Johnston, C. (2008). What do bouncing tennis balls have to do with algebra. On-Math, Online Journal of School Mathematics, 6(1).
This Article describes how bouncing tennis balls directly correlate to algebra. Each student bounced a tennis ball for a designated period of time and recorded how many bounces they got. Using this information, they later were able to use all of the varied results in the class to find the mode. After unifying the numbers in the results, they discussed what was the constant in the experiment which they found was time. They discussed whether or not time should be on the x-axis or the y-axis. Once deciding that it should be the x-axis, they were able to plot their points. Through this experiment, Christopher Johnston was able to explain how just by bouncing tennis balls, students could then take a real world experiment and directly connect it to math. He shows how through this one experiment one can find slope, mean, median, mode, range, meaning to graphs, x-axis, y-axis, and so much more.
After thinking about this activity, I have come to the conclusion that this would be a very beneficial thing for students to do. At first I thought it was too much like a science experiment but when Christopher Johnston showed all of the mathematical uses to the experiment, I decided otherwise. This activity shows students how something so simple can be turned into a mathematical thing. One of the big issues today is that kids don't see why they need math and this is a fun little activity to show them that math is all around them, even in really random ways like bouncing balls. It also got the kids engaged and working together. Lastly, it encompasses so many different mathematical concepts and ones that tie into each other really well.
Thanks for your thoughts. I think that you maintained a good tone throughout your article and that your explanations were simple and easy to follow and understand. I like the part about how kids dont realize how math can be used in everday life when it is really all around them. I agree totally with this because all it takes is the will to find out and by doing so we can discover so many things that we would have usually taken for granted. thanks again!
ReplyDeleteYou did very well at sticking to your topic sentence. Your paragraph flowed very smoothly and was clearly a summary, not your own ideas. The only thing I might have wanted to know was how the teacher connected algebra to one of the concepts in the last list you give. This sounds like an interesting article. I always like learning ways to apply math to real life. Your paragraph was very well-written.
ReplyDeleteYou did a nice job writing your entry.
ReplyDeleteYour last paragraph had a clear topic sentence that you supported throughout the paragraph. You did a great job providing evidence to do so.
By simply reading your first paragraph I became interested in reading the article you wrote about. You gave enough information to let me know what it was about, but not so much to where it was overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteI believe the main point of the article was that there is mathematics in everyday life, but it would be helpful if the main point was highlighted a little more.
Overall good job and straightforward!
This is really interesting! I had a hard time understanding your first paragraph completely. But i really liked your second paragraph. I could really hear your voice though! good job!
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