Today in mathematics we looked at patterns in multiplication and found the rule for echoing numbers. Be sure to ask your kids what a four digit number looks like when it is echoed and better yet what the rule is for echoing all 4 digit numbers. We also began our first project based question for the students to collaborate and problem solve. They even had access to the net books to search for information and do mathematical conversions. I was super excited to see all the students engaged in using the technology to solve the problems. They were asked to answer 4 key questions: Can 1 million one dollar bills fit into a suitcase? How much would it weigh? (use both customary and metric measurements) How tall would it be if stacked? (again both metric and customary units) Could you pick up the suitcase with the money inside???
This open-ended project was an introduction to working in groups and using the technology to help you solve a problem. Some students just googled the questions and wrote down the answers without reasoning out mathematically if the answers were accurate. NOT GOOD. We really want the students to use technology responsibly and as a tool for figuring out the answers and ALWAYS show why they believe their answers to be accurate. Yes that means showing the math :)
This was a great project for them to work out all the kinks as a group and learn along the way. Some even told me they would bring in the one million dollars to show as an example. I'm jealous!! I look forward to seeing what the student group came up with and sharing with them a student who actually cut 1 million pretend 1 dollar bills and stacked them up and placed them in a suitcase.
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