1356_MATH171_01

Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers II

Geometry, Measurement, Chance and Data

 

Spring 2009

 

Room SAM 301

Mon. & Weds. 4:30—7:00 pm

 

Professor: Andrea Levy, Ed.D.

Office: SAM214

Mailstop: 2SAM110

Office Phone: 206-587-4082

Email: alevy@sccd.ctc.edu

Website: http://seattlecentral.edu/faculty/alevy

 

Office Drop-in Hours: M & W 3:30-4:20pm or by appointment

 

 

 

Text and Course Materials

 

 

Sowder, J., Sowder, L., Nickerson, S., Reconceptualizing Mathematics (Preliminary Edition): Part #3 Reasoning about Shapes and Measurement and Part #4 Reasoning about Chance and Data, W.H. Freeman & Co., NY

(Available at the SCCC bookstore)

 

Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire : The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56

by Rafe Esquith   ISBN-13: 978-0-14-311286-0

 

Required Materials: Textbook Parts 3 & 4, book by Esquith, scientific calculator, metric and standard ruler, pencil, notebook paper, graph paper, compass, ruler, protractor, scissors, transparent tape.

 

From the Text: Make the kit from the nets found in the first chapter (store in shoe box). Use the square dot paper and the isometric dot paper in your materials as masters and make several copies of each.

 

Optional Materials: Set of 100 interlocking snap cubes, student membership to NCTM

 

Supplementary Readings/Website Access:  

OSPI:   Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) http://www.k12.wa.us/assessment/WASL/overview.aspx

  Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRs) http://www.k12.wa.us/CurriculumInstruct/default.aspx

NCTM:  Principles and Standards for Science and Mathematics http://www.nctm.org/standards/

Teaching Children Mathematics Magazine (optional) http://my.nctm.org/eresources/journal_home.asp?journal_id=4

 

 

Course Objectives

This course delves deeply into the mathematics elementary teachers are responsible for teaching at the K-8 levels. The mathematics examined in this course covers polyhedra, polygons, symmetry, tessellations, size changes, curves and curved surfaces, transformations, length, angles, area and surface area, volume, measure formulas, reasoning, chance, probability and data analysis. 

 

You will gain knowledge of the underlying concepts related to exploring geometric and measurement concepts that you already know from a new perspective, exploring some concepts that are new to you, and developing your visualization skills. The course is designed to improve your basic content knowledge, model methods of teaching mathematics to K-8 students, engage you in activities that increase confidence and enthusiasm for the subject area, and familiarize you with local and national standards for teaching mathematics.

 

Course Goals

Teaching is a melding of various skills. Effective teaching requires an ability to represent and formulate a subject to make it comprehensible to others. This means understanding what makes the learning of a concept easy or difficult, which requires an ability to synthesize knowledge about content with students’ interests, needs, and cultural influences.

 

One major goal of this course is that pre-service and current elementary school teachers develop a deep understanding of the geometric and measurement concepts. A second major goal is to help students develop a deep sensitivity to sense-making, with an emphasis on explanation and justification.  The key ideas presented in this course are as follows, although not necessarily in this order:

 

3-D and 2-D Shapes

-    Construct polyhedra and develop workable vocabulary for describing and distinguishing 3-D shapes.

-    Explore geometric solids and their properties.

-    Explore and review polygons with an emphasis on the relationship between sides and angles.

-    Planar symmetry developed using tessellations.

-    Issues of similarity with emphasis on multiplicative relationships (ratio/proportionality).

-    Multiplicative comparisons of surface area and volume (squaring and cubing).

-    Planar curves with an emphasis on mastering circle vocabulary.

-    Curved surfaces with a cross-cultural (cross-disciplinary) element.

-    Transformation geometry with emphasis on rigid motion/isometry.

 

Measurement

-    Key ideas of measurement with a focus on understanding standard units and the metric system.

-    Cross-cultural aspects of measurement systems.

-    Explore how approximation relates to measurement.

-    Area, perimeter, length, and surface area are explored and calculated

-    Explore volume to understand it conceptually.

-    The history of Pythagorean Theorem, introducing a Chinese proof, and recognizing Pythagorean triples

-    Measuring temperature: Fahrenheit, Celsius, Kelvin

-    Measuring volume: tbsp, tsp, cups, pints, gallons, etc.

-    Development of area formulas: relationship to area of a rectangle

-    Development of volume formulas: layering and relation to area of a rectangular prism

-    Conservation of volume

Data Analysis and Probability

-    Reasoning About Chance

-    Chance Events

-    Methods of Assigning Probabilities

-    Simulating Probabilistic Situations

-    Tree Diagrams and Lists for Multistep Experiments

-    Probability of One Event OR Another Event

-    Probability of One Event AND Another Event

-    Conditional Probability

-    Sampling: The Why and the How

-    Simulating Random Sampling

-    Types of Data

-    Conducting a Survey

-    Representing Categorical Data with Bar and Circle Graphs

-    Representing and Interpreting Measurement Data

-    Examining the “Spread-outness” of Data

-    Measures of Central Tendency and Spread

-    Examining Distributions

-    Issues for Learning: Understanding the Mean

-    Comparing Data Sets

-    Lines of Best Fit and Correlation

-    Having Confidence in a Sample Statistic

-    Confidence Intervals

 

Course Expectations

You are expected to attend all class sessions, arrive in class on-time and be prepared for the daily lesson. Being prepared means that homework assignments are complete, and you have all the necessary supplies for full participation in the daily coursework. You will:

1. Work individually and collaboratively in small and large groups to accomplish the course goals and objectives

2. Actively engage in mathematical manipulation and representation through the course activities.

3. Articulate your understanding of mathematical concepts and procedures through involvement in course activities and reflective observations in a mathematics journal.

4. Critique your own and others procedures and thinking about math for the purpose of deepening your understanding of how people come to learn and understand mathematics. Self evaluation and peer evaluation will be integrated throughout the course.

 

Assessment

In-Class: Partnership/Small Group/Whole Class Activities

Activities and discussions are conducted in small groups. The group members report their findings to class with emphasis on the important concepts, connecting unconventional procedures with standard algorithms. You will be actively involved during the class time, either working on mathematics problems, presenting your solution processes, evaluating peer presentations, or reflecting on your understanding of the mathematics.

Communication is an important aspect of this class, therefore you are responsible for providing evidence that you understand the material presented. One way to do this is by fully participating in partnership, small group, and whole class activities. The partnership and small group formats provide support to: (a) ease math anxiety, (b) learn to work collaboratively, (c) develop problem solving and critical thinking skills, and (d) clearly communicate solution processes to convince others that the answer is correct. Also, you are expected to summarize and communicate your group’s findings to the whole class.

You will work in the small groups to do class work and take tests; therefore it is important that you contribute your thinking, questions, and insights to make this a collective process.  As a productive group member it is your responsibility to listen carefully, provide positive feedback, ask clarifying questions rather than depend upon assumptions, and share your thinking, concerns, and critique of solution processes with one another.  

 

Homework

The daily assignments deepen your understanding of the mathematical concepts you learned in previous classes by explicitly connecting the standard algorithm with the underlying mathematical concept.  Homework is listed in the Course Calendar on the day it is due.  Please do all homework assignments on regular notebook paper (no spiral bound or scrap pieces of paper), or if you are word processing your work, then use regular printer paper. Try to keep the homework as neat as possible. No late work will be accepted; therefore, if you know you will be absent, email your work before the day it is due. Completing and handing in homework on time is essential as it prepares you to be a full participant in the class activities.

Tests, Midterm Essay, and Project

Much of the learning in this class is done through group work, therefore group tests are used to assess your understanding. This does NOT mean that you get a group grade. Test problems are complex and require an explanation of the reasoning used to solve the problem. The testing format provides an opportunity to discuss the solution process with group members prior to writing solutions in your own words. A correct answer to a problem is sufficient for a passing grade (which is a 75% or a 2.0); however, if you wish to earn a higher grade, you must clearly communicate your thinking and demonstrate your solution process. The group work is designed to hone your communication skills (this is a course objective). The individual write-up is how you provide evidence of your understanding for a formal assessment grade. This process will be explained in more depth and your questions will be answered prior to the first formal test.

No make-up tests will be given, however, you can replace a test grade with the grade you get on the final exam.

The mid term essay is worth 100 pts. I strongly recommend you read the entire book, Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire: The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56 by Rafe Esquith. However only chapters five, six,  and twelve  ”Add it Up”, “We won’t get fooled again” , and “Think for Yourself” are required for this essay. This is a two to three page essay. The first paragraph you should provide a brief synopsis of chapters 5, 6, & 12 (explain the premise of the chapters in your own words—do not analyze, merely describe.) The rest of the essay, please discuss how Rafe uses interdisciplinary methods to teach math, problem solving, and test practice. How does Rafe’s training for standardized tests compare with your understanding of how it is usually done?  How does Rafe’s problem solving methods and the problems he gives his students compare with what we have studied in MATH170 & 171? Explain how what you have read will affect your teaching. The essay should be double spaced, 12pt Times Roman font. Please submit a hard copy for grading (or as an email Word attachment).

The Quarter Project is an individual project; however, you will have opportunities in class to work with others who have chosen a similar project. This small group will help you with planning, editing, and revising. The project is explained in detail on the Project Protocol page. The project reports will be made on the project template. You will fill in sections of the template throughout the quarter. The final completed project template is due the day of the final exam.

 Grading policy, criteria and scales

The proposed grade distribution is: 20% class participation, 20% homework – Math Problems; 40% tests and final exam, and 20% quarter project.

o         Participation: You will receive 10 points for each day that you attend class. Points are deducted if you arrive late or leave early, are not able to attend a session, and for disruptive and disrespectful behavior.

o         Homework: Math Problems—10 points. Homework is due at the start of each class session, and are listed on the day they are due on the Course Calendar.  No late work will be accepted; however you may submit them early by email or in class if you know you will be absent.

o         Tests are 100 pts. Since tests are designed for working in groups, it is important that you make every effort to attend, arriving on-time, and prepared so that you can support one another. The Final Exam is 100 points (the final exam grade can replace lowest test grade.)

o         Quarter Project is 100 points. Please see the Project Protocol page for details.

 

If you feel that the grade distribution does not adequately reflect your understanding of the mathematics in this course, then I encourage you to make an appointment to discuss it with me. This must be done sometime before the last month of the quarter.

100 > 94% = 4.0 > 3.9 = A

93 > 90% = 3.8 > 3.5 = A-

89 > 87% = 3.4 > 3.2 = B+

86 > 84% = 3.1 > 2.9 = B

83 > 80% = 2.8 > 2.5 = B-

79 > 77% = 2.4 > 2.2 = C+

76 > 74% = 2.1 > 1.9 = C

73 > 70% = 1.8 > 1.5 = C-

69 > 67% = 1.4 > 1.2 = D+  

66 > 64% = 1.1 > 0.9 = D

63 > 60% = 0.8 > 0.7 = D-

60% >      = 0.7 >       = E

 

“NC” (No Credit) grades are NOT given under any circumstances. If you want to withdraw from the course, request a “W” grade before the published deadline. “I” (Incomplete) grades are only given in strict conformity with the college catalog. Specifically, a student must be in “good standing” to request an Incomplete.  For this course, “good standing” will mean, at a minimum, a current grade of at least 2.0. “I” grades can only be requested in situations and circumstances that are out of the control of the student…please read the catalog for details. I reserve all rights about when and if an “Incomplete” will be issued. It is your responsibility to request and submit the signatures and paperwork required for “W” and “I” grades by the deadlines established by the college.

Tutorial Assistance

I am available to help clarify or provide tutorial assistance. However, (since I have approximately 100 students each quarter) please discuss the problem with your group members first. Make an appointment to speak with me if your group members are unable to help you. I am also available to work with the whole group.

 

If you need tutoring assistance on a fairly regular basis, please visit the math lab in SAM 106, Mon-Thurs 9AM—6PM, Fri 9AM—4PM.

 

Students with Disabilities Statement

Students with documented disabilities, who need course accommodations, have emergency medical information or require special arrangements for building evacuation should contact me within the first week of class.

 

The instructor reserves the right to reasonably adjust this syllabus if deemed necessary and will make available written changes for students to add to this document.

 

Project Protocol

Submitting Project

Use the Project Template to submit your reports.  The sections of the Template align with the reports listed here. You will update the template and resubmit by the due dates. Use proper grammar and spelling. Electronic copy submission for grading is required. Student work should be scanned submitted as a separate attachment. I recommend that you use this project as part of your electronic portfolio.

 

Save the Project Template onto your desktop, then open it using Word. When you have completed the appropriate sections on the template, save it as a Word document and send it to me by email. Student work, work sheets, etc. should be scanned and sent as an attachment also (if you are unable to scan, hard copies should be submitted.)

Project Declaration: First box on template

Identify the Project Theme, grade level, and Mathematical Concept for your project

 

 

Project Themes

 

Mathematizing Literature

 

Math and Art

 

Math and Music

 

Math and Motion

 

Math and World Cultures

 

 

Grade Levels

 

Pre-K

 

K-2

 

2-4

 

4-6

 

6-8

 

 

 

Mathematical Concepts

 

Polyhedra

Polygons

Symmetry

Tessellations

Size Changes & Similarity

Curves, Constructions, & Curved Surfaces

Transformation Geometry

Area & Surface Area

Volume

Angles

Chance

Data Analysis

Graphing

Probability

 

Project Overview – 1st section of template

 

1.     Identify the Project Theme, Grade Level, and Mathematical Concept for your project.

2.       Identify the EALRs and NCTM Standards that relate to your project, indicating the primary and supplementary standards.

3.       Make a record/bibliography of literature, websites, and information sources (i.e., elementary school teachers, after school programs) that relate to your project.

4.       Identify and contact students (younger sibling, niece or nephew, your child, neighbor or friend’s child, etc.) who might be willing to work with you on this project.

5.       Determine the time frame and location for conducting an activity

 

If you are doing this project in combination with service-learning credits, then you will work with your cooperating teacher to establish your project parameters. http://seattlecentral.edu/faculty/alevy/service_credits.htm

 

Activity Description – 2nd section of template

 

1)    Choose and describe an appropriate activity that fits your project parameters and the ability/interest level of the child/children who will be working with you.

a)       Explain where you found the activity (full citation).

b)       Identify the main goal of the activity, keep this simple.

c)       Record any adjustments you made to the activity to fit your parameters, time constraints, student interest/abilities, EALRs and/or NCTM Standards.

d)       Explain how you assessed the child’s/children’s ability/interest level before developing the activity.

2)    Prepare the activity and record the following:

a)       Supplies needed

b)       Do the activity yourself (or with a peer) and record appropriate changes

c)       Make arrangements for conducting the activity (time, place, etc.)

3)    Write out how you will explain the activity to the child/children (mini script)

4)    Do the activity with the child/children who have agreed to work with you

a)       Record the time, place, who attended, etc.

b)       Collect student work, and/or record notes on student outcomes

c)       Write down what happened during the activity

 

Activity Analysis – Last section of template

1)     Explain what you hoped to accomplish with the activity. Do you feel it was successful? Why, why not?

2)     Explain the specific mathematics expectations you had for this activity (make sure to site the EALRs and NCTM Standards.) Was this a good activity for meeting those expectations? Why/why not?

3)     Explain how the children responded to the activity. How do you know if they enjoyed it?  How do you know whether they recognized that they were learning something mathematical? 

4)     Are there things you would do differently if you were to use the activity again for this age group?  What changes would you recommend to use this as a whole class activity? Would you use it for another age group, and if so, how would you change the activity?

5)     Explain how you could integrate this activity into a regular elementary school curriculum.

6)     Has this project changed how you think about mathematics? If yes, explain. If no, how has it reinforced or validated your beliefs? 

Project Assessment

This project is worth 100 points. Assessment is described using the following rubric.

 

poss.

points

100%-90%

Meets All Expectations

89%-80%

Meets Most Expectations

79%-70%

Meets Some Expectations

Project Overview

 

20

All Project Parameters are completely identified, clearly recorded, and submitted on time or early.

All Project Parameters are identified (may be missing some small details), neatly recorded, and submitted on time

Most Project Parameters are identified (may be missing some small details), recorded, and submitted.

Activity

 

30

All record keeping items collected, well organized, and explained clearly. Submitted on time or early.

All record keeping items collected, somewhat organized, and explained. Some small details may be missing. Submitted on time.

Most record keeping items collected and explained. Some small details may be missing. Submitted.

Activity Analysis

 

50

All Project Analysis Questions are clearly written with thorough responses. Submitted on time or early

All Project Analysis Questions are neatly written with responses. Submitted on time

Most Project Analysis Questions have responses and submitted on time.

 

 

Course Calendar

 

Bring notebook paper, graph paper, calculator, textbook, compass (tool used to construct a circle), ruler, protractor, scissors, transparent tape, and a pencil to class daily.

 

Although tests and math problems are used as evidence of your understanding and to assign a formal grade, they also provide a means by which I can determine the mathematical ideas that you and your classmates need to have further explained or emphasized. For this reason, the Course Calendar is not fixed, but rather is a working document which may change as we progress through the material. I will inform you of any changes to the calendar as they arise. 

 

As you read through the book sections, it is important that you become familiar with the activities which we will be working on in class together.  The math problems and reading response questions are due the day they are listed.

 

 

Week

1

Class Session Schedule

 

Assignment

The homework is listed on the day it is due.

Mon. Apr.6

16.1 Shoeboxes Have Faces and Nets

17.1 Review of Polygon Vocabulary

17.2 Organizing Shapes

17.3 Triangles and Quadrilaterals

17.4 Issues for Learning

 

Purchase Sowder text parts 3 & 4 at SCCC bookstore

 

Illuminations—Isometric Drawing tool

Service learning Credits Explained

Service Learning Placement options 1 & 2

Service Learning Final Essay

Weds. Apr.8

16.2 Introduction to Polyhedra

16.3 Representing and Visualizing Polyhedra

16.6 Issues for Learning

 

Use Nets in back of text to build personal set of Polyhedra: cutout the shapes A-M (their nets), then fold and tape them together. Make sure the shape letter (and your name) is visible on the outside of the polyhedron. (Put them into a shoebox to protect and transport them to class.)

17.1 #6, 10, 12 a-j, 16, 21

17.2 #4

17.3 #4, 5b, 6, 8

17.4 #2, 3

Introduce Projects

Week

 2

Class Session Schedule

 

Assignment

The homework is listed on the day it is due.

Mon. Apr.13

Ch. Review

 

Bring in NETS

16.2: #9, 11, 13

16.3 #4, 5, 18

Ch.16 &  17 TEST

Weds. Apr.15

18.1 Symmetry of Shapes in a Plane

18.2 Symmetry of Polyhedra

18.3 Issues of Learning

Check out website  TesselMania or Activities and bring in your polyhedraTessellation tutorial

Free mac tessellation software: http://mac.wareseeker.com/free-tessellation/

Hand-in Project Declaration

Week

 3

Class Session Schedule

Assignment

The homework is listed on the day it is due.

Mon. Apr.20

19.1 Tessellating the Plane

19.2 Tessellating Space

18.1 #4, 7, 14, 15

18.2 #2, 3, 9

Weds. Apr.22

Ch. Test Review

19.1 #1, 2

19.2 #2, 4

Ch.18 &  19 TEST

Week

 4

Class Session Schedule

Assignment

The homework is listed on the day it is due.

Mon. Apr.27

20.1 Size Changes in Planar Figures

20.2 More about Similar Figures

20.3 Size Changes in Space Figures

20.4 Issues for Learning

 

Weds. Apr.29

21.1 Planar Curves

21.2 Curved Surfaces

Bring in protractor, compass, tracing paper

20.1 #4, 7, 9,10, 21

20.2 #3, 4, 6

20.3 #3, 9, 11, 15, 22

Week

 5

Class Session Schedule

Assignment

The homework is listed on the day it is due.

Mon. May 4

22.1 Some Types of Rigid Motions

22.2 Finding Images for Rigid Motions

22.3 A Closer Look at Rigid Motions

22.4 Composition of Rigid Motions

22.5 Transformations and Earlier Topics

21.2 #6, 8, 9

22.1 Activity 1 Let’s Be Pick-y

 

Project group work

Weds. May 6

Ch. Test Review

22.1 #1, 4, 5

22.2 #4, 13

22.3 #2

22.4 #5, 8

22.5 #5d, 6

Ch.20, 21, & 22 TEST

Project Overview due

Week

 6

Class Session Schedule

Assignment

The homework is listed on the day it is due.

Mon. May 11

23.1 Key Ideas of Measurement

23.2 Length and Angle Size.

Bring in rough draft of midterm essay

Midterm group work

Weds. May 13

24.1 Area and Surface Area

24.2 Volume

24.3 Issues for Learning: Measurement

24.4 Check Yourself

23.1 #9a,c,e,g; 1316d,g,I; 24

23.2 #8; 13; 16c,g; 18a; 19; 24a-d; 29

Midterm Essay due today

Week

 7

Class Session Schedule

Assignment

The homework is listed on the day it is due.

Mon. May 18

25.1 Area and Surface Area Formulas

25.2 Volume Formulas

25.3 Check Yourself

24.1 # 5a-d; 11; 14; 21, 24

24.2 #8; 11; 14; 19a, b, e, h, l

Weds. May 20

Ch. Test Review

25.1 #3; 7; 11;  18a, c, e, g; 19, 21a, c; 22

25.2 #9, 11, 13, 18a, 20

Ch. 23, 24 &25 TEST

Week

 8

Class Session Schedule

Assignment

The homework is listed on the day it is due.

Mon. May 25

NO SCHOOL – MEMORIAL DAY

Weds. May 27

27.1 Understanding Chance Events

27.2 Methods of Assigning Probabilities

27.3 Simulating Probabilistic Situations

27.4  Issues for Learning

27.6 Check Yourself

 

Week

9

Class Session Schedule

Assignment

The homework is listed on the day it is due.

Mon. June 1

28.1 Tree Diagrams and Lists for Multi-step Experiments

28.2 Probability of One Event OR Another Event

28.3 Probability of One Event AND Another Event

28.4 Conditional Probability

28.5 Issues for Learning

27.1 #2, 6

27.2 # 9, 10, 12, 13 b ,d, 14, 19 b, c, 23

27.3 # 5

Activity Description due

Weds. June 3

29.1 What Are Statistics?

29.2 Sampling: The Why and the How

29.3 Simulating Random Sampling

29.4 Types of Data

29.5 Conducting a Survey

29.6 Issues for Learning

28.1 # 2, 3, 4 a, b, 7

28.2 #1, 6, 10

28.3 # 6 a, b ,h, 7, 10

28.4 #1, 3, 5, 9, 10

Week

 10

Class Session Schedule

Assignment

The homework is listed on the day it is due.

Mon. June 8

30.1 Representing Categorical Data

30.2 Representing and Interpreting Measurement Data

30.3 Examining the Spread of Data

30.4 Measures of Center

30.5 Deviations from Mean as Measures of Spread

30.6 Examining Distributions

30.7 Issues for Learning: Understanding Mean

29.2 # 2, 4, 8, 10

29.3 # 1, 3

29.4 # 1

Project group work

Weds. June 10

Ch Test Review

30.1 # 1, 2, 7

30.2 # 1, 2, 3

30.3 # 1a, 3a, 7 c, d, 9

30.4 # 1, 3, 5, 13, 15

30.5 # 4, 7

30.6 #3

30.7 #1, 2

Ch. 27,  28, 29, & 30 Test

Service Learning Essay due

Week

 11

Class Session Schedule

Assignment

The homework is listed on the day it is due.

Mon. June 15

Group Project Presentations

 

 

Activity Analysis due

Course Evaluations

Final Exam Review

Weds. June 17

FINAL EXAM

 

Our usual time and place