Category: PSHE/Thrive
IT’S ALL IN THE ALGORITHM
As part of our Man and Machine topic this term, we have begun exploring computer concepts: starting with the all important algorithm.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT AN ALGORITHM IS?
Well the year sixes set about finding out what they are. Firstly considering what they thought it was and finding out that it was not exactly the same as coding. Instructions was the name of the game and they were also fascinated to find out that algorithms were first created in the 9th century: a long time before computers.
We clarified our understanding of the concept – watching the video below and making some whiteboard notes, before writing our own algorithms, to achieve a set task: moving from one place to another. First we explored this in class (negotiating the tables and chairs) and then the pupils competed in groups to avoid obstacles on a course in the playground – blindfolded (using their teammates algorithm to succeed). The pupils learnt that sometimes they needed a back-up instruction (or ‘IF’ instruction), or a variation in the steps to allow for differences in the environments where it was used, ensuring that an ‘error’ did not occur.
Finally, we discussed how algorithms were all around us in technology that they use and that there were many careers that they could explore using these skills.
GAMES WORKSHOP FOR HOME – NEW CHALLENGE
Are you missing games workshop (click here)? Well fear not, here is your chance to use your maths brain in a game of luck: Clock Solitaire (AKA Clock Patience). You can play the game online or if you have a 52 pack of cards, try it for real. I tried the online version this morning and unbelievably, I won – against the odds – in 3 mins and 43 seconds, within 52 moves: Can you beat my score? LET US KNOW IF YOU WIN AND SEND US PICTURES OF YOU PLAYING THE GAME!
CLICK HERE TO PLAY ONLINE AND WACTH THE VIDEO ABOVE TO SEE A TUTORIAL ON HOW TO PLAY.
3-D CHRISTMAS CARDS
Creative 3-D Christmas cards were the order of the day, earlier this week – Below you can see some of the pupils designs and above you can see a video tutorial, should you like the idea of making your own (or another one).
Maths skills were needed, in the activity, to help the pupils measure each section of their creation, as well as appreciate the concept of 3-dimensions.
It was great to see so many nice messages to family and friends, too!
Great job everyone!
TRY MAKING YOUR OWN CARD AT HOME.
GAMES WORKSHOP MEMORY GROWS
Games Workshop continued to grow this week – fun and memory development, growing all the time.
DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT HIT THE BUTTON – A FANTATSTIC MEMORY RECALL GAME FOR TIMES TABLES!
Click here for more about Hit The Button and Times Tables Rock Stars.
READY TO RECALL? GAMES WORKSHOP
Games Workshop, took to centre stage again, this week – The fun was evident, as the pupils of Phase 3 took the chance to engage in games of recall and memory.
WHAT GAMES CAN YOU PLAY TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR MEMORY RECALL?
DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT HIT THE BUTTON – A FANTATSTIC RECALL GAME FOR TIMES TABLES!
Click here for more about Hit The Button and Times Tables Rock Stars.
MATHS PEER PALS
Today saw some pupils in Phase 3, take the opportunity to help each other – Working as peer teachers. Several of the phase team set about supporting friends with their learning, all about subtraction. Often seeing how your peers approach the learning, can really help with developing understanding: we learn so much in the world, from each other.
Who could you help learn something new, today?
DO YOU KNOW EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SUBTRACTION?
Well done to everyone in the peer learning group – Excellent learning!
Are the Arts What make Us Human?
This term we will be starting our new topic ‘Are the Arts what make us Human?’. Have a look at all the exciting learning we have in store for Phase3.
PEER TEACHING ADDS UP!
In Phase 3, we are always looking for ways to help each other with our learning – Here you can see some peer teaching in maths: helping one another to fully understand written mathematical methods, for addition. Both the learner and the teacher gain from the experience and everyone made some excellent progress here, too.
WELL DONE PEER TEACHERS AND LEARNERS!
COULD YOU EXPLAIN COLUMN ADDITION OR ANOTHER MATHEMATICAL MODEL, TO SOMEONE ELSE?
3D Profiles – Things about me, caught in a ‘net.’
This week, in Phase 3, we’ve been finding out about each other – One activity saw the pupils capturing a profile of themselves on a 2-D shape net, before turning it into a 3-D cube.
The pupils set about cutting out a 2-D cube net – scissors skill were excellent! Then they covered the faces of the cube in things about themselves: words and drawings. They shared their favourites, such as food, along with there hobbies and the people they cared the most about. Once they’d finished they folded the net to form the actual cube.
Of course we could not miss the opportunity to mathematically explore the parts of a cube as well – Do you know the difference between faces, edges and vertices?
maths@stpauls 