Robotic Binomials

I needed a little extra practice on multiplying binomials so I decided to do some more STEM integration. I've been surprised by how many students seem to enjoy the creativity coloring aspect so like to give them a chance to 'brain break' with the work.

Thinking back on my Emoji Math one (you may read about it and/or get it here), I asked the students what they would like to color. The definitive answer was something different! Enter, Walter! Walter is my Space Center Houston USB Hub Buddy that regularly sits atop my desk and helps encourage me. I received him while attending SEEC, the Space Exploration Educators Conference. It is incredible and if you ever get the chance, GO! I cannot speak enough about what an incredible experience it is. People come from around the WORLD!

Sorry, back to the topic at hand, h👀ere is Walter Algebr-ing and downloading...

So I'm looking for a robot outline to use for the activity when Walter pipes up with his hand in the air... So I made him in a word document. He's very excited to make it onto an activity!

Look at the Joy!

So the activity, students will multiply the binomials, match it to the answer below which tells them how to decorate that 'Walter'. There are 3 versions in the same document so all 12 answers/designs are used.

Easy way for them to have instant feedback and assessment. Plus, they get a little relief before factoring!  

Get my Walter Activity, Robotic Binomials HERE for FREE!
The font I used for the title and directions is KG Payphone and you may download it free here at dafont.com. I have also saved it in Word and PDF for you.

For answer keys, please email camfan54@att.net from an official teacher school or professional account that I can verify. I have had a number of students and generic email accounts request keys. I don't want to ruin the integrity of an assignment for any of you. Thank you and hope you understand.

Enjoy!
Lisa

What's In Your Future?!?! Multiplying Binomials

Will you be a race car driver? Will you have 10 kids? Where will you live? All these can be answered with some multiplying binomials!!

So to expand upon my Clue Factoring Activity, I decided to do something different with multiplying binomials. Using the same concept, you will solve the problems to reveal your future! Kind of like the old MASH game.

 

The students were thoroughly enjoying it. They were completely engaged in the activity and groan grumbles and cheers went through the class as they revealed their destiny.

There are 3 versions with all the same problems, just the answers are mixed up. 

For answer keys, please email camfan54@att.net from an official teacher school or professional account that I can verify. I have had a number of students and generic email accounts request keys. I don't want to ruin the integrity of an assignment for any of you. Thank you and hope you understand.

To get my original Clue Factoring activity, click here.

To get this activity for FREE, click here! 
I have left it in both Word and PDF. The font used was KG Payphone which can be downloaded for FREE on dafont.com here!!


Enjoy discovering the secrets to your future!

Lisa

Totally Off Topic... How to make a 'real' headband!

So I know this is a math centered blog but today I'm going to do a little real life application on how to make a headband for woking out. Not to be confused with my favorite educational tool headbands. If looking for the classroom headband blog, you can click here! Today, as most days, I will go off topic and post my workout headband how to here so I can easily share with some awesome peeps that have asked for the info. Thank you for indulging me!

I am a sewer by Pinterest. Seriously, I just wanted to be able to make some of the cute stuff I saw on Pinterest. With a little Youtube and some patience from the wonderful sewing store in Joann Fabric, I have been able to enjoy sewing and make some unique costumes to entertain the students or adhere to lesson themes 😆

I do a lot of winging it and do not really measure. I finally did for those that asked as well as knowing how much material I needed as some stretchy licensed materials are quite expensive!

So to start, the math! I use 1/2 yard stretchy fabric. I cut rectangles in 9 inch by 19-21 inch squares. Really, I wing it and measure it around my head but since I know my head is on the ginormous side, I often make some smaller. They all fit so somedays it just depends how tight I want to wear the band during my walks! 

Make sure you cut with the stretch as some materials vary. You want to make sure the stretch goes lengthwise.

  

Fold the pieces printed signs in lengthwise.

I set the sewing machine to stretch medium and a zig zag stitch. I have a Husqvarna Sapphire 930 for reference and it sets the stitch length and width when I choose the material.

Turn the fabric right side out. 

I then fold about 1/2 inch in on one end and tuck the other end into it.

  

I then choose the standard straight stitch and change the material to stretch heavy since the area being sewn is so thick.

I then sew a straight stitch across the gathered part. I have learned that there is no way to get it flush but that's okay! I just wanted to be able to personalize my headbands and make them anytime I want for whatever I want!

The results are a headband approximately 18 inches by 4 inches. It varies based on sewing as stretchy material likes to move some and I am not a master sewer in any type of way!

Hope you enjoy! Look at all that math I applied in the 'real' world!

Lisa

The Smiley Emojis of Linear Systems

So... finals are approaching and so is the end of our Systems Unit. Frantic planning for next semester and engaging activities for the end of this one are flying through my mind and OneDrive. 

Thinking ahead to Polynomials, I searched the internet for some activities as I wanted something new for adding and subtracting. I like all activities to be instant feedback so wanted something along those lines. In the past I used this assignment from charlotte_james615 at TES.

It is perfect and she has a ton of versions but I just needed to change it up as I have quite a few repeaters. Enter this brilliant piece of Polynomial activity magic from Strength in Numbers on Teachers Pay Teachers. 

Honestly, it was just what I needed the week before finals. I quite enjoyed coloring the hearts with my Twistable Crayons! 

Enter Inspiration!!! As we are wrapping up Systems, I need a little more practice on finding the intersection in the calculator. Hmmm... what do students know that they could draw... enter Emojis! Emojis were picked by some of my students and below is a completed student one!

I decided I wanted several version since I was only asking them to complete 4 problems. I did 4 problems per page but all the answers are the same. Each page has 4 different answers though!

This was strictly to practice calculator skills but I have provided both word and PDF for you in case you want to change it. After my first grammar mistake ridden WS, I think I have it streamlined. Every answer will be used and each of the 3 pages has different emojis.

The students got pretty serious about their emojis! 

Loves seeing that A in 'STEAM' learning in full force. And the best part, it was exactly the practice they needed and brain break they needed all in one!

The font I used was KG Payphone and you can download it free here at dafont.com! As always, I am providing you the Word and PDF! 

Download the activity for free HERE!

For answer keys, please email camfan54@att.net from an official teacher school or professional account that I can verify. I have had a number of students and generic email accounts request keys. I don't want to ruin the integrity of an assignment for any of you. Thank you and hope you understand.

If you see any mistakes, please let me know as I already found a horrid grammatical error I didn't notice before they were printed for class. December teacher brain!

Enjoy!

Lisa

Generic Escape Room 2!

Got 8 problems?  Then you can ESCAPE with this generic escape room! And it is made for the whole class to do!

WiFi connection and bar code scanner are necessary as you need to be able to QR Code scan and access Google Docs as well as Google for trivia.

Last year, I shared a generic escape room template and how to easily set it up yourself.  I included the needed items as well.  See original post here.

This year, I wanted to change it up a bit since I have quite a few repeaters so I used the exact same concept but changed the 'Clues'. One clue is shown below.  Last time, I had science clues so mixed it up a little to bring in come other subjects. A little cross curricular action here!

I also discovered they needed a 'master' clue sheet to keep record on and created the following Class Clue Sheet.  There is also one in the original escape room folder.

As last time, each group gets a clue and I adjust based on the number of groups. I make sure I do small lock clue then large lock clue so they have to wait until all groups finish to open both locks.

I found this super cute detective border at pageborders.org if you want to find something to theme around. The unique font I used was KG Broken Vessels Sketch and you can download from dafont.com for free here! 

These clues will remain in place as long as I have this Google account so you may have your kids use them.  REMEMBER.... if you copy them it will change all the QR Codes so you will need to recreate everything (I think!)

Everything you need to escape any assignment AGAIN can be found here for FREE!!  

Enjoy!
Lisa

Harry Potter Graphing

Wizardingly quick post for my Harry Potter themed graphing activity. Just this year I discovered the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and am now imposing it on all my students. I love having a theme in assignments and Quidditch made a great goal for this needed skill.

My geometry team specifically needs the graphing skill of a point and slope but not in the formula. I like to make assignments that are also formative assessment where students know right away if they are doing it correctly. All the lines intersect and bludger or the snitch!

Get the worksheet here for free! I have it in both Word and PDF. If you are interested in the font, it is free on dafont.com!

Hopefully this will be the first of other Wizarding graphing activities!

Enjoy!

Lisa

Pygmy Puff Project

For the past 2 years, I have done a Pumpkin Project for linear equations that is incredible! One of the most amazing resources I ever purchased was the Algebra 1 Curriculum from Algebra Accents on Teachers Pay Teachers!  She also sales a lot of very useful bundles and individual activities.  The Linear Equations 3D Pumpkin Garland is worth every single penny!  I highly recommend it!

As I planned this year, I realized the number of repeaters I have means I needed to do something different.  Always, and I mean ALWAYS inspired by Algebra Accents, I decided to create a project with similar construction but based on the needs of my students.

Something round-ish... something that could be done at any time... most importantly, something that I could use a lot of colors of paper on because we are out of orange!

And this year, I discovered the magic of Harry Potter!

And we have a Pygmy Puff Project!

I have included 4 different types of linear function graphing with 5 pages each. That is over 600 possible versions!

The types of equations include:
     -Slope-Intercept Form
     -Point-Slope Form
     -Standard Form
     -Graphing from a Point and a Slope

These are the ones that my students needed for their future math class so I designed it with input from my colleagues.  The Harry potter theme was all my nerdiness.

I put 2 problems on each page for 5 different pages you could use for each type of problem.  As always, ALL are EDITABLE! 

I also saved in PDF in case you like the font and cannot download. The font was called Harry P and is FREE on dafont.com! 

I've included a picture collage of the physical construction as well as the feet and face template. Get all my resources for Free here! 

I will add more pictures and reflection as my students complete it but wanted to share in case you could use it.  

As always, please let me know if you have any feedback!

Enjoy!
Lisa