Testing, Testing . . . 1, 2, 3 . . .

During the next two weeks, you will have the opportunity to demonstrate the depth of your knowledge of one topic we’ve done this year using the format of your choice. You may choose from the following activities

·  Drawing a Cartoon

·  Performing a Demonstration/making a model

·  Creating a Story/Poem

·  Singing a Song

·  Role-Playing a Situation

·  Alternative Idea Pre-approved by teacher

Drawing a Cartoon

Summary: / This project must contain a comic strip that demonstrates or explains a mathematical technique or concept.
Requirements: / The comic strip must contain...
·  eight panels minimum [theMacNellycartoon above contains only three panels],
·  clearly drawn characters,
·  an explanation of a mathematical technique, concept, or rule,
·  element(s) of humor, irony, drama, ...

Performing a demonstration/making a model

Summary: / This project is appropriate for students who enjoy showing people how to do new things and/or creating models. This may involve building something using algebra or some other physical demonstration that illustrates a mathematical principle.
Requirements: / The demonstration must contain...
·  a physical model, prop, object, or product,
·  a detailed demonstration that explains a process involving some mathematical principle, property or concept, typed, in writing

Creating a story or poem

Summary: / This project is appropriate for those who enjoy using writing to express a mathematical principle and/or concept.
Requirements: / The writing project must contain...
·  two typed pages of story or poem that explain or describe a mathematical principle and/or concept,
·  a parody of an existing poem or story or an original work,
·  an emotional delivery [dramatic, humorous, ...]

Singing a Song

Summary: / This project is appropriate for those who enjoy using their singing talents to express a mathematical principle and/or concept.
Requirements: / The singing project must contain...
·  one typed page of lyrics that explain or describe a mathematical principle and/or concept,
·  a parody of an existing song
·  an emotional delivery [dramatic, humorous, ...]

Role-Playing a situation/skit

Summary: / This project is appropriate for those who enjoy being creative in front of an audience.
Requirements: / The role-playing project must contain...
·  a four page typed script that explains or describes a mathematical principle and/or concept,
·  a parody of an existing theatrical performance or an original work,
·  a professional delivery [dramatic, humorous, informative, ...]

SCORING RUBRIC

Factor / Weak ---- Strong
Creativity / 012345
Difficulty Rating / 012345
Math Content / 012345
Neatness / 012345
Clarity / 012345
Once the factors are determined the sum will be multiplied by two to determine the points for the project.

Projects will be worth a maximum of 50 points based on the areas below:

Creativity is a measure of originality. The difficulty rating is based on the type of project that is chosen and how much work had to go into creating it. Math content is a value determined by the amount and depth of subject matter that is within the project. Neatness is a number that represents organization and cleanliness. Clarity represents how easy it was to understand the math and the overall goal of the created work.

For example, let’s say Al Gebur sings a song for his project. He writes instead of types the lyrics, which contain creative verses that explain how to vaguely solve an equation, and then sings the song flawlessly in front of the class. He could earn a 4 for creativity, a 5 for difficulty, a 3 for math content, a 3 for neatness and a 3 for clarity. Peter would earn 2(4 + 5 + 3 + 3 + 3) = 38 points. 38/50 points is 76%. After the 5 extra credit points for presenting, Peter would earn an 81%.

On the other hand, Geo Mahtry creates a well-worded story that involved extending factoring to equations that we haven’t learned yet. However, the plot of his story was not very interesting. George would earn a 3 for creativity, a 3 for difficulty, a 5 for math content, a 5 for neatness but a 5 for clarity. Geo would earn 2(3 + 3 + 5 + 5 + 5) = 42 points. 42/50 points is a 84%.