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Big Math Ideas Across Grades 2-8

 

About the project

The project is led by George Gadanidis (UWO) and Janette Hughes (UOIT), with research assistants Sarah Tolley (UOIT) and Ricardo Scucuglia (UWO). The project is part of a SSHRC-funded project (2008-2011) on Students as Performance Mathematicians by George Gadanidis (UWO), Marcelo Borba (UNESP, Brazil), Susan Gerofsky (UBC), Cornelia Hoogland (UWO), and Janette Hughes (UOIT).

The project involves teachers and students in grades 2-8 and uses mathematics activities of the type found the in the Guides to Effective Instruction in Mathematics (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2008). We chose activities that have a low floor and a high ceiling. That is, activities that can be accessed with minimal mathematical knowledge but can easily be extended and made more complex mathematically. Starting with the same core mathematical ideas, teachers work with the project team to develop activities suitable for students at the different grade levels.

We started with two algebra activities discussed in the Ontario Ministry of Education Guides: Sums of Odd Numbers and Making 10. Teachers met for one day prior to the using the activities in their classroom to personally engage with the mathematics involved and to collaboratively plan the first set of activities.

The project goals include the following:

  • Help teachers implement mathematics activities of the type found the in the Guides to Effective Instruction in Mathematics
  • Help teachers explore how mathematical ideas develop across the grades.
  • Help students (and teachers) experience mathematics that engages their imagination and motivates them share their learning with others. As a teacher commented, “I learned that math can be discussed with your family and friends just like you would a favourite book or new movie.”
  • Help students learn how to ‘perform’ (communicate) complex mathematical ideas in compelling ways, using the Arts (story, drama, poetry, song, and artwork). See one of the music videos.

About the classroom activities

See the teacher interviews: