On Friday, May 28, 2010 12:52:40 pm Hilaire Fernandes wrote:
I also added an Artifact DotInTable to represent collection of token in row and column. It can be used to represent graphically the multiplication of two integers.
While on the topic of multiplication, the Holder Etoy is very handy for learning about factorisation and prime numbers - one of the toughest topics for young kids.
A child can draw a small toy and drop a number of its siblings (say 24) into a Holder and then try to resize it using its yellow handle icon. The Holder automatically adjusts its rows and columns into 6x4, 2x12 and so on. The count can be displayed alongside by dragging a simple viewer from "Holder's count".
If the length and width viewers are also put alongside, then the game can be used to learn about squares too.
As a kid, I used to play this game with a 10x10 grid (laid out in sand or on the floor using chalk/coal) and a bag of seeds. Each player takes turns to pick a handful of beans blindly from the bag and place them one-per-slot in a tight rectangle to score as many points as the beans placed. The one who picks a prime loses a point.
Subbu
Subbu,
This is the second time you have referenced "seed arithmetic" and both uses you mentioned provide very good metaphors to think about mathematics.
Is there any good references on the various "seed games" I can look at?
Thanks, Stephen
On Fri, May 28, 2010 at 10:17 AM, K. K. Subramaniam kksubbu.ml@gmail.comwrote:
On Friday, May 28, 2010 12:52:40 pm Hilaire Fernandes wrote:
I also added an Artifact DotInTable to represent collection of token in
row
and column. It can be used to represent graphically the multiplication
of
two integers.
While on the topic of multiplication, the Holder Etoy is very handy for learning about factorisation and prime numbers - one of the toughest topics for young kids.
A child can draw a small toy and drop a number of its siblings (say 24) into a Holder and then try to resize it using its yellow handle icon. The Holder automatically adjusts its rows and columns into 6x4, 2x12 and so on. The count can be displayed alongside by dragging a simple viewer from "Holder's count".
If the length and width viewers are also put alongside, then the game can be used to learn about squares too.
As a kid, I used to play this game with a 10x10 grid (laid out in sand or on the floor using chalk/coal) and a bag of seeds. Each player takes turns to pick a handful of beans blindly from the bag and place them one-per-slot in a tight rectangle to score as many points as the beans placed. The one who picks a prime loses a point.
Subbu _______________________________________________ squeakland mailing list squeakland@squeakland.org http://lists.squeakland.org/mailman/listinfo/squeakland
Subbu,
This is the second time you have referenced "seed arithmetic" and both uses you mentioned provide very good metaphors to think about mathematics.
Is there any good references on the various "seed games" I can look at?
Thanks, Stephen
On Fri, May 28, 2010 at 10:17 AM, K. K. Subramaniam kksubbu.ml@gmail.comwrote:
On Friday, May 28, 2010 12:52:40 pm Hilaire Fernandes wrote:
I also added an Artifact DotInTable to represent collection of token in
row
and column. It can be used to represent graphically the multiplication
of
two integers.
While on the topic of multiplication, the Holder Etoy is very handy for learning about factorisation and prime numbers - one of the toughest topics for young kids.
A child can draw a small toy and drop a number of its siblings (say 24) into a Holder and then try to resize it using its yellow handle icon. The Holder automatically adjusts its rows and columns into 6x4, 2x12 and so on. The count can be displayed alongside by dragging a simple viewer from "Holder's count".
If the length and width viewers are also put alongside, then the game can be used to learn about squares too.
As a kid, I used to play this game with a 10x10 grid (laid out in sand or on the floor using chalk/coal) and a bag of seeds. Each player takes turns to pick a handful of beans blindly from the bag and place them one-per-slot in a tight rectangle to score as many points as the beans placed. The one who picks a prime loses a point.
Subbu _______________________________________________ squeakland mailing list squeakland@squeakland.org http://lists.squeakland.org/mailman/listinfo/squeakland
On Sunday, May 30, 2010 10:14:13 am Steve Thomas wrote:
This is the second time you have referenced "seed arithmetic" and both uses you mentioned provide very good metaphors to think about mathematics.
Is there any good references on the various "seed games" I can look at?
Apologies, Steve. I am not aware of any book exploring such games. These are handed down orally over the generations, like folklore. Interest in these recording these games waxes and wanes [1].
Math was not always as hallowed in curriculum as it is today. It was something that was "caught" but not "taught". The primary motive behind these games is "just fun". Math just happens to be part of it.
[1] http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=6&...
Subbu
Math was not always as hallowed in curriculum as it is today. It was something that was "caught" but not "taught". The primary motive behind these games is "just fun". Math just happens to be part of it. Subbu
That is why I like them so much. Kids get to have fun with Math and hopefully they will be "caught" by the joy of playing with mathematics.
squeakland@lists.squeakfoundation.org
-
K. K. Subramaniam -
Steve Thomas