Laughter is Sometime's the Best Medicine- Ozobots Mad Dash.... for Toilet Paper?

I would like to start this post saying, I completely respect the gravity of our current tumultuous situation in the world but for many, laughter is the best medicine and it had lifted me through these dreary times.

As a result, I present to you, Ozobot's Mad Dash.... for toilet paper. Out of necessity for sanity and debilitating boredom, I sat down and developed an Ozobot lesson to hopefully bring some smiles to faces.

I take my toilet paper very seriously, I get a case very year for Christmas so this activity was right up my alley! Everyone who knows me, including my students, know that I get this and treasure it every year. I do not believe I have ever been so grateful as right now.

This activity uses Ozoblockly, angle measurement, distance/measurement, set parameters, limitations, etc. It covers a lot of concepts and can easily be adapted to any subject. material, story, concept, etc. Sky's the Limit! 

This is adapted from another, shorter (perhaps easier) activity I have created called, Hermione's Hairjinks. You may get it here for FREE!

In both activities, I have included both a WS and Teacher File to project.

Get Ozobot's Mad Dash on the Ozobot Classroom site for FREE here!

I have not referenced a particular virus in the activity, it can easily be adapted to germs or fires, or anything you want. I do not in any way want you to feel that I am being insensitive or am trying to minimize the impact, sometimes, we just need a laugh or smile or bit of levity right now, more than ever.

Enjoy!
Lisa

Hermione's Hairjinks!

Before we left for Spring Break which turned into a pandemic, I was working on an Ozobot lesson for our Geometry Unit. 

I also wanted to integrate some Ozoblockly work so came up with a new Harry Potter themed activity... Hermione's Hairjinks! 

-Hermione has just gotten an interview at the Ministry of Magic! She’s super excited and incredibly nervous. As we all know, Hermione has spent years battling her bushy brown hair and wants it to be nice and sleek for her interview (first impressions are important). She has cleverly written a spell to charm her hair, called Kinkajuice, for the interview but needs all of you to help her get the items while she studies diligently for the interview.

-Kinkajuice ingredients are:

1 bristle from a Bristly Bobbing Brush

3 spores from a Detangler Tree

4 sprays from a can of Super Slick Slippery Serum

-Your mission is to leave the Gryffindor Dorm and get all the items then meet Hermione in the Potions Dungeon!

-You can find the items in any order but don’t cross Hermione in the Dungeon because you know she will freak out if you do and do not have them all. She is so anxious about her interview every second is carefully planned!

-Code Ozobot with color code or Ozoblockly depending on your teacher’s directions. 

Students will have to measure angles, distance, convert measurement, code with set parameters, etc. 

Lot's of individualized learning! I will update with student photos and experiences later!

Get the lesson including a sample from Ozobot Classroom for FREE here!

Enjoy!

Lisa

Let's Code and Roll... the Ozobot DICE!

I was really trying to work in the Ozobots once more this year!  We did not get them until December so we only had a semester, in addition to the shortened curriculum because of Hurricane Harvey, to use them.  I get so easily excited that I always end up over doing but we had some 'extra' time to work on geometry and I decided to work in a little coding.  How I feel about coding in math has been communicated quite extensively by me.  My colleagues and friends are surely sick of it but I can not see a better fit than order of operations and accuracy in math.  Beyond that are careers, life lessons, and of course interactions beyond the standard social media.

Read about my initial ideas and Ozobot lessons here.

Making Math Ozo-some!

I also wrote more about coding and math here.

Guest Blog: Ozobots in Algebra 1

So here comes the end of the year.  Kids are tired.  State tests are taken.  They need some motivation and engagement to get through the final haul of what has been a roller coaster Texas school year.  I decided a nice poster project to round out the Geometry Unit would be nice.  I could not have been more happy with the results.  The students blew me away with their coding and concepts mastery.  It was so rewarding and a great way to further practice our coding in math!

I first created dice with a combination of coding and geometry concepts.  There are 4 unique dice.  2 are numbered and 2 are lettered so you can mix it up.  I printed all the numbers on blue and letters on orange and laminated them.

For the instructions, I put the codes for all the dice under each number so they could just circle which ones they rolled.  I also created a rubric on the back.  I also stated to roll a dice and complete the action then roll again.  Some groups did all their roles then created so it is completely up to you.

 I also encouraged adding extra to it as well.  Many kids were so excited that they were scared to add more and mess it up.  I loved their excitement and pride in their work.  One young lady even asked we send the video to her Mom 😍 They just watched their Ozobot perfectly travel the line for about 15 minutes.  It was fabulous!

I provided one piece of the gridded chart paper to help with the geometry concepts.

One of the discussions we had was what happened when Ozobot chose left instead of right or got stuck somewhere?  All groups had worked that out and accounted for it in their projects.  It was educational magic!!

I have since firther developed in, incorporating space and fine turning where they get an even number of Geometry concepts and coding!

Get all my resources from the Ozobot Classroom Lesson Library for FREE here!

As an additional fun note, we did this activity with a Texas theme in my WeTeach_CS face-to-face!  This was teachers completing it and below is one of the completed ones....

Enjoy!

Lisa

Ozobot Geometry Challenge!

Oh my sweet little Bot!  How the students and I have adored thee!  This year has been a unique experience working computer science basics of coding in to my math classroom.  Expanding and applying math in with robotics was rewarding and engaging.  You can read about my previous experiences at the links below.

Math is Ozo-some!

Ozobotting Quadratics

We used them again to review and apply geometry concepts prior to the Geometry Unit.  On the Ozobot site, there is a great task card challenge for middle school by Erin Wilson. 

Download it here for FREE!

For my students, I wanted some higher level concepts and tasks so I developed my own task cards.  

I also provided cm graph paper for them to use.  I had them each complete a minimum of 4 tasks and if they realized multiple ones could be done within the same item, then I let them and secretly cheered behind their back for the thought processing.  It was not super intense and nice little integration into the content.

To prepare, I made one copy of the task cards and laminated them.  They were all placed on the back counter and students chose which one they wanted.  After completing, they took it back to the counter and chose another one.  That way they were not all doing the same tasks and I didn't have to copy and cut a bagillion cards (or store them). Win-win. 😀

I also cut the FREE Ozobot Practice sheet code templates up and provided them with 3,4 and end-line u-turn code templates if they needed.  This helped them having to get a new sheet for corrections.  You may download these from Teachers Pay Teachers for FREE here.  Thank you Macs Store for the great resource!

I included some teacher notes and the Texas TEKS standards.

Incorporating coding into my math classroom has been an incredible experience for my students.  Seeing math and being engaged has shown unique growth and attention to detail.  I can't wait to see how much more I can use it!

You may download all my resources from the Ozobot Classroom Lesson Library here for FREE!

Thank you to Erin Wilson for the fabulous activity and inspiration!

Enjoy,
Lisa

Murrio and Friends going the Distance!

So for my last Murrio themed worksheet since I stumbled across Andy Lutwyche's Dinky King Activity is this little practice sheet.  But in all honestly, I found this to be the most interesting.

Here is my original Murrio themed activity and the scavenger hunt I did the day before.

I do not remember any time in my education actually 'comparing' the Pythagorean theorem and distance formula.  Prior to this year, I had always taught Algebra though and it had been years since I actually 'did' Geometry.  I found this lesson to be really informative and neat how they relate so simply.  And yes.... I'm a #mathnerd so that is likely part of it.

These are my quick notes.  We just did a couple of examples since they had been practicing the concepts.

And then we celebrated our knowledge with Murrio, Lequigi, Powser, and Princess Maisy...

The students did well and some did find the concept neat and do not remember comparing them before.

And so this was END GAME for Murrio and Friends...

It was a fun filled week of saving the princess, designing new games, hitting ? blocks, and reviewing and applying geometry concepts.  It is also the last day I'm giving notes this year!  Nothing like going out with the best video game of all time!

Download my resources in Word and PDF here for FREE. For any keys, please feel free to email me at camfan54@att.net from your school or professional account.  I've had students try and email for keys in the past but luckily their email said student! 

For my title and example font, Austie Bost Envelope, you may download it here for FREE to keep the formatting the same.

Thank you and please let me know if you see any issues with links or corrections on anything!

And thank you again to my new educational friend, Mr. Lutwyche.  I hope that your inspiration causes me more hours of work and my students more engagement.  



Enjoy,
Lisa

Get a CLUE!

Someone has been doing math wrong!  All this time they have been calculating wrong answers and putting them on the teacher’s answer keys!  The dreadfulness of such a devious deed!  Why, why would anyone want to do their math wrong and confuse innocent mathematicians?!?!

Your job is to find the dastardly villain and apprehend him!  To do so you need to find the area of the Clue rooms/locations based on the scale factor you pick from your teacher.  Each square edge will be worth that amount.  Round to the thousandth place for accuracy.  When complete answer the questions below about your clue board.

And that's how it begins!  Somewhere along in the year, I decided I wanted to do something with the 2 Clue board games my son received for Christmas!  Why not, right?  They were different versions and if you know me, I don't just do one when multiple versions will do!

So then what could I do?  Google of course because someone has done a geometry activity with the square units on a Clue Board right?!?!?!  Apparently not.... or at least not that I could find.  And I looked.  I started this blog to help people not have to recreate the wheel as I live by that philosophy!

So I have 2 boards.... yeah... that's not enough so let me go on a wild search for different boards!  I ended up with 5 boards which I did hunt for.  Eventually purchasing some off ebay.  You can print them and distribute or laminate to use them but that did not seem like near as much fun as each group having their own Clue Board!  I included several printable ones for you as well in my shared folder.

I ended up with the following hard copy versions:  Simpsons, 1986, 2002, 2013, and 2015.  Word to the wise, do not purchase the 2013.  It does not lend to the project as well but it is usable.

Each group was given a specific Clue Project sheet to show their work and was specific to their board.  This went through multiple changes throughout the day and the one I'm sharing with you is the revised version.  Below is the original one, I added a couple of columns to help the students organize and me grade!

This is my revised one based on students needs and desire.  And for you.... it's not all 'fonted' out so easy to edit for your needs!  I used some specific teacher names so you'll likely want to change those up for your specific school.

For the printable ones, I did specific sheets with minor changes from the physical game boards I did.  My vision for these were for students who were absent to make up.  I plan on printing them black and white.  They are different boards than what I had in the class so you could have 4 more versions ready to go.

So now on to the detective work!  My students entered.  Now teacher friends, it's May.  State standardized tests are next week.  I've been working every weekend just about since March.  I usually go all out for activities like these but really phoned in the decor for this one.  I left too late for a dead body model so had to work with what I could.  I laughed all day!!!  My kids did too but I have a sneaking suspicion it was at me 😕 and I did fix the wonky foot during 3rd period.

I couldn't just throw an activity out there could I?!?!? 

As students worked, there are a few that you and they could easily debate for square units.  Some are definitely subjective but at the beginning of the project, I did go over how I expected them to count the square units.  I think this is key to help them succeed.  Clue has all kinds of perspective on their boards.  As a result, some of the questions and answers might not be perfect but should work.  You may edit to your liking of course!

After they found their square units, I handed out 'Clue' cards with their scale factor on it.  I planned on making this a major grade so the scale factors were not simple.  They were ones like 3.14 meters, 40 inches, 1.226 yards, etc.  I printed the cards below and wrote my scale factors on the back.

I've included these for you as well.  

I was very happy with how it turned out.  There were some frustrations to work through and a-ha moments that were all part of learning and life skills.  I had fun with it , I think the students had fun with it and the objective of scale factor and area were discovered and applied in a unique way.

You may download ALL of my resources HERE for FREE!

As always, please let me know if you see any needed changes or have ideas to share!

Enjoy!
Lisa

Around, Around It Goes... Where It Stops, Nobody Knows!!!

This is a dice and spinner activity for Geometric Transformations.  It includes:
Translations
Rotations
Reflections

I'm including the editable copies as well as PDF in case you want to change or edit anything.  I found an activity online for inspiration but did not want dilations on mine as they are covered in a different unit.  Me, being me, of course had to create a new one to fit my students needs.

I have officially done it in class and made modifications as necessary so that I could share it with all of you!  

It was better than I expected only it did not take nearly as long as I thought.  Maybe half a class depending on ability.  

I printed two sets of dice on different colored card stock.  They are numbered so I made sure they received different dice to roll.  

I made 6 unique dice to use.  I never do anything easy if it can be multiple different versions 😋  Here are the first 2:

I laminated and constructed them myself prior to the lesson.  I used tape so I could undo them and easily store them.  Since I had to correct some of them, next year, I might just use large foam dice and tape the new corrected sides to them for ease as hand edited things drive me nuts!!!!??!?!?

I gave all kids a Smart Pal lamination sheet to put their transformation sheets in so they could do multiple without having to erase and get sloppy or torn.  I also made sure that the group or pairs had the same starting shape so they could compare answers.  I just monitored to make sure they were doing it and did not have them turn anything in.

Here are a couple of the 8 sheets I created.  2 unique shapes in each quadrant.

I gave each group 2 dice and a laminated spinner sheet. For the spinner sheet, I also gave each group a paperclip to 'spin'. I left all 3 together on the same sheet for ease and storage.  

I had each group start with rolling one dice and making the transformation.  I them let them decide to use the original or image to do the next roll (hello combinations without realizing they are.... my whole intention!).  After 6 or so one dice translations, I had them roll both dice and perform the combination transformations.  

Everyone seemed to enjoy the activity and do well.  The ability to use the dry erase was definitely the way to go as well.  I did differentiate and sometimes give particular shapes to particular groups.  I just wanted to be able to apply the rules and practice.  There are so many ways you can do it!  

I allowed them all to use their notes for the rules.  

As always, please let me know of any changes or recommendations! 

Download all resources in Word and PDF here for FREE!  

The font used for the titles is Austie Bost Envelopes and you may download it here for free in case you don't want to mess with formatting on the editable versions.

Enjoy,

Lisa

Transformations Mystery Pictures- Reflections!

Short post to share an activity and TPT find!

So I am not only teaching Math Models this year but also Geometry?!?!!?  There is an extensive Geometry Unit at the end of the Math Models Curriculum so here I go into a new curriculum.

Geometry was always my favorite subject in school, and while I loved doing it, it has been over 20 years since I have done it.  now I've got to teach it?  what, the what now?  It is not as easy as I remember, of course 20 years, a lot of things have happened.....

So now I get to re-learn Geometry and figure out how to teach it.  This has been awesome 😑....

One of the activities I used to practice rotations was this wonderful and well worth the $5 find on Teachers Pay Teachers.  It is by Nilcola Waddilove.

I loved the Rotations Picture and it was just what my students needed for a second day of practice with using the Rotation Rules.

I then decided that before I move on to my newly created Dice Activity, I wanted to make sure they had thorough practice.  While the above sheet did have 2 reflections practice, it did not have what I needed for reflection across y=x.  

So I googled first and found nothing matching what I wanted.  Me, being me, decided to create one!  I present to you my first Transformation Mystery Picture!!  It's not extensive and probably can be finished quickly but the image is SOOOOO MY CLASS!  

Download this activity in Word and PDF for FREE!  If you use word, the font I used for the title is Austie Bost Envelopes font and can be downloaded for FREE here.

Did another one to share!  

It is named AJ after the student who helped design it.  Download the Word and PDF for FREE!

Please let me know if you see any needed changes or have anything to share!

As always, Enjoy!

Lisa