Starting Ratios

On Monday we will investigate "part to part" and "part to whole" ratios with Lucky Charms cereal.  On Tuesday we will look more at "whole to whole" ratios and matching different representations. Here is a link to the video clip we will watch in class on Tuesday!  What a great week to be a sixth grader! 

Dividing Fractions & Test Next Week

Today is the day we discussed the "trick" way of dividing fractions.  Below is  a video to describe it too.  You may hear students calling it, "Keep, Change, Flip".  They can explain what each of those words stand for.  We have many tools to divide fractions!

Next week we will have our Fractions test on Wednesday.  Students get a paper of practice problems and answers they can do before the test.  While it's optional, it's a good review for those that are interested.  

On a side note...I'm not sure what is going one with the white background behind the text...my apologies!

Creating a Story Context

One new concept we are working on in Math this year is writing a story context (this is what some students call a "word problem") for an expression.  Today was the first day many sixth graders had done this.  Check out some of our great story contexts!!

The expression was:
 " 5 divided by 1/3"

Some story context answers were:

"I have 5 cups of pancake batter.  For each pancake, I will us 1/3 of a cup of batter.  How many pancakes can I make?"

"I have 5 pies.  I want to sell the pie in 1/3 portions.  How many pieces of pie can I sell?"

Common Core Math

As many parents know, this year we are focused on the Math Common Core Standards.  These standards focus on a shift from the students just know the procedure to the students also being able to conceptualize the math problem and apply it to real word situations.  Therefore some of the math homework or sequencing may seem different this year than it has been in the past.  We are working through quite a bit of problem solving this year!  Today we worked on the Popcorn Problem and students were dividing whole numbers and fractions to figure out how many servings of popcorn would be in different batch sizes.  Ask your sixth grader for more information about today or check out the link on the bottom right of this blog to see the 6th Grade Common Core Math Standards. 

Map Project

We are continuing our Social Studies deserted island map project this week.  Students have class time to work on their map projects Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  All maps are due by Friday.  We are very impressed by the amount of detail students are putting on their map!
  

Function Machine

At the end of some days, we have time to play the "Input/Output" or "Function Machine" challenge on the smartboard.  If you are looking for something like that to work on at home, try this link!  Good luck guessing the rule!

Another Way!

Looking for another way to add/subtract fractions with unlike denominators?  Check out this video!  This is the "trick" or "butterfly method" way we talked about in class on Wednesday.  It is just one of the ways that you can add or subtract fractions :)

Adding & Subtracting Fractions

This week we are working on adding and subtracting fractions.  We have also been reviewing how to reduce fractions into simplest terms and make equivalent fractions.  One of the TVMS math teachers' favorite game websites also has a great collection of fraction games - check it out!

Click here for the online board game to practice adding and subtracting fractions.  

Also, short clips on how to add/subtract fractions are below.

Math Quiz Tomorrow!

We will have a Math Quiz tomorrow over GCF and LCM.  There were be some word problems as well as an extra credit problem.  If you're looking for a way to study, ask your sixth grader about their yellow review sheet. 

Also, we had a GREAT assembly this morning!  Perhaps your child can explain one of the activities that went on. 

We are looking forward to a wonderful week in sixth grade! :)