Algebra versus Cockroaches

This fun game from HotMaths requires you to use linear equations to knock out cockroaches on a cartesian plane. Choose a weapon and determine the equation of the line, which represents the path of a weapon, that is used to destroy cockroaches. Draw on your knowledge of the gradient and y-intercept of a line. There are different levels which get progressively harder as you move through the levels. Hints and a printable report, outlining your progress, are also available. Let me know what you learnt in the comments below.

Slopes and Equations of lines from Geogebra  has a series of five activities which begin with asking you to choose two points on the given line, then following the instructions and using the rule for gradient, calculate the gradient. The next activities ask you to find the gradient from a line you create and the last two activities require you to find the equation of the line. Good luck and have fun! Let me know how you go in the comment section. Which of the two sites helped you to learn more about gradient and linear equations?

Multo – a maths game for middle years

multo_cards

This fun game helps students to remember their times tables and understand what prime numbers are. Print out cards with each of the timestables from 0 x 0 to 9 x 9. Students draw up 4 x 4 grids and place 16 numbers from zero up to 81 in the boxes. The teacher calls out the timestable cards randomly, while students cross the answer the sum called off their grids. If they get four numbers in a line (column, row, diagonally) or four corners they call “MULTO“!

Which numbers should not be used in the grids and why? What numbers are most likely to be called and why?

Algebra machine

algebra_machine

Screenshot from Learning Today

This maths game is about a machine that changes numbers – what has happened to the numbers in the table above? We will also be using balance scales as a model for algebra learning. This virtual manipulative shows how to add and subtract from both sides of the equation to find an unknown.  Over the next few weeks in Term 4 you will be learning algebra – using letters to represent numbers in equations. As always, the BBC  KS3 Bitesize site has excellent activities and games to help you learn about algebra, including formulas, equations, graphs, number patterns and linear sequences. I would like you to work through these activities at your own pace and ask questions as required. When you do the tests, take a screen shot and email your results to me at my gmail address. If you are finding the problems too difficult, try the BBC KS2 activities  (Number) or some of the activities from the National Library of  Virtual Manipulatives instead.

Another interesting maths game is at MathMovesU. “MathMovesU is an interactive virtual world where middle school students can interact with algebra, geometry, decimals, fractions, and word problems through topics they are passionate about like sports, music, and fashion.  As students navigate through MathMovesU they will encounter math problems delivered through games, polls, and fun facts.  The site is a great supplement to curriculum and will help students practice and improve their math skills in a fun, engaging manner.” from iLearn Technology.

Fun in the Holidays!

 

Lure_of_the_labyrinth

Today is the last day of term 3 and you have two weeks holiday before term 4 starts. While you are away, there are lots of things you can do to practise your maths learning:

  1. Go onto Mathletics and do the assigned tasks as well as games with other students around the world.
  2. Check out “Lure of the Labyrinth“, a game-based site for problem solving. This digital game for middle-school, pre-algebra students. It includes math-based puzzles wrapped into a narrative game in which students work to find their lost pet – and save the world from monsters. Linked to the national and state mathematics standards of USA and Maryland, it includes puzzles and games about proportion, ratio, fractions, operations and solving for variables.
  3. Scroll through this blog and look for some of the links to great maths games and interactives. leave me a comment to let me know which ones you liked best and what you have learnt.
  4. Do your Mathsmate homework sheet early – and look for some of the skill builders to help you solve those tricky problems that you always seem to get wrong.