ERIC Number: EJ898227
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Aug
Pages: 3
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1073-5836
EISSN: N/A
Problem Solvers: Problem--How Long Can You Stand?
Teaching Children Mathematics, v17 n1 p8-10 Aug 2010
Healthy lifestyles are increasingly emphasized these days. This month the authors begin a series of mathematical problems that also address physical activity. They hope that these problems offer opportunities to investigate mathematics and also reinforce the desire to lead a healthy life. In their first problem of the academic year, students examine their sense of balance by measuring how long they can stand on each foot with their eyes closed. This experiment follows the research-based model, in which students pose a question, then collect, analyze, and interpret (PCAI) data. By offering students experiences to estimate how long a minute is, teachers deepen students' understanding of time and duration as well as help students develop estimation and reasoning skills. The mathematical power of this problem occurs in the postobservation activities when teachers support students' analyses and interpretations of various data representations. Problem solvers activity sheet is included.
Descriptors: Physical Activities, Problem Solving, Mathematics Instruction, Life Style, Experiential Learning, Relevance (Education), Computation, Thinking Skills, Mathematical Logic, Teaching Methods, Elementary School Students
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. 1906 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191-1502. Tel: 800-235-7566; Tel: 703-620-3702; Fax: 703-476-2970; e-mail: orders@nctm.org; Web site: http://www.nctm.org/publications/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A