers appear in a way that is easily recognized such as found on dice, cards, or dominoes). We also practiced how to set up the CALLA game board using standard configurations. Send homes included a reference sheet for standard configurations and a few practice sheets.
DIV II: Learned three games which progressively became more challenging where the object was to get your chips lined up three in a row. The game "Five Chip" was sent home for practice play. Ask your student how to play! No need to get blue or red chips: use pennies and dimes as markers.
DIV III: After a brief review of standard configuration, students rolled dice to play "Cover Up" where the object is to cover a bingo type board of numbers by adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing the numbers showing on the dice.
NOTE: Send home worksheets are always optional. This is a club that teaches math, but is supposed to be FUN! If you have time and desire to do these, fantastic, that's why we are sending them home.
We will be communicating primarily through email so please be sure that your email isn’t sending important information to your junk folder!
You should have received several notes by now including:
Important information about Math Club,- Tuesday’s rotating staff assignments,
- Tournament Supervisor groups, and a
- Class list and meeting room reminder.
If you have not received these from lisamack@austin.rr.com, check your junk folder as your spam filter might be working overtime!
Friday, September 12, 2008
Friday, September 5, 2008
Registration Confirmation
If you registered your student at the Math Pentathlon Orientation Session, you should have received an email confirmation by now. If you have not, please email us.
Today, confirmation letters were put in teacher mailboxes. When you receive these, please review and edit your information, complete and sign the parent commitment agreement, and submit your student's contract (if not already on file.)
Classes start Tuesday, September 16th!
Today, confirmation letters were put in teacher mailboxes. When you receive these, please review and edit your information, complete and sign the parent commitment agreement, and submit your student's contract (if not already on file.)
Classes start Tuesday, September 16th!
Calling All Artists!
The Fern Bluff Math Pentathlon Bobcats Club needs a look. A logo. A T-Shirt design of our very own. When we go to the National Tournament next spring with schools from all over the state, we want everyone to know that Fern Bluff Elementary is in the house. Kinder students will wear them. Moms & Dads will wear them. Teachers will wear them. So we need a design that works for small and large T-shirts. Think broad strokes that screen print well. We'll want to print on a color T-Shirt so plan to incorporate that into your design. Forget pink, purple or any other color T-shirt that doesn't work well for everyone. Try yellow, orange, gold, red, maroon, or another hot color for the actual T-Shirt but don't use blue or green because many of the teams at tournament have a blue or green T-Shirt and we want to stand out!
Math Pentathlon is all about learning math through game play. Our students learn and play five games each in their respective divisions, and are called PENTATHLETES. For inspiration, take a look at what it's all about at www.mathpentath.org where you can see what some of the games look like and also see t-shirt designs used by other schools. MUST HAVE the phrases "Fern Bluff Elementary" and "Math Pentathlon" in the artwork, although not necessarily together. There are no other design requirements. Submit your design to the school, attn: Lisa Mack by 3:00 PM September 19th. The Math Club volunteer staff will review all of the entries and choose their favorites to present to the Math Club students. Because this is an exciting election year, we plan to model the voting process of our nation:
- Each student will cast a vote for their favorite design.
- The design that has the majority of votes within each of the seven sections of students will receive one vote to reflect the popular vote of their section.
- The winning design for our T-Shirts will need only a simple majority of those seven votes.
We'll even consider primaries, if necessary!
If your design is chosen to represent our club, you'll win our heartfelt appreciation, bragging rights as over 150 people proudly wear your design, and your very own T-shirt, of course.
Registration & Enrollment
WOW! What excitement at Fern Bluff Elementary! We now have over 120 students registered for the Math Pentathlon program. There are just a few openings remaining and we will continue to accept registrations first-received, first enrolled. Classes begin on Tuesday, September 16th. Club Fees: $89 per student, which pays for coach training, weekly instruction, games and materials, snacks, club T-Shirt, and tournament entry fees. Parent Commitment: We expect that a parent of every student will sign up as a floater volunteer for five meetings and/or as a judge on a Saturday for the national tournament if being at school in the afternoon is not possible. Scholarships Available.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Tues, Sept 2: Math Pentathlon Orientation & Club Registration
On Tuesday, September 2nd from 6:30-8:30 PM, the Math Club is hosting an ADULTS ONLY Math Pentathlon Orientation event designed to provide parents with an overview of the program.
Registrations for the Fern Bluff Math Club will be accepted after the presentation. For more information and registration forms, email MPCBobcats@hotmail.com.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Volunteer & Parent Training
If you volunteered to support the Math Club by serving as a coach, rule expert, or monitor thank you for volunteering your time and talents for the Fern Bluff Math Pentathlon Club! Training is on Saturday, August 16th.
DIV I 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
DIV II 11:30 AM - 3:45 PM
DIV III 4:15 PM - 9 PM
Parents interested in learning the Math Pentathlon games for better understanding of their child's experiences with the club or for at home play are also encouraged to attend this training as well, as space permits, for a small fee which allows us to bring the program to our school. Parents who attend this training will be allowed to pre-register their children for the Math Club. For a registration form, email mpcbobcats@hotmail.com.
Fern Bluff Math Pentathlon Club
We've had exciting responses to our interest form! Over 100 students and 40 parents willing to participate weekly in our new Math Club. We are currently setting up training for this August so we can be ready to start our club in mid-September. More on that soon!
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