Logic and Probability
A subsection of Mathematics
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Billion-Story Building from What If?, a part of xkcd. "My daughter—age 4.5—maintains she wants a billion-story building. It turns out not only is that hard to help her appreciate this size, I am not at all able to explain all of the other difficulties you'd have to overcome." So What If? makes a good effort to explain it to her like she's five (4 ½?). "If you make a building too big, the top part is heavy and it squishes the bottom part." Then drawings with circles and arrows, etc., are used to play with the idea, which really is interesting to see and read. Yes, there's physics, but mainly 5 year olds' physics.
Deductive Reasoning vs. Inductive Reasoning "During the scientific process, deductive reasoning is used to reach a logical true conclusion. Another type of reasoning, inductive, is also used. Often, deductive reasoning and inductive reasoning are confused. It is important to learn the meaning of each type of reasoning so that proper logic can be identified." Also introduces abductive reasoning. This article has a list of reference links, too.
Fun Logic Games for Kids "Enjoy interactive activities and fun online challenges that will help keep your brain sharp. Learn the perfect tic tac toe strategy, conquer the Towers of Hanoi, solve a tricky 3D puzzle cube, find a solution to mastermind, try a game of virtual paper scissors rock and much more."
Hooda Math Games section, divided into Geometry, Arithmetic, and Logic. Two or three pages of games in each category. It's refreshing to find Logic games online! A well regarded site with good math games.
Interactivate has 133 Java-based math Activities. You can browse by audience, subject, topic, or resource type. "Browse by audience" gets you a choice of Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, and college. The Discussion page has dialogues between a teacher and a student for 117 math topics! Each of these could be easily converted into a ready to go math lesson! The Lessons section has 90 ready to go NCTM lesson plans for print outs. The Tools section contains 44 of the activities pulled out of the Activities section. The Dictionary is a good, basic glossary of 188 math terms. The Textbooks sections is a MAJOR asset. Here, you can match ("Align") activities to chapters and lessons from textbooks from these series: Connected Math, Math Thematics, Mathematics in Context, and MathScape! Example: From MathScape Book 1, "What Does the Data Say?", Lesson 2, Name Exchange: You get two Interactivate Activities called Box Plot and Box Plot 2. The Standards section has NCTM math standards for grades 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. This was a Kim Komando Cool Site of the Day. Note: This program requires Java.
Jefferson Lab science education This center for the study of subatomic particles has a very strong education outreach program!
There is a substantial Teacher Resources section:
Logic Games from Hooda Math Here are 50 playable logic games to to tease and tickle kid's brains!
Logic Games from smart-kit These 29 games will make you think - some of them may take more than one day! Excellent graphics and sounds, too.
Logic Zoo is a Cyberchase game from PBS Kids. Kids must place unique animals back in their (Venn diagram) zoos, classified by animal characteristics. Another thinking game and a way to introduce principles of logic.
Logicly * is an online interactive logic gate simulator. Lets kids build their own logic setups to see what happens. Start with simple AND & OR gates and try to make the bulb light up, work up to complicated projects (for kids) like adders. This teaches logic and shows how the various gates work. Instructions: Click and drag components onto the work space. Click on the circles on components and drag the mouse to another component to create wiring. Turn the simulation off and on in the lower right corner of the workspace. To remove a component, click on it and the press the keyboard Delete button. Reload the page to clear the entire workspace if you need to. "Logicly simulates the boolean algebra performed by logic gates, which are a vital part of digital circuitry and computer achitecture." * This is now a commercial educational app. There is a 30 day free trail ready for downloading. Pricing link here.
Made w/ Code Superpowers come in all shapes and sizes. Discover a new superpower with code.This exercise was linked to the Google main page lst week. Wonder Woman helps you to learn code using an interface that reminded us of MIT's Scratch. Learn coding by plugging in commands. Reason out how many moves it will take; then test your coding and see if your guesses are correct. If not, find your mistake(s) and correct them until your programs what it needs to. After mastering the basics you can strive for elegance- do the sames tasks in fewer moves, for example.
Going in Logic and Probability
Math Logic Games from Math Playgound has 21 logic games for all ages. Colorful and loud, they will test kids' logic skills!
Mathwords: "Terms and Formulas from Beginning Algebra to Calculus. An interactive math dictionary with enough math words, math terms, math formulas, pictures, diagrams, tables, and examples to satisfy your inner math geek." Indexed both by beginning letter and by subject area. Also covers fractions and geometry. A great reference and teaching aid!
Probability "is the maths of chance. A probability is a number that tells you how likely (probable) something is to happen." KS3 Bitesize Revision from the BBC. "Revision" means "to review (previously studied materials) in preparation for an examination." Here are seven pages of review, from (1) probability scale to (7) finding the total number of possible outcomes when there is more than one event. As is usually the case, there is an Activity and a Test. For intermediate students.
Probability - Play from BBC Education's KS2 Bitesize "The BAMZOOKi Zooks from CBBC join Bitesize to play a Maths probability game." Which means nothing to you if you don't live in the UK, but the game works just fine anywhere! This loud, fast, and colorful set of probability games is also forgiving if a learner has trouble, but you're expected to "work out" (solve) the problem. In other words, learn by doing.
Probability Simulations From Maths Online: "The following Flash movies simulate typical probability experiments. Carry out the experiments in the usual way with the whole class and then run the simulations to generate a large number of trials." You plug in the numbers, the simulator runs the trials! Coin flips, spinners, a sack simulation, and rolling dice.
Smart Kit School-Safe Puzzle Games "stimulate thinking, logic, and problem solving." Here are oodles of thinking games in several categories. All have music and live action, and no violence. Make sure you understand what you are supposed to do before playing, instructions are at the bottom of each games's start page. Useful to teachers. Have fun! Thanks to Ryan at Smart-Kit for the email.
Venn Diagrams - NLVM from Utah State University. Simple to use but powerful, this could be used for teacher demos on overheads like Elmo or whiteboards like Promethean. It could also be used by individual students in class or at home. "Show Problem" starts with easy problems, then gets harder. A small part of National Library of Virtual Manipulatives, which has been on Good Sites since forever.
Webmath is a math-help web site that generates answers to specific math questions and problems, as entered by a user, at any particular moment. The math answers are generated and displayed real-time, at the moment a web user types in their math problem and clicks "solve." In addition to the answers, Webmath also shows the student how to arrive at the answer. Covers Kindergarten up through calculus and financial mathematics.
I'm gnawing away at Mathematics!
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