Math Journal Sundays

04 March 2012
Good SUNDAY Morning!  I've got a great little foldable to share with you today.  I had hoped to have a few to show you today, but because I was down and out with the flu and Thursday and Friday, I only have the one.  We had our unit test on Monday, so I started a new Geometry / Measurement unit on Tuesday.  I had originally hoped that I would be able to finish the unit in two weeks (so I could finish before March Break), but it looks as though I'll need another week after March Break (and so the hamster wheel continues ... sometimes I feel I'll never get off this wheel).

Anyhow, for this unit we are going to study the properties, nets, volume and surface area for the different 3D shapes my students are responsible for learning.  Tuesday I had the students working in pairs and small groups to complete a diagnostic place mat activity where they wrote down pictures, definitions, examples, and non-examples (Frayer model) for 3D shapes.  They are using this sheet as a title page for their unit.  Wednesday we moved on to cubes and rectangular prisms.

photo of cube volume and surface area math journal entry @ Runde's RoomI had students draw a net for a cube that had 4 cm x 4 cm faces.  Most of them remembered how to do this, and for the ones that were having difficulty, I showed them a model of a net for a cube.  (I have these fantastic large 3D shapes that have plastic removable nets inside them - LOVE them).  I was also modelling how to draw it under the elmo.  After the nets were drawn, we recorded different characteristics for the cube on each of the faces:  faces, edges, vertices, other net views, surface area and volume, and a sketch).  We then used the formula to find the volume and surface area of the net we had drawn.  We wrote this down on the paper beside the foldable.  We only glued one face to the paper (the one where "other net shapes" was written), so we could still "fold" our net into the 3D shape.  The students thought this was pretty neat.

photo of cube volume and surface area math journal entry @ Runde's Room
When all students had finished this task, I asked them to repeat the whole process, but this time for a rectangular prism.  I told them that 4 of the 6 faces should be 4 cm x 6 cm.  Most of them were able to draw the net with no problem, but I did circulate around the class to check in with those who were having some problems.  For the students that were struggling, I had them cut out their net and try to fold it.  When it didn't make a rectangular prism, I asked them how they could change their nets to make them "work".

I plan to have students continue to work on these this week - we will make a square-based pyramid, a triangular prism, and a triangular pyramid.  Come back next week to see the new pics.

Happy, Happy Sunday!!!







20 comments

  1. I love it!!! And it's exactly what I am doing right now in math too...hmm..
    My grade 4's may have some trouble with this as is but I can definitely modify it...Thanks, Jen!
    Beth
    Thinking of Teaching

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    1. Thanks, Beth! I'm glad you'll be able to use the idea. I was thinking of giving my grade 5 students the nets already made when we do the triangular shapes next week (the grade 6 students will have to create them) ... we'll see how it goes.

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  2. Great idea to put the attributes of the cube on the net in their notebooks! Love it! We are doing this now too....so you may see this creep into my notebooks as well ;)

    ~Stephanie
    Teaching in Room 6

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    1. Thanks, Stephanie! I just creeped over to your site and I LOVE the plotting of the shapes. Such a GREAT idea! Can't wait to see more of your ideas for this unit.

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  3. I love the way you incorporate foldables & notebooking in your math journal!
    How fun that they can make the cube inside their journal!!

    ❤ Mor Zrihen from...
    A Teacher's Treasure
    Teaching Treasures Shop

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    1. Thanks, Mor! Looking at the picture of making the cube, all I can think about is how much I NEED a manicure!!! (maybe I'll take my girls out over the March Break and make a day out of it).

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  4. Love it! Did you suddenly get a TON of new members or what?!
    Keep up the great work!

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    1. Thanks, Kayla! I continue to be amazed by the support in the blogging world - 'tis a beautiful thing! :)

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  5. Love the cube net for the notebooks! I just started notebooking in January because of you. I can't wait until next year...I will be so much better at it!

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    1. Thanks, Kelly! This is my first year with the interactive notebooks - I can't wait until next year, too. I have so many more ideas that I can't wait to share with my class.

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  6. I really love your math journals! I am totally doing this next year!

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    1. I just gave you an award! Come check it out! It's Grow Time!

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    2. Thank-you so much, Dani! This is my first year with the interactive journals ... such a GREAT addition to my math classes!

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  7. Your math ideas are so great it almost makes me want to teach grade 5/6 !
    Barb
    Grade ONEderful

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  8. I nominated you for an award... come on over and check it out!

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  9. This is wonderful....I have always wanted to do math notebooking...you have inspired me!
    ~~I attempted to post this yesterday but for some reason it did not go through...~~
    So let me update...I did this foldable with my 6th graders today and they LOVED it! I can't wait to read more about your adventures in math notebooking!!!! Thank you so very very much!!!

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    1. Arlene - thank-you so much! I'm so happy to hear that you're enjoying and USING the ideas!

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  10. Oh my word this is all so fantastic. I too am doing this next year. My current class is gonna be so mad. Lol thank you for taking the time to do this. It is like having a support group.

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  11. Thank-you, Morgan! My class does really like our journal sessions. My class from last year is more jealous that my art is so much better this year ... gotta love pinterest! ;)

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  12. LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! This is completely what I was looking for. Thank you SOOOO much for sharing.

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