Similar Triangles Worksheet with QR Codes - FREE!

In the spirit of sharing more about how I use QR Codes in the classroom, I have posted a Freebie worksheet in my TPT store which allows students to practice finding missing sides in similar triangles.

This worksheet has 8 problems and allows students to get the answer immediately by scanning the QR code with their smart device.

What is different about just checking the answer with the teacher or in the back of the book?? Nothing really, except using technology in class is fun :)

If you download this worksheet and give it a try, let me know how it works - I would certainly appreciate your feedback.

Freebie Similar Triangles Worksheet

Have a great day!

Fractions Scavenger Hunt

My sister is now teaching 4th grade.  She's a first year teacher, so I thought I might help her out with some math lessons and games.

I am pretty happy with this first one - it is a scavenger hunt that involves adding fractions.  Students must add fractions with like denominators and then be sure that their answer is in simplest mixed number format.

In this set there are 8 cards.  Students start anywhere and then solve the problem on their card.  They then hunt around the room until they find the answer to that card.  They then solve that problem and then hunt to find the answer…play continues until they end where they started.

Fun practice that allows the students to move around and practice at the same time!

If you're interested, here is a link to the hunt in my TPT store:

Fractions Scavenger Hunt

Calculus - Teaching Definite Integrals

It's the start of the second semester and that means the beginning of integrals in Calculus AB!

Don't start the second semester doing this:

If the beginning of second semester means as much to do at your school as it does at mine, maybe you could use a little help with some new materials that you don't have to create yourself! Check out the round up of ideas below.

1)  First up, I made a couple of new pages this week that worked pretty well with my Calculus class.  We worked on the concept of what a definite integral is, and then found the definite integral by using Geometry and Integral rules.  Here is a look at one of them:

If you're interested…here is a link to the full product in my TPT store:

Finding Definite Integrals with Geometry

2)  Next up...some task cards from Joan Kessler that could be used to review with students once you have introduced the concept of finding the area between the curve and the x-axis.

Task Cards for Definite Integrals


3)  This looks fun - try this Calculus Cook Book Activity from The Math Lab.

Use definite integrals to transfer all the numbers in a recipe into a calculus problem.  Fun!


3)  Finally - do you need an entire lesson for teaching Riemann Sums and Definite Integrals?  Try this from Jean Adams!

Riemann Sums and Definite Integrals



Have a great week!

Using QR Codes to Play Tic-Tac-Toe

It is the second day of no school here in Illinois.  It is -30˚ wind chill and many schools cancelled today.

So, I thought I would share one way that you could use QR Codes in the classroom.

(Since my kids are home today they are demonstrating for you :)

This particular activity is good for a math center or for students to play in partners.  Not every student participating needs an electronic device because of the way the game is played.  If you are going to use this as a math center, I recommend laminating the game board and the X's and O's.  That way you can use the same board over and over.  If you're really ambitious maybe you could put a little square of velcro on the back of the X's and O's and in each corner of the game board to keep them in place.

This game follows the traditional tic-tac-toe rules.  Students choose a square - each square has a problem in it.  The student works the problem and then uses his or her electronic device to scan the QR Code.  The QR Codes leads the student to text that will show the correct answer.  If they get the answer correct, they get the square and place an X or O on the square.  If they get the answer incorrect, the other player gets the square.

[CAUTION:  Students must be sure they are scanning the correct QR Code.  It's easy to do - they just have to be careful :) ]

Here is an example of my Freebie of this activity - Solving Systems of Equations.

If you'd like to try this out, head on over to my TPT store to download it:

FREEBIE! Systems of Equations Tic-Tac-Toe with QR Codes

Maybe you need a similar activity for Fractions:

Fractions Tic-Tac-Toe with QR Codes

or

Solving Linear Equations:

Solving One and Two Step Equations Tic Tac Toe with QR Codes

We're Half Way There…Secondary Sale at TPT!

The School Year is Half way Over…

So, a bunch of Secondary Teachers have gotten together to have a Half Way Over Sale!

Check out my Store for a Discount on Each and Every Product on December 31st and January 1st.

Teaching High School Math

This would be a great time to start the new year with new ideas and new games, activities or worksheets.

Then hop on over to these other Secondary Sellers stores where they will have discounts as well!

Using QR Codes in Math Class (Part 1)

QR Codes - those funny little things that you see everywhere - on packaging, in magazines, in MATH CLASS??


I have been using QR Codes over the last 12 months in my math and physics classes.  The students and I LOVE them!  What can you do with them??  Here are 5 ways that I have used them in my class.

1) Post the homework answers on the board in the classroom.  - When possible, I post one big QR Code at the front of the classroom.  When students enter the room, they scan the QR Code and they have all the answers to the homework.  They can check as soon as they enter the room - AND, my favorite part, I don't have to read all the answers AND I don't have to spend 10 minutes answering What was number 9, how about 12, what was 9 again…UGH!

2) Use task cards with QR Codes - This is seriously a favorite with students.  I make 10 - 12 problems on task cards for students to use.  Here is an example of a task card for Algebra that students can use to work on solving systems of equations.

Students work the problem and then scan the QR Code to see if they are correct.  They get immediate feedback AND they get to pull out their technology in math class - COOL!

3) If you are absent - If you know you are going to be absent, you could make a QR Code that students can scan as they enter the classroom.  They can get the directions for the class period and start working right away!

4) Use the QR Code as the answer to the problem of the day - If you use a Problem of the Day, put a BIG QR Code on the same screen as the problem.  As you project the problem, students can work it and then when you give them permission, they can get out their phone and scan the answer.  Here is an example of a calculus problem of the day that I use in my class.

5) Link the students to something - If you want the students to go to a specific website, it is such a pain to give them the website and watch them type everything in.  Inevitably, someone doesn't type something right, and ends up somewhere else.  Websites are often long and cumbersome!  Instead of having students type in the website, make a QR Code that leads them directly to it!  Make it big and project it, and students can go right to the place you want them to go.  This is also useful if you want to give students a source of information that they can use to help them with homework.  Scan the QR Code and they are right there!

Now your next question might be - how do I make these QR Codes for myself?  Stay tuned for my next post in this series - coming soon!

Mac Keyboard Shortcuts for the Math Teacher

Have you ever wanted to put a math symbol into the math worksheet you are making, but don't want to go to all the trouble of using Math Type or Equation Editor?

I can't tell you the number of times I wanted to put π into a geometry worksheet and I was so frustrated that I was going to have to open Equation Editor or insert a symbol.  Ugh…Word makes things so difficult!  Usually what I ended up doing was handwriting it in and then inevitably I would end up forgetting to put it somewhere I needed it!

Then I discovered that there are symbols that I can insert using the KEYBOARD!!!  I am using a mac, so I am not sure if this will work on the PC, but Mac users REJOICE!

Here are some often used symbols and the Mac Key Combination that will allow you to type the symbol immediately:

˚   - alt k makes the degree symbol

π - alt p makes the pi symbol

√ - alt v makes the radical symbol

∫ - alt b makes the integral symbol

µ - alt m makes the letter mu

∞ - alt 5 makes the infinity symbol

÷ - alt forward slash makes the division sign

Sometimes there are different symbols that can be made if you hold down the shift key at the same time as the alt key.

Other key combinations will make other letters of the Greek alphabet.

Experiment on you own and let me know if you find any other interesting combinations that will help you!