Math Mapping

Have you tried Math Mapping? I was looking for a fun way for my kids to create a large visual of major concepts we have learned in math this year, so I thought we could make a mind map. We started out with a large piece of white paper. I set the expectations that they would have to be neat, use colored pencils only and that our math word wall, anchor charts and math journals would be their resources to find information.

It started out something like this.

Yep- a plain white paper. Then, I asked them to think back to the beginning of the year. They remembered we started learning  place value and so...


Kids remember we learned different ways to represent numbers, rounding and comparing decimals. At this point, most kids pulled out their journals and started looking back.

I did one more major concept whole group: FRACTIONS (insert sad, angry, maybe sick emoji). We went through finding common denominators and sketch models for the 4 operations.


Ok, now that I saw that the majority of kids had the hang of it, I paired them up to continue working and pulled a small group to my table. This is what we came up with.


Operations with decimals (and some models)- Here some students brought up some procedural errors kids could make and we took note of them so we would be alert to NOT do them!


Numerical patterns- we represented them 4 ways.



Perimeter, area, and volume- key words and models.


Hierarchy of 2D shapes- quadrilaterals and triangles.


Coordinates- a simple concept for kids!


Data representation- quick sketches to remind us of each graph.


Personal financial literacy- quick definitions and examples.

AND... the finished product

 
 Pardon the blurry pic- we were super caught up in our math!!!

I absolutely loved this activity and most importantly, it helped refresh our minds about all the math learning we did this year. Since STAAR is about one week away, I wanted to do this so that next week when we are reviewing using games (I created 4 games, each for a different reporting category that we will be using to practice as we have fun), stations, technology, and whole group conversations we can look back at out Math Map to help us make connections. Kids LOVED the strategy so much they want to make one for reading and science!!!

Give Math Mapping a try in your classroom!!!