Money, money, money

We have working on money multiples and enjoying our topic. 

Here are some photos of us working hard. 

Below is the link to our two current money packs. 

Zooster Shapes Study

Recently the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in Melbourne hosted an exhibition by DreamWorks Animation - sharing many of their drawings, models, storyboards and design tools.

 

While wandering through the amazing displays and admiring the creativity of the many individuals who work together to create such wonderful entertainment, I stopped to look more closely at...

 

Craig Kellman, Zooster Shapes Study - DreamWorks Animation, 2005.

 

I couldn't help but think about how engaging this would be for our students as they learn about 2D shapes and 3D objects.

Real people doing real jobs... relating their work back to topics they would have studied in primary school.

What a great starting point for discussion and a great springboard for creative design!

Imagine what our students could come up with when presented with such an opportunity...

maybe there are some future animators amongst them already!

 

If you have any other suggestions to assist our students to make mathematical connections to the real world... please feel free to share!

Comment on our blog or FB page, add a pin or send us an email at kpisurf@gmail.com

 

 

Multiplication Tables

We all know how tricky it can be for students to learn their multiplication tables.

We now have two units of work available that are aimed at supporting students to not only learn their multiplication tables, but to understand them. Multiplication tables are one aspect of teaching multiplication but these facts are critical to further learning in multiplication.

Available are:

Multiplication Tables - Level (Year) Three

Including: 2x 3x 5x 10x

AND

Multiplication Tables - Level (Year) Four

Including: 4x 6x 7x 8x 9x
 

We also have available a great value bundle with both units included at a reduced price.

 

   

 All unit include:
• On overview of the concepts and strategies relevant to the development of multiplication
• A Student Progress Record sheet
• Tasks to support the teaching of multiplication and division
• Resources to support the teaching of multiplication and division (including ‘Speed Check’ sheets, individual and partner games/tasks, dominoes and flash cards)
• Identified assessment tasks to support a differentiated teaching approach

There is also room to include your favourite multiplication tasks and activities that are relevant to the strategies being taught, or to practice the multiplication concept.

 

Making Maths Connections With Families

As we begin the new school year in Australia, we start to think about how we can help our students make genuine connections with what they are learning. One way to help support our students to make these connections is, where possible, engage our student's families too!

Below are some ideas that might assist you in making maths connections with your families...

• Send home a classroom newsletter that includes the Maths topics you will be covering throughout the term
• In student's diaries - students record the maths topic they are focusing on that week. This could also act as an invitation to families - they can contribute to the topic if it is relevant to them (for example a brick layer may be able to share their knowledge about tessellations)
• Hold a 'Maths Morning' - invite families into the classroom to enjoy some of your favourite maths games 
• When making maths games for the classroom - make a few extras. Send these home with students and encourage them to teach their family how to play. When you build up a bank of these - they can be sent home with every student on a weekly basis. And yes... some may go missing from time to time - however, this shouldn't deter us from trying!
• Hold a 'Maths Information Evening' - use this night to outline the current strategies used for 'the basics' in each year level. Keep it simple and have a one page overview for families to take away with them
• Set Maths Investigations for homework - these could be linked to current topics being studied. For example, if you are studying symmetry - ask students to collect photos or make drawings of items they find around their home that are symmetrical and bring these to school to share
• In your school newsletter - include a Maths Corner. Each class can contribute a puzzle, activity or game to be published
• As students arrive in the mornings - have a variety of maths games out and ready to be played. Students can play with other students or invite a parent/carer to join in if they have time
• Invite in parents as guest speakers - ask them to share how they use maths in their daily lives
• As parent/teacher/student meetings are held - invite students to share their favourite pieces of work (share work from a range of subjects, including maths)
• Build a Maths Dictionary with students - as each topic is investigated, add in new definitions as appropriate. This can then be shared with families at school or sent home

We recognise that it is not always possible to make connections with all families, however, this doesn't stop us trying! We also understand that for many adults, mathematics can be quite intimidating, particularly if they struggled with this at school themselves. It is important to make these connections with families as inviting and supportive as possible, so that all involved feel comfortable and able to contribute.

If you have any other great ideas you have used to help make home - school connections in maths,
please feel free to share! 

Welcome back!

Brand new books with crisp white pages, bulging pencil cases, new shoes and a fresh haricut...

it must be back to school time!

 

 

As schools around Australia are returning to school this week and next... we welcome you back!

To our international followers, we hope you had a fantastic Christmas break.

 

This year iSURF will continue to share ideas, games, resources and units of work suitable for both the Australian Curriculum and students around the world.

 

As always, if there is anything you would like to see us cover in the area of mathematics - please let us know at

kpisurf@gmail.com

 

As your new students begin to arrive, we wish you the very best and hope you have a magnificent start to the year.

Harness that new year enthusiasm and dream BIG!

Cheers!

Kerry & Paula

 

P.S. Keep your eyes open for some new items arriving in our stores soon.

We will also be creating some great value bundles - providing strategically grouped resources aimed at specific year levels.

 

Back to School ebook for Aussie teachers

  

Julie from OzCurriculum HQ has put together some resources from some Aussie bloggers

The book is 

a gift for Australian teachers heading back to school.

Our USA readers will also enjoy the freebies and tips too. 

A selection of generous TpT sellers have got together to highlight free and paid products to help you get 2015 off to a great start. There are many references to the Australian Curriculum to help make matching resources that little bit easier. 

Each page has tips to help you get back in the swing of classrooms life. Be sure to look for the link to a free item on each page, and to check out the other great resources by that seller.

Happy clicking and finding the resources. 

Resource bundled just for you

Happy New Year! 

We are back and thinking about the start of the year for all our Australian followers. 

These packs were released last year and we have just updated the covers and they are ready for you to check out if you don't already own them.

Maths bundles for you - if you haven't already checked out these resources - you will find them a great set of resources for your grade this year. Each pack contains multiple resources at a reduced price as they are bundled together for you. 

The link to see all four bundles - please click on the images below and it will take you to the resources. 

Happy setting up your classrooms and we hope these resources help you throughout the year. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

 

See you all in 2015!

 

Sunday Night Games

Online Christmas Maths Games

Here are a few Christmas Maths links to help you finish off the year!

ABCYa Christmas Lights: the more maths questions you answer... the more lights you get to put on your house! Students can choose from addition, subtraction, multiplication & division as well as 3 levels of difficulty.

Super Santa Kicker: use different angles and force to get Santa through the chimney. (This one is not for the feint hearted - the reindeer gives Santa a kick to send him on his way!)

Holiday Fun: answer multiplication questions to decorate your gingerbread house.

The Elves' Games Chest: has a range of games and activities including; telling the time, money, flash cards and puzzles.

Have fun with your students over the last few days before we have a break over Christmas!

Christmas Freebie

Hello everyone,

Seeing as Christmas is starting to sneak up on us... just a reminder that we have another Christmas Freebie in our TpT store (for Foundation to Year 2).

 

Roll A Christmas Tree



 What you need:

* ‘Roll A Christmas Tree’ template (one per student)
* Dice (six sided)
* Coloured pencils/textas/crayons

 

How to play:

 Play in small groups (approximately 4)
 Take turns to roll the dice, then colour the corresponding section of the Christmas Tree
 Colour each section once - if you roll the same number again – miss that turn
 The first person to colour all sections of their Christmas Tree is the winner

 

Extension:

o When a player wins the game – keep playing until all members of the group have finished their tree. All players continue to roll the dice, instead of colouring sections of the Christmas Tree – add your own decorations/presents under the tree (however many were rolled)
o Make your own game – draw a Christmas picture using 6 different shapes. Give each shape a number between 1 – 6, copy and play with your friends (use blank ‘Roll a __________’ template)
o Use a 10 sided dice – add 4 decorations to the list that must be rolled before the game is finished

 

Have fun and enjoy the last few weeks with your students before Christmas!