Task Centre News August 2008

734 tasks placed in schools during July. 307,342 placed since the project began in July 1992. We offer an email news service from each of the three key projects linked to this site. If you would like to receive updates from the Task Centre Project, Maths300 or Calculating Changes send an email to doug@blackdouglas.com.au: In the subject line write Subscribe Maths. In the body of message state which projects you want to subscribe to, or simply write Subscribe All. Add your name and preferred email address. Please feel free to distribute this information.

In this month's News you will find: Poster Problem Clinic Tasks of the Month Task 70, Symmetric Shapes Task 71, Algebra Through Geometry Cameo Updates Enhancing Maths With Attitude Kingsbury Primary School

Poster Problem Clinic In the previous news we announced we are working with the Mathematical Association of Victoria to rationalise the distribution of task centre material over our two sites. This month we have completed the transfer and revision of information about the teaching technique called a Poster Problem Clinic. The new link below contains a description of a Poster Problem Clinic, free problem solving posters from Professor Morris, a connection to Maths300 and examples of student work from Bacchus Marsh Grammar, Victoria. This link will be a permanent part of the Maths Tasks link accessible from the Navigation Bar on most pages. Tasks of the Month Two new cameos this month. Symmetric Shapes investigates the depth of student understanding of symmetry and reflection by asking them to create symmetric shapes from 3 simple shapes. There are several challenges in the task and they not necessarily easy, especially since one solution involves a diagonal line of symmetry. Algebra Through Geometry gives visual, concrete meaning to like and unlike terms and adding and subtracting pronumerals. Even fractions get a bit of a look in.      Click a photo to access its cameo, or access all current cameos through the Link List below. Cameo Updates In the past month two teachers have contributed stories related to using particular tasks as whole class investigations. Thanks to Danita Smith from tiny Narrawong District Primary School who took time to tell us of a sideways adventure in Addition Totals which was generated by one of her Year 5/6 students wanting to involve negative numbers, and to Jenny Tran who has offered several photos of the work her Year 3/4 did in exploring Have A Hexagon at Chandler Primary School. Please take a look at their contributions through the links below. A workshop at Moana Primary School, South Australia, also led to more ideas being added to the cameo for the Matching Cards task. See the Link List below. Enhancing Maths With Attitude For the benefit of those with Maths With Attitude kits more information has been added to this link (see below). The list now shows every Task and Maths300 lesson not already in a Maths With Attitude kit and suggests in which kit they could be included. Kingsbury Primary School Many thanks to Aaron Peeters and the team at Kingsbury Primary who were very happy to be added to the list of schools to visit. Great work going on there in the use of Tasks and Maths300, and following a recent workshop, they were very excited about making better use of their Poly Plug and new membership of Calculating Changes. See Link List below. Link List Poster Problem Clinic Maths Tasks Task 8, Addition Totals Task 53, Have A Hexagon Task 12, Matching Cards Task Cameos - a list of all currently available Enhancing Maths With Attitude School Visits Calculating Changes Did you miss the July News? If so you missed information about: Iceberg Information about two Tasks of the Month (Tasks 68 & 69) An investigative curriculum from Years 3 - 10 in conjunction with the Mathematical Association of Victoria Release of three new tasks and a new resource called Trisquares Update of Enhancing Maths With Attitude to include new Maths300 lessons Professional development opportunities for 2008/2009 ...and more Keep smiling, Doug. Previous News May/June 2008 ... April 2008 ... March 2008 ... February 2008 ... Dec.2007/ Jan.2008 November 2007 ... October 2007 ... August/September 2007 ... July 2007 June 2007 ... May 2007 ... April 2007 ... March 2007 ... February 2007 ... Dec. 2006/ Jan. 2007 November 2006 ... October 2006 ... September 2006 ... August 2006 ... July 2006 June 2006 ... May 2006 ... April 2006 ... March 2006 ... February 2006 ... Dec. 2005/ Jan. 2006 November 2005 ... October 2005 ... September 2005 ... August 2005 ... July 2005 June 2005 ... May 2005 ... April 2005 ... March 2005 ... February 2005 ... Dec. 2004/ Jan. 2005 November 2004 ... October 2004 ... September 2004 ... August 2004 ... July 2004 June 2004 ... April/May 2004 ... March 2004 ... February 2004 December 2003 ... October 2003 ... August/September 2003 ... July 2003 June 2003 ... April/May 2003 ... March 2003 ... February 2003 ... January 2003 December 2002 ... November 2002 ... October 2002 ... September 2002 ... March 2002 December 2001 ... October 2001 Follow this link to Task Centre Home Base Welcome Page & Index.