Jump to content

Menu

Recommended Posts

Is this appropriate for 8th grade math? DD is doing Pre-Algebra this year but I am debating on Algebra 1 next year or Patty Paper Geometry along with a consumers type math for a year. Any thoughts?

 

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=215044&highlight=Patty+Paper+Geometry

 

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=186435

 

Were you not able to get any answers in your first thread? The book is listed for 6th-10th grade and is written by the same author as Key Curriculum's Discovering Geometry text which is used in many public schools. At least two geometry texts for high school that I can think of use patty paper geometry exercises as a way to visually demonstrate concepts. It is an enjoyable supplement but not a full geometry program. I use it with my 7th grader for a change of pace from his Foerster Algebra I course. I don't think that there is one right way to use it.

 

Someone like Sue in St. Pete, who has taught math, would be better able to give you a specific progression.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=215044&highlight=Patty+Paper+Geometry

 

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=186435

 

Were you not able to get any answers in your first thread? The book is listed for 6th-10th grade and is written by the same author as Key Curriculum's Discovering Geometry text which is used in many public schools. At least two geometry texts for high school that I can think of use patty paper geometry exercises as a way to visually demonstrate concepts. It is an enjoyable supplement but not a full geometry program. I use it with my 7th grader for a change of pace from his Foerster Algebra I course. I don't think that there is one right way to use it.

 

Someone like Sue in St. Pete, who has taught math, would be better able to give you a specific progression.

 

 

I did that thread, then read alot of review, I am really getting conflicting info based on all the reviews I read. I was hoping more people who have used it would chime in... :confused:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is this appropriate for 8th grade math? DD is doing Pre-Algebra this year but I am debating on Algebra 1 next year or Patty Paper Geometry along with a consumers type math for a year. Any thoughts?

PPG is appropriate as a supplement for 8th grade. I think it's the perfect supplement for any Algebra program because it gives a fun, hands-on introduction to Geometry.

 

What is the conflict you are reading about?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What is the conflict you are reading about?

 

I read that it was not appropriate for an 8th grader, then that it was a perfect amount of math for an 8th grader, then that it is designed to do with a regular geometry book (not at all as a pre-geometry sort of thing)

 

Im confused. :confused: So if we did it say, one day a week along with Algebra 1 that would work? DD would take geometry the next year in 9th, should I do it the year before geometry (Im thinking it to be like a pre-geometry book similar to pre-algebra before algebra.) Am I correct in this thinking or way off base?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So if we did it say, one day a week along with Algebra 1 that would work? DD would take geometry the next year in 9th, should I do it the year before geometry (Im thinking it to be like a pre-geometry book similar to pre-algebra before algebra.) Am I correct in this thinking or way off base?

I agree with Lisa that you will be fine with this plan. We spent 3 months completing it at the end of our 2nd year of Algebra. I wish I had used it 1x a week in 8th grade.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Agreeing with everyone else...

 

I own this program and used it occasionally many years ago. I think it's perfect as a once-a-week supplement during the algebra I year. There are more than enough "guided investigations" and "open investigations" in the text to last for an entire year.

 

Learning by discovery is IMHO the best way to learn in mathematics. But there is rarely time to do a lot of investigations during a standard year of algebra or geometry. By preceding the geometry year with a (fun!) program like this, your student would be in a very good place to start a formal geometry course the next year.

 

just my 2 cents!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Agreeing with everyone else...

 

I own this program and used it occasionally many years ago. I think it's perfect as a once-a-week supplement during the algebra I year. There are more than enough "guided investigations" and "open investigations" in the text to last for an entire year.

 

Learning by discovery is IMHO the best way to learn in mathematics. But there is rarely time to do a lot of investigations during a standard year of algebra or geometry. By preceding the geometry year with a (fun!) program like this, your student would be in a very good place to start a formal geometry course the next year.

 

just my 2 cents!

 

 

Kathy, how long would a typical Patty Paper Geometry lesson last?

 

I never thought about incorporating this in with Alg. I. If all goes as planned, we will be using Lial's Intro to Alg. I, and I need to know how much time to schedule in for the once/week geometry lesson.

 

After finishing Patty Paper, what would you do next? Another geometry?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Sweet Home,

 

The lessons vary in length, but I think that you could accomplish something worthwhile with an approx. 45 minute class per week. Basically, the student is instructed in different ways to fold the patty papers. Then they unfold, study the results, and make a conjecture as to what happened. They also learn the basic terminology of geometry as they go along.

 

For instance, in one lesson they are taught what a median of a triangle is, and then they draw a triangle on the patty paper and 'construct' the three medians of that triangle with folds. They're then asked if they observe anything special (the three medians meet at a point). The actual work involved in very small, but they are discovering the math for themselves using physical objects, and that alone often helps make it stick.

 

These little investigations are grouped by topic, and at the end of each topic there's an exercise set to solidify what was learned.

 

Answer keys are included for both the discovery lessons (ie, a list of what they're supposed to observe) and for the exercise sets.

 

Yes, I'd definitely follow this up with a formal geometry course including proofs. I happen to like 2nd Edition Jacobs, but there are many others out there, too.:)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...