I always enjoyed math as a student, but I recognize that math is not an enjoyable subject for all learners. I am grateful that over the course of Block 4 we spent time exploring how to make math creative, engaging, and less intimidating for students. I think that nurturing the mathematical wellness of all students is a worthwhile and helpful endeavour. Math is everywhere so making math more approachable to my students is something I feel will be important in my practice. Whether its ensuring I use the proper mathematical vocabulary for directions during Art instruction or making manipulatives available to my students as they explore new mathematical concepts or making patterned Mandelas from materials found in nature, there are so many fun, different ways to encourage mathematical thinking!
One activity I am excited to put to use in the classroom next school year is constructing flexagons. Flexagons are a fun paper craft that has a variety of applications. They could be used from grades 3-6 to support students’ understanding of 3D shapes, triangles, angles, perimeter, area, volume, transformations, and patterns. They could be made during Math or Art depending on the approach. Students get to create a product that they can use as a visual aid and play with! Creating a flexagon requires careful, precise cutting and folding so they also create an opportunity to develop refined fine motor skills in a way that feels more grown up. I have included step-by-step directions and a template for making a flexagon. Just click on the PDF below!
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