Integrated Studies

Old Fashioned Integrated Fun Math Activity

April 13, 2015 Updated April 11, 2015

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I say we mandate fun in school. Imagine that? My good friend and author, Barry Lane, is a demander of fun.  He does a little comedy bit in his workshops that goes a little something like…

Barry: Kids, it’s time for fun. Take out your fun folders.

Kids: Fun? Oh man, we did that yesterday.

Fun is fun, but it doesn’t always mean easy, shallow, or just useless. We all know that fun is important to living. It’s crucial to your sanity in a maniacal world. Fun comes in all shapes and sizes–– comedy, sports, music, painting, hiking, drawing. However, be aware that one person’s fun could be another person’s nightmare. My nightmare would be country line dancing, a total bummer in my eyes. But for me, getting up before the sun to go jogging is a blast. I see you shaking your head. No worries. My fun doesn’t have to be your fun. And vice-versa. If we integrate, fun or not, we cover more bread with the peanut butter (unless, of course, you have an allergy. By the way, where did all of those allergies come from?)

According to my students, here’s an integrated math activity that’s fun!

Sketch of a blocky person
Integration

Think Minecraft: students create box-type creations using a few different math skills

Suggested progression for the activity:

Real Life Job Connections

Enginneering/Architecture/Carpentry/Landscaping/Design.

Child's drawing
Extension

Every year when I teach fractions, the names numerator and denominator always seem to be Transformer names. I usually announce the names in a deep, menacing voice.  Then I thought, Hey, why not make them Transformers. Kids work in collaborative groups to create NUMERATOR and DENOMINATOR using the same skills as the above activity. Guess what? They never forget those names and their positions!

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Filed Under

  • Integrated Studies
  • Project-Based Learning (PBL)
  • Math
  • 3-5 Upper Elementary

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