MATH FILLED OUR SCHOOL AS 3RD,4TH AND 5TH GRADES
HAD INDIVIDUAL CLASS WORKSHOPS FACILITATED BY THE GOUDREAU MATH MUSEUM.
MRS. HOPKINS, MATH SPECIALIST, HOPED OUR INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS WOULD BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE MATH WORKSHOPS ALIGNED WITH THE NYS STANDARDS FOR
MATHEMATICS WHICH HELP STUDENTS MEET OR EXCEED THE STANDARDS FOR THEIR GRADE.
OUR PTA GENEROUSLY FUNDED THE WORKSHOPS SO ALL INTERMEDIATE CLASSES COULD
PARTICIPATE. THE WORKSHOPS MADE
LEARNING FUN THROUGH A HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE.
THE THIRD GRADE WORKSHOP, "THROUGH THE
LOOKING GLASS", COVERED THE STANDARDS WITH AN UNUSUAL AND FUN
INVESTIGATION OF SYMMETRY, REFLECTIONS, ANGLES, AND SPACIAL PERCEPTION THROUGH
THE USE OF MIRRORS. THE STUDENTS CONSTRUCTED A PERISCOPE AS A CULMINATING
ACTIVITY.
THE FOURTH GRADERS INVESTIGATED PROBABILITY
THROUGH A HANDS-ON WORKSHOP USING A POTPOURRI OF GAMES AND ACTIVITIES.
COMPARISONS BETWEEN EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS AND THEORETICAL OUTCOMES WERE MADE.
THE FIFTH GRADE WORKSHOP,"IT'S LOGICAL",
USED LOGICAL THINKING TO SOLVE CHALLENGING PROBLEMS. THE STUDENTS WORKED
INDIVIDUALLY AND WITH PARTNERS. THEY WERE ENCOURAGED TO 'THINK OUTSIDE THE
BOX' AND STRETCH THEIR PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS.
OVER 200 CHILDREN WERE GIVEN A WONDERFUL
OPPORTUNITY. THE TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND I WISH TO THANK THE PTA FOR THEIR
SPONSORSHIP OF SUCH A WORTHWHILE PROGRAM.
Written by SUSAN HOPKINS, MATH SPECIALIST
