The STAR IQ-GO! Math Department has had another fabulously successful year. For enrichment, we developed truly innovative courses which had kids cracking codes, hammering away to build their own Geoboards, and learning about symmetry through Origami paper folding.
We were thrilled by the findings of an independent evaluation commissioned by LAUSD which found that STAR’s IQ-GO! Math curriculum is one of the top after-school programs in raising students’ CST scores. The report shows that STAR students, in general, performed well beyond the already high expectations of the evaluators. To quote the report: “STAR performed outstandingly!” IQ-GO! Math was also one of the featured programs represented at the Beyond the Bell Best Practices forum in May.
Click here for excerpts of the results!
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STAR IQ-GO! Math is gearing up for the Spring Enrichment session. See descriptions of the new courses below. More details to follow!
Step-Up Math (K – 1st grade)
Dive into a world of imagination with Storytime Math! Each lesson begins with a math-themed story, followed by hands-on activities to reinforce mathematical concepts such as telling time, money sense, measurements and more. Give developing minds a positive experience with math early on!
Fortune Teller Math!!! (2nd – 6th grade)
You’ll be amazed at what you can do with a simple piece of paper! Through the ancient Japanese art of Origami, students will simultaneously explore a variety of mathematical concepts while discovering the wonders of Japanese folklore. Become a geometry whiz and a life-long expert of this beautiful craft. Ready, set, fold!
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STAR’s Crack the Code! Math course is under way at a number of schools. See a description of this awesome curriculum below. Sign up with your STAR director!
Crack the Code! Math
In Crack the Code! Math, students improve their numerical, visual-spatial, and analytical skills by exploring a variety of themes. Classes focus on hands-on projects and games, allowing students to experiment themselves with various mathematical concepts. At the end of each class, they will use problem-solving skills to decode the secret combination to a safe full of prizes.
Class 1: Cracking Codes
Students define codes and encryption and discuss why and how we use them. Students practice decoding simple, then progressively more difficult codes. Advanced students will create their own encryption systems and share their work with other students who can work to find their encoded messages.
Class 2: Fractions
Through storybook reading and art, students deepen their understanding of fractions. Students create Fraction Ice Cream Sundaes, labeling each scoop with the fraction that its flavor represents of the whole sundae. More advanced students practice reducing fractions.
Class 3: Origami Math
Students build on their knowledge of shapes and their work on fractions from the previous lesson to create three-dimensional shapes from paper. The class links origami to concepts such as symmetry, fractions, area and perimeter.
Class 4: Tessellations
Through the works of artist M.C. Escher, students explore geometric transformations that result in drawings called “tessellations.” Students discover how simple shapes can be modified and repeated to create complex tilings. Students will create their own tessellations, using pre-made or their own creative patterns.
Class 5: Math Games from around the World
Through games such as Kalah and NIM, students get a glimpse into ways that other cultures throughout history have explored mathematical concepts. Each game is introduced in a cultural context and students discuss what type of math is being used and how to win using different strategies.
Class 6: Number Sense
Students hone their number sense through a storybook reading and art project that focuses on place values. Students will construct snakes using egg cartons, with each slot representing a different place value. Students will use their snakes in a game to practice their knowledge of place value and deeper their understanding of larger numbers as sums of smaller numbers.
Class 7: Logic
Students sharpen their analytic skills through games that require them to recognize patterns and differentiate between characteristics of numbers and shapes.
Class 8: Math Riddles
Students will work on a variety of math-themed riddles with various levels of difficulty. The class will culminate with a team riddle contest, with students making their own riddles and challenging each other.
Class 9: Puzzles
Following up the class on riddles, students will continue to explore mind benders, this time working with visual and tactile puzzles. Ranging from tangrams to Shape Sudoku to number searches and knot games, students will hone their visual spatial skills working with a variety of manipulatives.
Class 10: Math Magic Tricks
Students learn to stump their friends and families with a variety of Math Magic Tricks. The class analyzes the mathematical concepts behind each trick and finds that what seems like magic is really just simple math.
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The Sir Cumference books (Charlesbridge Publishing), by Cindy Neuschwander and Wayne Geehan, are entertaining stories about a knight, Sir Cumference, of King Arthur’s court, his wife, Lady Di of Ameter, and his son, Radius. In each book, an introduction to a fundamental geometric concept is woven into a fun and interesting plot.
The series includes: Sir Cumference and the First Round Table, Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi, Sir Cumference and the Great Knight of Angleland, Sir Cumference and the Sword in the Cone, and Sir Cumference and the Isle of Immeter.
Check them out!
Tags: Great Math Books
Check out this cool website with lots of math games and interactive activities!
http://www.gamequarium.com/math.htm
In particular, I recommend the following activities:
For Addition practice, play “Sum Sense” and “Addition Pinball.”
For Geometry fun, try “RoboPacker” to build your visual/spatial skills, “Billy Bug” for graphing practice, and “Banana Hunt” to hone your understanding of angles.
For more advanced Pre-Algebra students, check out “Integers Mystery Picture.”
Enjoy!
Tags: Math Websites to Check Out
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Check out the official website of M.C. Escher, especially the Picture Gallery. This Dutch artist’s engravings and drawings incorporate symmetry, tessellations, and mind-bending dimensions. It’s definitely worth a look!
http://www.mcescher.com/
Tags: Math Websites to Check Out
In a 3 x 3 grid, insert the numbers 1 through 9 so that each row, column and diagonal adds up to 15.
Note: Magic Squares can be 4 x 4, 5 x 5, etc. The key is that all the rows, columns, and diagonals must add up to the same sum. For more history and information about Magic Squares, go to http://www.pballew.net/magsquar.html
Tags: Problem of the Week
Here, you can find news about our current and future courses, problems of the week, suggestions on math-related movies, books and other products, as well as links to cool math websites.
Now that our Fall Enrichment Session is winding down with great success, we’re gearing up for Winter Session. We’re very excited about the new curriculum we’ll be launching in January called CRACK THE CODE! In this course, students will explore a wide variety of themes including logic, geometry, riddles, puzzles, and math art. Each class, students will use their problem-solving skills to decode the combination to a safe full of prizes!
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