Ninja Math Puzzles

How is your suit of diamonds coming?  I'm excited to see if you can make them all happen! 

For those not in the know, we worked on a puzzle problem... Can you take a piece of paper the size of a playing card, and by folding it just so, make a single cut and then open the paper up to have a diamond cut in the middle like the Ace of Diamonds?  How about a 2, that's a little harder?  Now how about a 5, or 7?  We figured out some of them.  A couple, Trey and Adam did and then showed the rest of us.  But we ran out of time to finish the entire suit. 

This is math!  This is origami (geometry), logic, and more.  Math, even what might seem boring and frustrating at times (like a page of quadratic equations or long division), is really just a series of puzzles to solve.  If you change your mindset, you can make it more enjoyable!!

The Secrets of Mental Math, can make math more enjoyable and feel like fun puzzles.  Make practicing your type of mental math problem a game.  Start with wowing a younger sibling, maybe.  Or just time yourself a few times and see if you can get better, alone in the backyard ;)  The book is due next class, on April 14th.  That's the last day of this FUN math unit.  You need to have the book read/completed by that next class period, in 2 weeks.  But you can continue working on your speed and prowess with the type of mental math problem you choose.

Katie and Trey, you have 2 more weeks to polish your presentations.  If you're struggling with the broad topic you have chosen, pick a subset of it to focus on, research and prepare to teach us.  Please work on it, practice and be ready to impress us with your new knowledge!

Finally, keep strong on your Ninja Training missions!  There's just 6 weeks left til the end of the semester.  So finish this training mission and we'll have one more.

Oh, one more thing that goes with my first item...

Check out these websites for more fun!  One of them is where I found the diamond playing cards puzzle.

www.storyofmathematics.com

nrich.maths.org (Click on the student "Secondary" buttons at the top)

www.coolmaths.com

Math in your head!

So today we discussed the fact that really knowing the times tables is super important for our abilities to function with even basic math.  Knowing many of the tricks that are taught in The Secrets of Mental Math, will make shopping, banking, and other day to day aspects of math so much easier.

How do you do any of those things?  Practice!  Practice, practice and yeah... more practice.  There are tricks of course... like the cool things about 9s.  Or remembering that any even number times 5 will always end in a 0.  Anything multiplied by 4 is just multiplied by 2 and then 2 again.  Or even the silly trick I told you that I use: 6x9 is the same as 6x10 - 6, or 54.  And since the other weird multiplication number to remember is 7x8, that one is 56 (and not 54, like I'm sometimes inclined to think).  I've been practicing.  Adam already chose squaring 2-digit numbers, but it's such a cool trick that I've been doing it a little every day, too.  I'm pretty good with anything that ends in 5-0, but for some reason have a harder time with things that end in 1-4.  So still working on it.  But I'll get there.

So this week, keep reading through chapter 5.  Work on your Ninja Training (stepping it up).  And pick your mathemagic skill to start working on.  And do your math worksheet, timing it.  Do that TODAY, if you haven't already.  While you're practicing all your math skills during this unit, you're going to improve your abilities!  But of course, you actually have to practice for that to work.

Becoming a math wiz!

Ok, so math isn't the favorite subject of any of you in class.  But I hope this unit will make it a little more enjoyable!

I thought it was fun to learn about Fibonacci's numbers, his 3 wishes and the Golden Spiral.  Have you seen Fibonacci numbers in your life anywhere this week?  They're all around, especially in nature.

The book we're reading, Secrets of Mental Math: The Mathemagician's Guide to Lightning Calculation and Amazing Math Tricks, is a fun way to learn how to do more math in your head, solve problems quickly, and maybe even wow your friends.  One reviewer on Amazon even said that she used it as a professional tutor to help people prepare for the SAT.  Want to see Arthur Benjamin (the author) in action?  Here's a fun video to watch, where he does some Mathemagics, but also teaches some of the basic skills from the book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YNQIVoPRjg

Remember that for this unit, you need to continue Hero Training, with a 21 day mission.  Why don't you change it up a little?  If you want to keep exercise as your plan, be a little more specific, make a goal, do a particular exercise each day, or for a specific amount of time.

Practice your times tables... the increased speed will help you in many ways.

Also, related to the specific unit, this week you need to have read through Chapter 4, and picked a particular kind of mathemagic problem that you're going to perfect.

And remember to work on your presentations:
Mar 10:  Jared - ?
Mar 17:  Adam - Math in Origami
Mar 24:  Katie - Roman Numerals
Mar 31:  Trey - Abacus
Put some effort into them and make them great! (But not too long... just about 10 min)

How to be a Millionaire

Do you have a scarcity mentality?  Do you have to sit in the circle when you're playing musical chairs?  We talked about the difference between it and having an abundance mentality.  I was thinking about it after class and it occurred to me that it's kind of like the ways a mom's love often changes from when she just has one child, to when she has more children.  When you have a baby, the love you have for that child is immense, but wrapped up so fully in that one sweet child.  It's hard to imagine that you could love another baby quite as much.  There's only so much love to go around, right?  Your heart is only so big.  And then angels #2, 3, or more come and you realize that love doesn't divide, it multiplies.  As much as you were smitten with one, how could there be that much love for another?  But there is, and even more.

It's possible to learn to have that kind of abundance mentality about everything in life: that we can have enough love, time, money, resources, peace, space, and more.  It may not all be at once, but it can come.  If you do a quick search for scarcity vs. abundance mentality, there are lots of articles and blog posts to better understand it.  I liked this one, because it also gives steps to change our mindset from one to the other.

We had kind of a long discussion about the language of money.  Expenses, Revenue, Assets, Liabilities, Net Worth, and Investments.  Understanding these and other terms will better help you plan and manage your own finances and fortune.

HOMEWORK:

• Start reading Whatever Happened to Penny Candy. We'll be discussing it Jan 7th, but there's only 1 class before then.
• Do your personal Ninja Training Mission for 7 days.
• Have your weekly Parent Mentor Meeting
• Practice your timed math facts, so you improve over the course of this unit
• Sign up (after talking to your parents about it, if that's your family rule) for www.ninjaprogram.com and complete the White level.  

This is the last unit of this semester.  Remember that Ninja is a 2 semester class.  But there are different awards for each semester.  This one, you get to choose from a throwing star (rubber practice one, or actual metal one, depending on the preference of your parents), nunchuks, or a pocket watch. BUT ONLY if all the requirements are met.  Our deadline for meeting all requirements is absolutely Jan 14th.  The list above (and the Yellow level of ninjaprogram.com) are all requirements.

Brainstorm!

Are you loving The Hobbit?  Remember that our book discussion is Oct 8th.  What parts of the Hero Cycle have you noticed, as you've been reading it?

How is your typing speed?  Anyone going to beat me?  And how are your hero training missions going?  I was very excited to hear about the variety of ways you're all working to stretch and grow!!

Have you all been planning your boardgame?  How has it gone as you worked with each other over email to make a plan for your game?  What fun ideas have you come up with?

From our brainstorming time in class, here are some of the fun, random ideas thrown out there...
3D Columns
Chess-like
Magnetic
Candyland-style
Needs strategy
Ninjas vs. Samurai
Have a goal: steal something, get past guards, fight samurai, unlock weapons, etc.

Role play the hero cycle
Maybe like Monopoly, but going round and round the hero cycle

Have obstacles, maybe even real ones, like a mousetrap

Figures: Old board game pieces, Legos, Copper-wire shaped into figures, clay/sculpey ninjas

It's sure to be fun!!!

Where have all the heroes gone? Teen Ninja Scholar Skills Class!

Hey my Ninja Heroes!  I wish I had some kind of cool ninja signal (like Batman) to shine in the sky and tell you you're needed!  

Are you feeling heroic?  I'm super excited to see what you've come with for your Vision Board/I Am page.  I know you're heroes, I want to know that you know it, too!

Have you been working on your typing?  Are you getting faster and more accurate?  It's a skill that will really make life easier for you!

And how are your training missions going?  I'm looking forward to hearing about what each of you have chosen to work on... DAILY!

Don't forget to meet with your parents for a quick mentor meeting about what you want and need to accomplish for this class, and what you've worked on so far.  Remember that's a requirement.

Oh, and did you start The Hobbit?  It's such a fun book!  I'd suggest reading it with a pencil in hand... to write in the book if it's yours or OK with your parents, or in a notebook if not.  Look for things that inspire you to be more heroic.  Pay attention to The Hero Cycle and note when Bilbo fits into the different points on that circle.  I'm looking forward to our book discussion on October 8th!

***Lastly, please respond to this post on the blog, so I know you're getting it!  Thanks!!  I'm also emailing it, but I'd like to know that everyone has subscribed to the blog, so I only have to send it one place.***

See you Thursday!

Teacher Diannalynn 

Hey Ninja Scholar Skills class!  I'm super excited about this class!  Mrs. Prestegard and I are planning some great things for your Ninja year!  

The class is divided into units and as mentors, we're taking turns teaching them.  Each unit is about 4 weeks long and has fun requirements and some homework.  There will be some writing.  Most of the 6 units also have a book that your student will need.  If they complete all the requirements, they can earn fun Ninja weapons or tools.

Our booklist for the Scholar level Ninja Scholar Skills class:

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, readily available and most of you probably have it.

The Elements of Style (4th Edition) by Strunk & White.  This is a great resource for writing.  I found a copy at Half Price Books and there was another on the shelf when I bought mine. 

Whatever Happened to Penny Candy by Richard Maybury.  Available on Amazon used books, and in some library systems.  Great book to simply explain economics.

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey.  Such a good book!  ***I have an extra copy that someone is welcome to buy for me for $3.

Secrets of Mental Math: The Mathemagician's Guide to Lightning Calculation and Amazing Math Tricks by Arthur Benjamin.  Available on Amazon or fairly readily in local libraries.

We're going to have fun!