As I was driving home the other night I noticed this beautiful display of lights and it got me thinking about…Math!
Math is all around us….especially this time of year, so why not have a little fun with math in these winter months!
As you drive through town, I’m sure you may have noticed all the amazing winter displays. Have you ever wondered how many lights it really takes to create these dazzling decorations?
How might you determine the amount of lights you need?
What information would you need to know to solve this problem?
How could you determine your answer?
SMP 4, Modeling with Mathematics, requires students to apply the mathematics they know to solve problems arising in everyday life, society, and the workplace. There are plenty of opportunities to have our students engage in SMP 4 on a regular basis. This can be achieved by helping our students recognize the math in every day life.
It can be as simple as snapping a photo of something you find in the yard, such as acorns, and having your students generate an estimate!
Or as simple as determining how many ingredients you would need to triple a recipe to cook a holiday meal.
What other ways can you help your students think mathematically about their surroundings?
For more information on the Standards for Mathematical Practice, check out this link http://www.corestandards.org/Math/Practice/MP4/