Monday, March 31, 2014

Assignment for Monday, March 31

Homework:  M&M Percents
You will need your data and the class data for this assignment.  If you left them at school, there is nothing I can do to help you! Get them tomorrow and catch back up.  The link for the assignment sheet itself is HERE.
Notes:
*You must set up each color as a proportion to solve it.
*You may (should probably) use a calculator, but you may NOT use the percent key.
*Round as you feel is appropriate.
*Answer the questions thoroughly ... some of you are getting a bit too brief and I cannot read your minds!
Due Tuesday for a sticker

M&M Packets will be due Thursday of this week.  I will give you a checklist tomorrow so you can check through and make sure you still have all of the pieces; there is a little bit more to come.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Homework for Thursday, 3/27

Assignment: May I Take Your Order, pg 85
If you forgot to pick up this assignment (or lost it), then you will need to pick it up from the front of the classroom tomorrow.  This one does not convert easily to a Google-document, sorry.
*Make sure you list the numbers from least to greatest; you may NOT "number" the numbers.
*My preference would be that you list the original numbers on the line no matter what conversions you have completed.  The reason being that if you convert incorrectly to compare them, I won't recognize which number you used.  Make sense?  However ...
*You may use the converted numbers as long as they are accurately converted.
*It does not matter if you change decimals to fractions or vice versa when ordering your lists.
Due Friday

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Homework for Wednesday, March 26

Assignment:  Ratio and Proportion pg 18
It is important to recognize that the work we are doing has a future: labeling the pieces of your ratios and proportions helps you to organize the work and thus keep track of what you are doing.  This is one of those things you have to trust me on, also knowing that when Laurel visited the classroom last week she emphasized how much this helped her be ahead of her classmates in college chemistry!
*Set up all of your problems as proportions.
*I recommend putting a "?" (or any variable) in the spot of the information you are seeking.
*LABEL each part of the proportion with letters that represent the information.
*SHOW all of your work ... no calculators are allowed at this level of arithmetic ... seriously.
*Check your answer - does it make sense with the information?
It's not enough to be able to DO arithmetic if you cannot USE it!
Due Thursday

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Homework for Tuesday, March 25

Assignments:  M&M Papers 
These two assignments should be completed PRIOR to school for on-time stickers -
a) 5 stack bars
 - completely colored and labeled
b) Observations about the Bags 
 - questions thoroughly answered
Remember that your answers need to CONVINCE me that you are correct, so convince me.  Cite data, give examples, and essentially prove what you think ... if I'm convinced, you're good, but if I'm not ... then I'm not.  ;-)
Due Wednesday for on-time stickers
(please keep on the corner of your desk)

Monday, March 24, 2014

Homework for Monday, March 24

Assignment:  Supermarket Math ws 
Well, do you love ratios or not yet?  You should!
Be sure to follow these steps:
1) You must set them up as proportions
2) You must label
3) You must show your work
Your answer can come in one of two forms:
a) labeled and circled within the proportion
b) listed with the variable as in, x = 5 coyotes.
Due Tuesday

Friday, March 21, 2014

This Weekend of March

Hello Green Congress students!  I hope you had a great experience today.  Here are the things we did in class:
Math - We began comparing our individual stack bars to others and finding various similarities and differences.  We will continue this on Monday, so come prepared to catch up.
Quiz Bowl Questions - Due Wednesday
1) Inventions (name the inventor and some clues about the invention)
2) Animals (the answer may be the name of the animal or anything about an animal, but don't make it too obscure to guess)
3) Popular Middle School (young adult) books:  List the first two (at least) sentences in a book; include the author as a hint.
4) Potpourri (you name it!)

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Homework for Thursday, March 20

Assignments:  Stack Bars & Central Tendencies
I hope you are checking here as questions arise while you are doing your homework ... it's the purpose of this blog!
Stack Bars:  You will create two identical stack bars representing your bag
*Be sure to use the scale at the top of the page
*Be sure to work up from blue (at the bottom) to yellow (at the top)
*Do NOT leave white spaces in between colors; your colors should be stacked and the top value should be equal to the number of M&Ms that were in your bag.
*Be sure to color accurately
*You should have a scale up the side of the bars, but the increments you choose are up to you (every 10, every 2, etc.)
*You may also use number labels on the stack bars if they help you
Central Tendencies ws:  fill in the data tables
*Questions 1 - 4: If there is more than one color with the same range, choose ONE of the colors to answer the questions.
*Mode - if there is more than one mode, list them all
*Median - if the answer is a decimal, write it as a decimal
*Mean - You MAY use a caclulator for this set.  (I certainly would)  Answers should be in decimal form, but you can round to the first or second decimal place (your choice).
*For #5 - Just look at the 3 central tendency tables and the table you made for your self to determine which one best represents how your bag was.  It is entirely possible that none of them look like your bag or all of them; you still need to select one, but in your discussion of why you chose that table, be sure to address how yours is in fact very different.  Note:  This is about noting the similarities as well as the differences ... there is not one right answer, but there may be wrong ones, so defend your choice!
Due Friday - bring to class for on-time stickers
*Green Congress people must turn in their two worksheets in the room #1 basket prior to leaving in order to get your on-time stickers..

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Homework for Wednesday, March 19

Assignment:  Organized Lists and Box Plots
We did the blue together in class today, but now you need to figure out the rest!  Be prepared to discuss what you see tomorrow ... and be creative in your thinking.
*A copy of the organized list chart is on this link.
*Make sure your box plots are neat, accurate, and colored.  Crooked lines won't cut it when the point of a box plot is being able to SEE what the lines represent.  Use graph paper for the box plots.
These are worth 2 on-time sticker points tomorrow.  Remember: complete them BEFORE you get to school or sacrifice the stickers.
Due Thursday

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Homework for Tuesday, March 18

Assignment:  M&M pages 1 and 2
There will be points assigned tomorrow for completed homework that cannot be made up.  Be prepared at the beginning of class!
1) What's in the Bag? (link to a blank copy)
Complete this assignment including the histogram in alphabetical order and in color.
Part-to-whole ratios should be in simplest form; some of them may already BE in simplest form.
*Part = the number of that color
*Whole = the number of M&Ms in the whole bag
2) Class Chart (link to a blank copy)
This should contain the data from YOUR period.
NOTE TO PERIOD ONE:  ALEX & OLIVER ADDED INCORRECTLY.  Please fix the bag totals on your class chart to match the numbers they gave us per color.
Charts with your class numbers are on these links:
*PERIOD ONE
*PERIOD TWO
You will not turn these in tomorrow because you need the data, but you will get the on-time sticker for points if it's done before class ... not within the first minutes of class or during Language Arts.
Due Wednesday

Monday, March 17, 2014

Homework for Monday, St. Paddy's Day

Assignment:  Daily Ratios pg 26
Read the story about Ray and use the information to determine the ratios that follow.
Make sure that you give the ratios in the order that they are written.
Make sure that you provide both the actual and simplified (when necessary) ratios.
Sorry, but I'm not typing out this worksheet for you, you will have to pick up another copy in the classroom if you forgot/lost yours!
Due Tuesday

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Homework for Thursday, March 13

Assignment:  Probability & Statistics 44
Problems 1 - 4 review using the data to determine central tendencies.
Problems 5 - 7 introduces the idea of a spinner for determining probability.  Think of each section of the spinner as an equal part and write your answer as a fraction in simplest form.
Problem 8 will require you to use a tree diagram or other visual to determine the possibilities.  PLEASE SHOW YOUR WORK!
Short and pretty sweet.
Due Friday
*Sam, this is a short assignment that will probably be easy enough to just make up rather than have me create an online copy.  Please let me know if you want me to though.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Homework for Wednesday, March 12

Assignment:  Dice Homework options
Rather than reprint the entire options sheet here, please use the title of the assignment to link to the actual worksheet.  What today's blog is for is addressing any questions that may crop up as you select your homework.
A)  You are only required to select ONE of the homework options.
B)  You are not limited to the outline or questions provided in the options, but please err on the side of doing MORE than doing less.
C)  Explain your thinking clearly and use details to make your points.  Err on the side of saying MORE than doing less.
D) Using visuals to prove your theories and/or points is totally awesome, but you still need written responses.
E) Therefore anything that inspires you whether it creates new questions you want to try to answer or more experimental rolls you want to try, go for it. This includes any questions that you think of that you don't want to bother answering, but you find the questions interesting to think about.
Are you interested in doing the Excel graphs too?  Click here for those directions.
Due Thursday - the graphs you made in class today AND the work for the option you select.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Homework for Tuesday, March 11

Assignment: Taking Chances on the River
*Please read the instructions on this worksheet and take your time! 
*Finish the table with the 36 possible rolls for two dice (we went over these in class today). Rolls should be written as (1, 3) and also (3, 1) for example.
*Have a method to your madness ... it will be easier to answer the questions if you can find the possibilities easily. Your table must be complete for full credit.  You do have the option of creating a table using the bar graph format (that I put on the board in class) but it must be completely filled out in order to count as your table.  You can do this on the back of your worksheet or on another sheet of paper, but be sure to actually turn it in!
*USE THE TABLE you create to answer these questions. Some of them are NOT intuitive!
*Answers should be written as probabilities (part to whole) or the probability that something will happen out of the 36 tries. 
*P stands for "probability of" something happening. For example, if the question is P(3,3) it is asking you how many times you theoretically will roll 3 and 3 in 36 rolls. The answer would be 1:36 or 1/36: there is only one place in your table where 3,3 is listed.
*"difference of" means that the difference between the two dice is the given number, for another example. Read the questions out loud to yourself and you will know what the question is asking.
*Answers must be simplified for full credit, otherwise you will receive 1/2 credit.
*There no copies of this worksheet available online today. 
Due Wednesday

Monday, March 10, 2014

Homework for Monday, March 10

Assignment:  Strategies and Theory
This is the first homework of the trimester, so do your best to start off on the right foot!
It is complete, 1/2 complete (lame responses or partially done), or incomplete.
There are no "late" or redo versions of this assignment.
*On the back of your game board, please complete the following:
1) The strategy you used in the first game before you had any idea what we were doing.  Obviously it wasn't much of a strategy, but WHY did you place your beans where you did?!?
2) Your strategy for game #2.  When you prepared to play the second game, did you change where you placed your beans?  Why or why not?  What did you consider?
3) WHAT do you think we are doing?  Did you research it, ask someone, or just take your best logical guess?  In other words, this is math ... so what math do you think it is?
4) Strategy #3.  Where specifically will you place your beans for game #3 tomorrow and why.  Have you changed your strategy from game #1 or #2?  Much?  A little?  Absolutely not?  Explain!
Due Tuesday (only)

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Winterim Week

This week is going to be FUN, trust me!
My best advice to you is to come to school on time and be dressed for any weather, whether or not your activity is outside.
However, IF your activity is outside, you need to assume it will rain, rain, and rain ... and you will be in that rain for over 2 hours.  Prepare well.  ;-)

I have been entering some spring classes into TeacherEase, but the process is slow and will take all week.  Thank you for being patient.  I also can't quite tell how it shows up for you ... some of it seems to say, "spring" and some of it does not.  Maybe you will just have to figure out which classes you do not have now and see what's new?  If there is an option for a "printable schedule," I am sure that will at least show you which slots are filled.  But anyway, keep checking.  We will have an actual printed schedule for you on Monday when classes begin.

Congratulations on a wonderful season for our NOVA basketball and volleyball teams!  Carl, Mr. Jeff, and I had a lot of fun coaching you and watching you play.  Remember that volleyball sign-ups are still happening at the downtown YMCA and soccer sign-ups will happen AT school the week after Winterim.

Have a great week; I will be seeing you around the building!
Mo ;-)