Parents sometimes ask how to do more math with their kids. We like to look for math in everyday settings.
This morning we talked about #whatdoyounotice and #whatdoyouwonder about our table as we waited for our lunch.
We came up with the following:
There are big squares and smaller squares (individual tiles)
There are circles
The tiles are one fourth of the big squares #fractions
How many big squares are there? #multiplication
How many tiles are there?
The tiles are one "seventy twoth" of the table
How many flower petals are there around the middle of a square? In a row? On the table?
Where can you "fold" a square so it matches on both sides? #symmetry
Counting Petals
We came up with two strategies for finding the number of petals on the whole table.
Doubles
One square has 16 petals
Two squares have 32
Four squares (in a 2x2 grid) have 64
Eight squares have 128
Another eight squares have 256
256 + 32:
250 + 30 = 280
256 + 30 = 286
286 + 2 = 288
Friendly Numbers
One square has 16 petals
There are 18 squares
16 × 18
16 × 20 = 320
Now subtract the two extra 16s (or 32)
320 - 20 → 300 - 10 → 290 - 2 → 288