References Assignment 2

Reference

Clements, D. H., and Sarama, J. (2000). The earliest geometry Teaching Children Mathematics, 7 (October), 82-86.

Papic, M. (2007). Promoting repeating patterns with young childre - More than just alternating colours! Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom, 12 (3), 8-13.

Malik, M. A. (1980), "Historical and pedagogical aspects of the definition of function", International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology 11 (4): 489–492

Warren, E., and Cooper, T. (2006). Using repeating pattern to explore functional thinking. Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom, 11 (1), 9-14.

Willoughby, S. (1997). Functions from kindergarden through sixth grade. Teaching children mathematics, 3(6), p. 314-318.

Reference Image

Bee-Bot. Focus Educational Software Ltd [image]. Retrieved October 22, 2011, from http://www.focuseducational.com/category/item/6

Paper clip [Image file]. Retrieved October 28, 2011 from https://epay.hawaii.edu:8443/C24372test_ustores/web/images/store_9/paper_clip_large.jpg

Paper tape [Image file]. Retrieved October 28, 2011 from http://cdn.dickblick.com/items/241/18/24118-group3ww-l.jpg

Popsicle sticks [Image file]. Retrieved October 28, 2011 from http://www.pointsincase.com/blog/uploaded_images/popsicle_sticks-702207.jpg

Workshop 4 - Time [Story]

This is a story about Dazdingo and his amazing pants that tells time. Dazdingo is a friendly young boy who lives with his mother, Maryanne. Maryanne works as a tailor in the big city.

Dazdingo is very active in playing sports and he is also loves to help his friends. But one thing that he always forgets is time. He seldom remembers the time and what he needs to do at a particular time. One day, his mother sews his pants with an alarm clock that will tell him what to do at that time.

In the morning after he eat his breakfast at precisely 8.00 am, his pants will be sounded by the alarm clock. Now it is time for him to go to school. Dazdingo goes to school by cycling. During lunch time at 12 noon, he will be alarmed again by his pants and it will remind him about his lunch. Dazdingo must take his lunch at 12 noon and he shares it with his friends.

Dazdingo goes back home from school at 3.00 pm after his pants remind him to do so. He has a cat name Rhasta. Rhasta is always hungry because Dazdingo forgot to feed him on time. But now, since Dazdingo has a new pants, Rhasta is no longer hungry because Dazdingo remember what he should do, feeding his cat on time at 4.00 pm.

Dazdingo is a good soccer player and his team relies on him to win any game. But because he always forget to go to the field on time, his teammates always lose the match because he arrived at the field late. But since his mother sewed an alarm clock in his pants, he is always the first to go to the field. He and his team also manage to win most of the games.

Dazdingo loves his new pants because he is no longer forget what he should do. He loves his mother for sewing the alarm clock to his pants, to remind him about the time.

Workshop 4 - Making a measuring device

Measurement

In teaching measurement, teachers need to identify the difference between standard unit and non-standard units. Standard unit is the unit of measurement involving length, area, volume, mass, temperature, electricity and time. While non-standard units is the object used to measure the length of a table, for example a paper clip.

Here are the objects being used for measurement. It is a non-standard units.

Teacher could ask the children to measure the length of their table by using different measuring devices as mentioned above. The quantity of the object used varies because of their size. Young children should be aware about the sensitivity of the measuring devices used, the smaller the device, the accurate the reading will be. Thus, among the three variables, the paper clip is the most accurate device to be used to measure the table.

Measuring the length of the table using the popsicle sticks.

Measuring the length of the table using paper clips.

Q: How many paper clips are used to measure the length of the table ?

A: 6

Q: How many popsicle sticks are used to measure the length of the table?

A: 16

Making a measuring device

After covering the topic measurement in indirect comparison between the paper clips and the length of the table, we are now moving on into creating a meaningful learning experience addressing the topic of making our own measuring device.

In this part, normal household materials are needed in making the measuring device. A measuring cup or a spoon, corn seeds and also an empty container as shown in the picture below are needed to make our own measuring devices.

The measuring cup or the spoon will act out as the measuring device. The main objective is to see how many cup with the corn seed is needed to fill out the empty container. Young children would first need to fill the cup with the corn seed until it is full. Then they have to pour the cup into the container and mark the container with a marking pen to indicate that the level is for one cup. The picture below clearly explain the situation.

The container is filled with 1 cup of corn seed.

The process is repeated until the container is full and the marks are marked correctly. Thus, young children will find out that the amount of cup needed to fill the container is the volume of the container. For example, 4 cups of corn seed are needed to fill the container. The volume of the container is 4 cups of corn seed.

The container is full. 4 cups of corn seed are used to find the volume of the container.

Teacher could get the correct understanding of the students with the lesson by asking them questions.

Q: What is the non-standard measurement used?

A: Plastic spoon.

Q: How many measuring cups are used to fill the container?

A: 4.

Q: What is the volume of the container?

A: The volume of the container is 4 measuring cups.