Prime and Composite Numbers

Prime Numbers- Any whole number that has only two factors, one and itself.

    ex. 7 - 1 x 7 & 7 x 1 (1 and 7 are the only factors for the number 7)

Composite Numbers- Any whole number that has more than 2 factors.

    ex. 12 - 1 x 12, 2 x 6, 3 x 4 (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12)

Knowing the difference between prime and composite numbers will help to deepen your understanding of multiplication!

Purpose Statement

Why am I here? Why do I have to learn this? Good questions to ask when you devote almost seven hours a day to something.

At the beginning of the year I had students work in teams to construct a purpose statement. Five groups created their own statements and together they combined them into one.
I wanted this year to be an experience that they've never had before. When they walk through the classroom door, they know why they're here and what they're here to do. Like the "Pledge of Allegiance," we've used our purpose statement as a common start to the day (thanks BM). Collectively reading the statement is a solid reminder. Learnig doesn't start and stop at school. My students want more!
 

"Our purpose is to get an education and to have better future job and life. We should have fun when we learn. We want to improve in everything we do. Our hope is to reach wisdom with our learning."

Our experiences are important and I hope that I'm providing a positive learning environment every time the kids walk into the classroom. Where they go, is completely up to them!
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Chapter 9 Factors and Multiples

The last two weeks have been packed with new math concepts and vocabulary . Each lesson has been a building block for the next lesson. Here's an overview of what students have been learning:

Common Factors - When comparing two or more numbers, list the factors for each number from smallest to greatest. Circle or select any factors that the numbers (in comparison) have in common.
    ex. 9 - 1, 3, 9
         24- 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24
Common factors are: 1 and 3

Greatest Common Factor (G.C.F.) - Use the same idea for common factors. Instead, only one factor will be selected. This is the greatest factor the two numbers have in common.
When comparing 18 and 24:
    ex. 18 - 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 18
         24 -  1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24

In this case, 6 is the G.C.F.

Using the G.C.F. we can simplify fractions! Check out the picture for the step by step process. When we simplify a fraction we are making an equivalent fraction. The fraction is being broken down into smaller parts. Simplified fractions are easier to work with. Have you ever used these fractions? 1/2 , 1/4, 1/3, 1/5, etc.


MULTIPLES- Count up by the number you start with. If we're looking for multiples of 3, this is how you might list them:
3- 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30

Multiples can often times be mistaken for listing factors. Remember that factors are numbers that are multiplied by other numbers to get a product or numbers that can be divided evenly into a whole number. 


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Sunset Off the Coast of California

This was a picture I took from a cruise ship along the coast of California over Spring Break. I was fascinated by how quickly the sun disappeared. I knew I was facing west (sun rises in the east, sets in the west) but I was curious about the following questions:
-What is the average time for the sun to start and finish its descent?
-Do all sunsets appear the same no matter where you go on the planet?
-How do our sunsets compare to those of other plantets?
-Are the colors in a sunrise and a sunset different?

Can you answer any of these questions?
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