Grade 4 and 5
Day 1: Create a sidewalk chalk factor family flower. Choose a family you need to practice.
Day 2: Find symmetry in nature and draw the lines of symmetry on the item(s) you find.
Day 3: Have a race against yourself. Run between two points and time it with a cell phone. Record your answer to the hundredths place.
Day 4: Let's get cooking! Find a recipe to make that uses fractional measurements. How would you cut the recipe in half? How would you double it?
Day 5: Do you know how to estimate the height of a tree without reaching the top of the tree?
This method of measuring the height of a tree is only an estimate, but uses trigonometry. If you look at the top of a tree at a 45 degree angle then the height of the tree (h) is the same as the distance that you are from the tree.
Directions: Bend over, look between your legs until you can see the top of a tree. If you can’t see the top, move away from the tree until you can. When you are as far away from the tree so you can see the top of the tree, then measure your distance. Think in angles! What can help you measure distance?
Day 6: Shapes can be classified by the properties of their lines and angles. Make a list of shapes that you see inside and outside. Classify each shape by its properties, a square, rectangle, rhombus, or parallelogram, or “Other.”
What shape(s) meets the properties of more than one category? Do you see certain types of shapes indoors and others outdoors?
Day 7: Day 5: Create two gardens with an area of 24 square inches and different perimeters. Build a model of the gardens using recyclable materials from home. It does not necessarily have to be a rectangle. Be creative!
Day 8: Run a flashcard race. Tape a series of flashcards to the floor. If you don't have them at home, you can always make your own with index cards or paper. You can't move on without getting the fact. How fast can you go from start to finish? Challenge yourself to get faster and faster.
Day 9: With a partner create a human shadow angle. How can you change the size of your angle? How can you change the size of your shadow? Experiment with this.
Day 10: Play a game of Remainders Wanted.
This game was designed to be played in pairs.
Materials needed: one game board, one 6-sided dice, one recording sheet, and 20 counters (ten each)
To differentiate: use ten-sided dice to create a division problem with a larger divisor
Day 11: Create some stained glass sidewalk chalk art by drawing different polygons. Take pictures of your beautiful artwork.
Day 12: Write a postcard to a friend or classmate explaining how to do something in math. For example, you might want to write about how to add and subtract fractions or how to multiply large numbers. Feel free to include pictures and design your own stamp, too!
Day 13: Make a paper or fabric craft that demonstrates symmetry. It doesn't have to be a butterfly!
Day 14: All you need is painter’s tape or sidewalk chalk, and a driveway outside to play this exciting game! Make a hopscotch board outside on the pavement and fill it in with fractions. On the sections that have two squares, fill those in with equivalent fractions. Look at the picture for an example As you hop along the board, call out the fraction. When you get to the equivalent pairs, call it out as follows: “1/3 is equal to 2/6!" You can also add or subtract the fractions for a different version.
Day 15: Play Fraction Number Battle
Day 16: Create your own board game based on a concept that you've learned this year. Make sure that it has a theme and that it focuses on one concept. Make sure that you have a list of rules and all of the materials you need.
Day 17: Make several different paper airplanes with different designs. Either make your own design or watch this video.
Fly them each 3 times. Make a line plot of your results. How much further was the longest flight than the shortest flight?
Day 18: Create your own fraction kit by following the guide in this video.
Day 19: Use an egg carton to create your own multiplication game. Here is a video on how to create a "Shake It Up" game. Change the numbers according to your skill level.
Day 20: Play Array game.
Materiala
2 different color pens/pencils
A sheet of graph paper
2 dice
A partner
Competitive rules:
Split the graph paper in two equal parts by drawing a line in the middle.
This line creates territory!
Each player takes it in turn to roll the two dice.
The player draws a rectangle or square that has dimensions of the numbers shown in their own territory.
The player who crosses over into the oppositions territory first loses the game!
Cooperative rules:
Each player takes it in turn to roll two dice.
You get 5 rolls each, and your aim is to build the tallest tower that you possibly can.
Extension: multiply the dice to get the area first. Draw ANY regular shape of your choice with that area - using only whole, half, and quarter squares. Be creative for extra points and kudos. Would it be possible to draw a 10 sided shape with only whole, half, and quarter sqaures?