This morning I found a new use for my math manipulatives.
I got to explain the Richter scale by dropping Bask 10 blocks and DecimalMods on the kids.
3 on the Richter Scale = DecimalMod Tile
I explain that a 3 on the Richter Scale is the smallest level that people normally feel. I drop the DecimalMod tile on Sparkle's back and she barely feels it.
4 on the Richter Scale = Base 10 Unit Cube
I drop the tiny cube on Sparkle and she giggles.
5 on the Richter Scale = Base 10 Rod
I drop the rod on Sparkle and she says, "ouch" with a laugh.
6 on the Richter Scale = Base 10 Flat
Sparkle crouches down and I remind her to cover her neck with her hands. I drop the flat on her back and she says, "OWWW."
7 on the Richter Scale = Base 10 (Large) Cube
Sparkle's eyes bug out, even though I promise that I won't drop it on her.
8 on the Richter Scale = Imaginary Giant Rod
Sparkle imagines a rod of ten large cubes.
9 on the Richter Scale = Imaginary Giant Flat
I show Sparkle the large cube and a flat. I explain that a 9 would be a flat if each of the tiny cubes in a flat were the size of the large cube. Compared to the DecimalMod tile, this imaginary giant flat is the relative scale of the earthquake in Japan.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I explain with pictures and the news stories, you use math. Whay am I not surprised? Prayers for all those is Japan and around the world. I love how creative you are. Miss seeing you also.
ReplyDeleteLOL! The girls have seen the pictures on the news and we looked up Sendai on the map. This was just a bonus to explain why a 9 earthquake is so much worse than an 8. I'm amazed at how even a complex math concept like logarithms can be explained to a young child with manipulatives.
ReplyDeleteWe have all been sending prayers to all those affected by the disaster.