Grade 7: Putting Math Skills on the Calendar
For weeks, seventh graders asked teacher Camille James, “When can we start the calendar project?” The popular assignment, due Monday, culminates three weeks of work that challenges math learners.
For weeks, seventh graders asked teacher Camille James, “When can we start the calendar project?” The popular assignment, due Monday, culminates three weeks of work that challenges math learners.
“Students choose a month of 2016 and create an algebraic equation for each day,” explains Camille. “The solution has to match the calendar date.” For example, the answer to a problem in the July 1 box is one.
The hardest part of the project, students agree, was writing the equations and solving them. “I spent about 30 minutes a day for three weeks on my equations,” shares Joaquin Abarca. “I wanted a balance of easy and difficult equations.”
The fun part was choosing a theme and designing the posters. Joaquin chose November and used a presidential elections theme. Katharine Merrifield picked a beach theme for June and decorated with seashells. Her classmate Marin Bomgaars wanted to solve for October so she could have a haunted house with spooky veiled windows for each calendar day.
On the back of their posters, students included each equation and its solution. “I like this assignment because it takes a lot of critical thinking to make up these problems,” says Camille. “But the other part is for students to have fun with math and use the creative side of their brains.”
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Graland Country Day School
Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.
