Question of the Week

We recently started doing questions of the week.  We have a bulletin board at the front of the classroom and we put up a sign with the question.  Under the sign is a tissue box wrapped in construction paper that says Answers, there are little papers and pencils in front of the box.

I didn't get to talk about square root day yesterday - S' Science fair activity for the week took a lot of explanation.  So I will use it as my question of the week.  During circle time we will go over last week's question of the week: "What was your favorite part of the movie Planet Earth?"  I will randomly select one answer and that student will get to choose an origami prize.  Then I will introduce the new question:

Math days!

March 3rd, 2009 was 3/3/09.  

That date is a square root: 3x3=9

A square root is any number multiplied by itself*

K-2: Can you come up with a date this year that is a math problem?

ex. June 3rd, 2009: 6/3/09, 6+3= 9

3rd: Can you come up with a date, past or future, that is a multiplication or division problem?

ex. February 1st, 2002: 2/1/02, 2x1=2

4th-6th: Can you come up with another date, past or future, that is a square root?

*I will give the older kids a fuller and more accurate description of square roots, this simplified idea is for the benefit of all the kids. 

Happy Square Root Day!

My mom just called to let me know it's square root day. 3.3.09 - three is the square root of nine, three times three equals nine.  I think it's pretty cool.  My kids are too young to have encountered square roots, but the older ones do know factors.  I will tell them today is a factor day and ask if any of them can come up with any future or past factor days (since this is the only one this year).  

Yay math!