This month we are going to design catapults that will FLING autumn-ish projectiles 6 feet or more!
Catapults use weights and levers to send large rocks or
other things into the air. They were commonly used as weapons during the Middle
Ages. Catapults do not throw as far as modern weapons do and are not useful in
modern warfare.
During the Medieval Period, catapults were used as weapons
to throw rocks or other things such as hot tar, that would cause damage to
something else. Often, catapults were set on higher ground or on castle towers
to let them shoot farther. They shot rocks to break castle walls or hot tar to
set the target on fire.
Let's design mini-catapults!
Use items from around your house to design a free-standing mini catapult that will launch October themed projectilesfarther than 6 feet! Projectiles can be anything related to fall - apples, mini pumpkins, acorns, fall-colored pompoms, Halloweeny stuff, etc.
Send Mrs. Sol pictures or movies of your experiment to share in class.
This week in math we're learning about the Order of Operations.
Numbers
and Operations
in a Formation...
Watch this video and you'll see what I mean!
Do NOT blame me if that song is stuck in your head until 2034.
Many things in math are not up for interpretation. We need to agree on certain math rules in order for for humans to calculate numbers and communicate accurately.
For example, if you are ordering new carpet and the guy at Carl's Carpet Center asks you what the square footage of your bedroom is, you should both have an understanding of area. If you calculate differently, you may end up with too much or not enough lime green wool shag. (I had lime green shag carpet in my bedroom when I was your age, so don't laugh.)
"The Order of Operations is very important when simplifying expressions and equations. The Order of Operations is a standard that defines the order
in which you should simplify different operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
This standard is critical to simplifying and solving different
algebra problems. Without it, two different people may interpret
an equation or expression in different ways and come up with
different answers. The Order of Operations is shown below."
(algebrahelp.com)
What's the difference between parentheses and brackets?
Sometimes parentheses are called "round brackets" because of their shape.
( )
Square brackets remind me of staples that hold the numbers together.
[ ]
When dealing with parentheses and brackets...
For more information, games and other resources, click the links below!
