Mathematics - Recreation & Games

Number Sense and Nonsense

Name: Number Sense and Nonsense
Author: Claudia Zaslavsky
ISBN: 9781556523786

by Claudia Zaslavsky

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Overview

These 80-plus math activities and number games help kids to think critically about math instead of just memorizing rules. The emphasis is on the underlying relationships between numbers and the process of manipulating them. Kids get together and play games with odd and even numbers, prime and composite numbers, factors, divisors, and multiples of numbers, common and decimal fractions. Children learn the history of numbers—finger counting, number symbols in various cultures, and different ways of calculating. The book is full of riddles, puzzles, number tricks, and calculator games. Kids develop skills in estimation and computation as they become familiar with the characteristics and behavior of numbers. They will gain math confidence and be ready to take chances, find their own errors, and challenge their peers.

Synopsis

Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School

Written in an easy style that both entertains and instructs.

About the Author, Claudia Zaslavsky

Claudia Zaslavsky is the author of Math Games and Activities from Around the World and The Multicultural Math Classroom. She lives in New York City.

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Editorials

Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School

Written in an easy style that both entertains and instructs.

Teaching Children Mathematics

This book is fun and refreshing.

Children's Literature

Math scares many people, particularly young people. This clever book emphasizes that math is a normal part of life and really just common sense. The proliferation of standards in education along with the accompanying testing has taken much of the fun out of number computation. This book endeavors to replace that with fun, through educational activities that can be performed at home as well as in the classroom. There are eight chapters about subjects such as Riddles, Puzzles and Other Mind Bogglers; Zero-Is it Something, is it Nothing; or Money, Measures and Other Matters. The activities are simply written and generally accompanied by black-and-white illustrations. There are fun exercises for the whole family to participate in, say, at the dinner table. Adults may even be challenged to revisit many of these concepts. A definite addition to the elementary classroom designed to instill confidence in math abilities, there are notes to the teacher and parent to assist in the use of the book. 2001, Chicago Review Press, $14.95. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer: Meredith Kiger

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-Zaslavsky offers an innovative approach to teaching the properties and relationships of numbers and their relevance in the everyday world. Each chapter presents scenarios of children grappling with different concepts. The first section encourages youngsters to experiment, looking for patterns and using "number sense" to determine whether or not solutions are feasible. Next, the author explains prime numbers and divisibility rules. Chapter three deals with the role and properties of zero and with place value, while the fourth delves into math in daily life, focusing on money and measurement. Other chapters are devoted to puzzles and games and provide an overview of counting in ancient cultures. Rather than emphasizing rote memorization, the examples and challenges promote creativity and empower children. Two excellent annotated reading lists, one primarily for upper-elementary-school children and one for adults, are appended. Simple black-and-white cartoons and diagrams illustrate the principles and concepts. Though motivated students will enjoy reading the book and tackling the problems on their own, more reluctant youngsters will benefit from whole-class discussions or one-on-one tutorials for optimum comprehension.-Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.