October 22, 2007

Math

Mysteries

Backpack Math

Dear First Grade Parent / Guardian,

Our class is excited to offer a unique enrichment activity for you to use at home with your child! Parents often recognize the benefits of reading aloud to young children on a regular basis. However, this same kind of attention is sometimes neglected in regards to math activities due to lack of ideas, resources, or manipulatives. That is why I want to offer you a unique opportunity to work with your child at home on basic math concepts in a fun and interesting way!I am enlisting your help as a detective assigned to various cases that can be solved using basic math skills and application.

Our class has six backpacks that will be coming home on a rotating basis. Each child in the classroom will have an opportunity to take a backpack home several times this year. This backpack contains a binder with various activities as well as the directions and all the materials needed for completing them at home. In the backpack, you will also find a CD-Rom to use if you have access to a computer as well as a DVD with short math videos both created and produced by the STLP students of RobertB.TurnerElementary School.

Each week, on Wednesday, 6 students will be selected to take a backpack home. You may keep the backpack at home and return it on the following Monday. This is for enrichment, not for a grade. Feel free to complete as many or as few activities as you would like. At the end of your time, the backpack should be returned to school with all materials and completed activities.

After solving each “case” with your child, you will write your initials in the appropriate space on the “Detective Record Sheet” and return it with the backpack, completed “cases”, and other materials to school. Students’ “Detective Record Sheets” will be posted in the classroom, and students will be celebrated for completion of the activities by being promoted through the ranks of detective (beginning with Detective, then moving to Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Chief, and finally Commissioner). If you have any questions regarding this at-home enrichment activity, feel free to contact me. Have fun and good luck solving those cases!

Mr. Wells

Math

Mysteries

Dear First Grade Parent / Guardian,

Our class is excited to offer this unique enrichment activity for you to use at home with your child! Parents often recognize the benefits of reading aloud to young children on a regular basis. However, this same kind of attention is sometimes neglected in regards to math activities due to lack of ideas, resources, or manipulatives. That is why we want to offer you some unique opportunities to work with your child on basic math concepts in a fun and interesting way!

This backpack contains a binder with various activities as well as the directions for completing themat home. In the backpack, you may also find a CD-Rom to use if you have access to a computer as well as a DVD with short math videos both created and produced by the STLP students of RobertB.TurnerElementary School.

This is for enrichment, not for a grade. Feel free to complete as many or as few as you would like. After solving each “case” with your child, write your initials in the appropriate space on the “Detective Record Sheet” and return it with the backpack, completed “cases,” and other materials to schoolby Monday. Students’ “Detective Record Sheets” will be posted in the classroom, and students will be celebrated for completion of the activities by being promoted through the ranks of detective(beginning with Detective, then moving to Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Chief, and finally Commissioner). Be sure to look over the checklist before returning the backpack to school to insure that everything is returned. If you have any questions regarding this at-home enrichment activity, feel free to contact me. Have fun and good luck solving those cases!

Mr. Wells

Math

Mysteries

Backpack Contents

(Before returning the backpack to school, please check for the following items)

“Math Mysteries” Binder with the following activities:

  • Front Binder Pocket:
  • Detective Record Sheet (Fill out and return)
  • Parent & Student Survey (Fill out and return)
  • Sheets of 12 white dot stickers (For “Ten Black Dots” Activity)
  • Informational Letter
  • Backpack Contents Checklist
  • Case of the Missing Pearls(To be completed after watching the DVD)
  • Student Copy
  • Case of the Missing Sums(To be completed after watching the DVD)
  • Case of the Sums Unraveled(To be completed after watching the DVD)
  • Case of the Ten Black Dots(To be completed after watching the DVD)
  • Student Story Page
  • Case of the Missing Pattern Blocks
  • Case of the Mixed-Up Counting Chips
  • Student Copy
  • Case of the Blank Number Cubes
  • Student Copy
  • Case of the Stolen Cookies
  • Student Copy

The Following Manipulatives and Detective Supplies

  • 1 DVD in a case
  • 1 Set of Addition Flash Cards (0-10)
  • 1 Number Line
  • 1 Set of Addition Wrap-ups
  • Pattern Blocks(10red, 10blue, 10white, 10green, 10yellow, 10orange)
  • 10 Two-Sided Counting Chips (red and yellow)
  • 3 Number Cubes or Dice
  • 1 Student Agent Badge
  • 1 Mini Magnifying Glass

**Please complete and return the survey with the backpack. Any activities completed on paper may be placed together with the “Detective Record Sheet” in the back pocket of the binder to be returned to school.