Great Mathematics Software

Every now and again, you run into software that is just too important or too good to be distributed and hope that someone uses it. Just in time for the testing this spring, we have encountered two such pieces of software.

Math Trek 4, 5, 6
This spectacular piece of software comes on the heels of the previously licensed Math Trek 7, 8, 9. Included with the software are some very useful mathematics activities and the computer, of course, brings with it the tireless ability to generate question after question.

But, that's not where Math Trek 4, 5, 6 shines. For the first time, here is a piece of software that carefully identifies the five strands of mathematics in the Ontario Curriculum.

Once the student selects an area to explore, they are presented a second screen with options to work through an interactive tutorial, perform a number of activities, or take a test. The test questions are all rated with the easier questions appearing up front.

This is how it appears from the student's side. Enter Math Trek as a teacher and you'll see a different perspective. As expected, you can add or remove individual workspaces. However, you can also access the tracker which lets you know exactly how much time each student spent on each activity. Impressively, you can also chart the results! Interested in Math Diaries, there is the ability for the student to write about their mathematics adventures and have the teacher respond.

The CAITs have made trips to all schools within the past month to introduce this terrific piece of software to all Grade 6 teachers.

Mudball Wall
Adapted from the "Logical Journey of the Zoombinis", the object of this little activity is to get the Zoombini (the thing with the sunglasses on the left) up and over Mudball Wall.

You can help the process by throwing coloured mud at the wall. But, it gets a little more intriguing, because each piece of mud that you throw also has a geometric shape. Five colours, five shapes; you do the math!

Behind the patterns on the wall lies a puzzle with a very logical set of rules to be determined by the thrower. Solve the puzzle and the Zoombini goes over the top and you get moved to the next level which features a more difficult challenge and less mud! Don't solve it, and you get to try it again.