Using online tools-Prime number calculator

Web is expanding with information and creative tools for explorations. It has become easier for teachers to integrate readily available tools with classroom teaching. There are so many interesting tools which may be clubbed with teaching of Mathematics for creating not only interest in the subject but also extending a scope for further exploration. Say, for example when we are talking about Prime numbers in a classroom. Prime numbers are positive, non-zero numbers that have exactly two factors .Children normally see them upto 200 or a maximum of upto 500 as it is not expected from them to create a list by manual division process. And sometime they are not sure of correctness of what they have obtained.

I used Prime number calculator for checking whether a given number is Prime or not . This tool helped in finding next largest and next smallest prime numbers of a number. Prime number charts are created for displaying in classroom.

Other interesting links on Prime numbers

History

Eratosthenes of Cyrene

Prime number game using 100chart

Prime pages

Lesson

Eratosthene Sieve Interactive

Interactive prime number game

Clarity of a concept...number and a numeral

Clarity of a concept is essential for creating interest in the subject. Children are often confused with ideas in Mathematics.

For instance take this example of...

What is the difference between a number and a numeral?
When we say there are six flowers in a bouquet, we are mentioning number of flowers.Numeral refers to the markings we use to indicate that idea of number.

That is in above case it is Six, VI or 6.

A number is an abstract concept while a numeral is a symbol used to express that number. How do your express the concept of fiveness…
· Five
· 5
· V
A number is an idea that is used to refer to amounts of things.
A number symbol is called a numeral.
This is what Dr. Math Answered…
http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/58756.html
Read 10 Rules for writing numbers and numerals.
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/10-rules-for-writing-numbers-and-numerals/

So, it is desirable to make concepts clear with proper examples and instances.

Realising the presence...

Mathematics is considered as an abstract subject. Students find it dull and boring. There are so many on this planet who always say " Mathematics is not my cup of tea". Do you know the reason for this indifferent attitude towards Mathematics ?

Have you ever realised the presence of Mathematics around. One thing which is very interesting to note is...the people who say that they are afraid of Math or they hate Math or they try to run away from Math are using/applying it in daily life.

Aren't these people managing house budgets ?

Aren't they not paying bills for their dinner in a restaurant ?

Aren't all of them not using number manipulations, mathematical operations etc?

Aren't they not seeing/observing beauty of geometry all around?

There is not even a single place where the knowledge of Mathematics is not applied. It is very important to make students realise the presence of Mathematics around and how important the subject is in our daily life?

I have created a blog Exploring Mathematics Around where you can find pictures from daily life depicting the presence of Math everywhere.

Answering how???

Answering how??? is very important for learning Mathematics. Say for example A teacher stated in a classroom - The sum of first n odd natural numbers is n² . In the next step students try to remember this result. After some days they forget the formula. Why it is happening? The main reason for this is cramming without understanding.

Mathematics is logical. It means it has valid reasons for what all it has in it as a subject. In the above example one way for understanding is showing visuals. This strategy can be made more interesting if students are participating in between for learning.

Given below is a slide show of pictures representing sum of first n odd natural numbers. Students try to see each one of the figures and come to the final conclusion by observing them in a sequence. Students answer the following questions:

1. Can we express 1 as 1²?
2. What is 1+3 ? Can we express it as 2²? and so on...
3. What is 1+3+5+7+....upto n terms?