ERIC Number: EJ1123001
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Dec
Pages: 9
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1072-0839
EISSN: N/A
The Cake Contest
Haberern, Colleen
Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, v22 n5 p274-282 Dec 2016
With the adoption of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM), many teachers are changing their classroom structure from teacher-directed to student-centered. When the author began designing and using problem-based tasks she saw a drastic improvement in student engagement and problem-solving skills. The author describes the Cake Contest, in which her students used a 3D printer and geometry software, along with various volume formulas, to design a tiered cake. This problem-based task was completed by seventh-grade students working in groups of three or four. Tasks like the Cake Contest help reinforce concepts previously learned and provide a real purpose for using them.
Descriptors: Common Core State Standards, Problem Based Learning, Instructional Innovation, Instructional Effectiveness, Geometry, Courseware, Mathematical Formulas, Grade 7, Problem Solving, Mathematics Activities, Mathematics Achievement, Cooperative Learning, Teaching Methods, Mathematical Concepts, Concept Teaching, Task Analysis
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. 1906 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191. Tel: 800-235-7566; Tel: 703-620-9840; Fax: 703-476-2570; e-mail: NCTM@nctm.org; Web site: http://www.nctm.org/publications/mathematics-teaching-in-the-middle-school/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Grade 7; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Elementary Education; Secondary Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Connecticut
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A