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Math Stations Challenge Fifth Graders

In fifth grade, Friday is math challenge day, when students participate in various station activities all related to a central goal. Just before Passover break, fifth graders engaged in stations with a goal of learning more about area, perimeter, and surface area. “This differentiated math approach helps students develop mathematical habits of mind,” explains teacher Sarah Nguyen. “These stations offer students choice within the content area and opportunities where they can extend their learning and develop habits.” The stations also diversify the content and allow students to take more responsibility for their learning. Among the stations students could select was a zoo designing station, where students were given a set of constraints (i.e., how much space each animal in the zoo requires) before selecting how they wanted to design their zoo.
 
Adds Ms. Nguyen, “The thing I love about teaching geometry is it really comes up against the belief ‘I’m never going to use that again.’ Perimeter and area are truly a life skill.” MORE PHOTOS
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