Seminar 3
Maths and Science
How to teach a lesson:
Use PPP method the same as you would with any other lesson.
Presentation, Practice, Produce.
However, when it comes to maths there has to be a difference between practice and production. Even though the practice will have to be simple sums done with you, try to make the production section a little more fun.
How to make it fun
The key thing with maths is making it fun. The child may not like the subject if they see it as boring, particularly if they are not very good at it, this works both ways.
Try to relate it do real life situations –
e.g. going to the cinema
- how many films did you see
- how much did it cost
- get them to write it down and can do money work or decimals
Times table grid
Try to make it practical wherever possible, use puzzles, something they have to solve.
Maths – Nets Cubes, cuboid, square based pyramid
See if they can guess what the shape is from the net, then get them to make it.
Shapes – can go on to study bridges, triangle the strongest shape.
Can use patterns to teach the language of maths:
-tessellations
-curve
-shapes
For example: teaching fractions
-can use logic puzzles
-I am standing in a room with no windows and no doors, only a table and a saw. How do I escape?
-Cut the table in half – put the two halves together – two halves make a whole, so put it on the wall and jump through it!
For more examples we have a great book in the Jacari library – Maths curse
For older kids it will be more difficult. It is not likely that we will put a non-mathematician with a more advanced student.
If you do have a more advanced learner then we have some great revision guides in the Jacari office and they will be able to tell you what they need to know. Revision guides and the internet are the best way to see how to teach it.
Science is easier to make practical and fun.
Here are some ideas that can be tailored to different ages. They should, again, be able to tell you what they have done at school, what they need to know but there are always revision guides to fall back on.
Can often put maths and science together – e.g. graphing things
Can make maths a bit more interesting – straight forward sums they can do at school and although it is good at times it can get a bit boring, especially if the child does not like the subject.
Propulsion – Let a balloon go
–paper aeroplanes with different wing sizes
–Measure distances and plot on graph – link to maths.
-can go on to talk about jet engines or hot air balloons for more advanced kids.
Gases- Limewater – can be bought from a pharmacy – blowing into it through a straw makes it go cloudy shows CO2 is present
Levers– ruler fulcrum- move the fulcrum and see how it changes the force needed
- can relate it to things around the house, screwdriver to open paint, a spade, bottle opener, scissors, seesaw
Insulation– hot water in flasks cover each in different materials
-newspaper, bubble wrap,
-can do it technically using a thermometer at set intervals and graph it or do it more simply just see which one cools down first.
Density- surface tension of water
-what shapes float and why?
-Does the material make a difference?
Magnetism- attach it to different materials see which are magnetic
Gravity– make a parachute and attach a soldier or weight
-can try making several out of different materials
-different sizes
-put a small hole in the centre
-time how long they take to fall – again can graph outcomes or keep it simple.
-Could take it further and study how real parachutes are made
Friction/Gravity – how fast a car runs down a slope
-can make slope steeper
-can change the surface of the slope – see if this makes a difference
-graphs if desired.
Parts of the flower – collect some flowers from the garden
-draw it and label
-can go on to pollination
Parts of the body – draw them and label
-for more advanced can go on to enzymes or digestion
Classification of living things – simply for younger kids using flow chart and food chain diagrams but it can be made more complex for older children by including more technical terminology. Vertebrates/Invertebrates
Growing- mustard seeds
-plants in the dark/light
-show plants moving towards the light – can make this as easy or simple as you need
-beans in a jar
-Draw it measure it, graph it each week
Light– draw round your sillouette if sunny
Time– why time changes
-what time is it in home country
Make a simple weather vein
Lifecycles – butterfly/frog
Fingerprints
Eyes
Compass– take it outside and see where sun rises and sets – which way does the house face?
-go on to how they work – other methods of navigation??
For older children, they will be doing exams so they will be able to tell you what to know and you will have access to revision guides.
Just use anything you can to help them, practical things are best, its easier to learn by doing. Keep an eye out for anything that you can use to help, you’d be surprised at what you can use.
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