It is time for our annual MATH FAIR for kindergarten to grade 5 students. We are super excited about this!
What is a Math Fair? A Math Fair allows students to examine several different problems during the exploration phase, which lasts 2 days. Students then chooses a problem about which they become the expert. They will get to know this problem inside and out, as they will be presenting it to an audience at the FAIR SHARE Day. While, they have to know the possible solutions, they do not present the solution at the math fair. They are wanting others to try to solve their problem. We borrowed this idea from the work of the Galileo Educational Network. Math Fairs are a chance for students to engage with rich problems that make them use mathematical thinking and skills to figure out the problem and come to a solution (or two!). Problems can be solved by any level. In the past, we have had kindergarteners and grade 4s tackle the same question. The only difference is in the level of sophistication in the mathematical thinking and skill level. Math Fairs are a SNAP! S=Student Centered. Students are doing the work. They choose the problem they want to solve. They have to conjecture, test, reflect and make conclusions about the problems they are solving. Teachers are there to guide, ask questions and encourage students' thinking about the mathematics and how to present the problem to an audience. N= Non-competitive. This is not a competition. Students are not judged, and there are no winners or losers. Everyone wins because everyone is using their mathematical skills! A=All Inclusive. There is a problem for everyone, no matter their skill or age. Students usually choose problems that are just challenging enough for them. P= Problem-Based. All the problems are rich and multi-layered. They take time and lots of thinking to unravel and solve. Many have multiple solutions and all can be solved in multiple ways. The last couple of days of our Math Fair are dedicated to creating posters and practising how to share the problem with the people who will visit the Fair Share Day. The idea is for students to share the problem, not the solution. During the sharing day, students challenge their audience to solve the problem. They have to know their problem well enough to give hints and guide others to a solution. Visit our blog soon for some of the awesome posters that our students will develop in the next couple of weeks. 2018 Math Fair Problems This document has all the problems students were challenged with solving this year. Have a go! See if you can find solutions to some of them!
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October 2018
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