Maths Blog

1W2 – week ending 28th February

Posted on by Mr Sullivan

In continuing the Café Project the class looked at the properties of 2D shapes – this time it was the square as it is another of the most commonly used shape in numerous building designs. We then had a reminder of how to label 2D shapes before looking at the properties of 3D shapes and investigating Eulers Formula. This was followed by a lesson on how to draw 3D shapes on paper. A demonstration of the work we will do next week can be found on the BBC Bitesize website http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/maths/shape_space/3d_shapes/revision/2/ and the next two pages especially page 4 for drawing shapes.

The groups need to be ready to give their presentations in less than two weeks on their finished designs for their cafés (poster/powerpoint; models; scale drawings; computer designs and/or interior/exterior design and layout).

Posted in Maths Class 1W2

5C2 – week ending 21st February

Posted on by Mr Sullivan

The class spent two periods going over the Prelim. All pupils should be aware of how well they did, and in particular where their strengths and weaknesses are. All pupils need to practice the Objective Questions as well as continue to learn the exact values of trigonometric angles that they have been encouraged to learn since August. With only 9 weeks until the exam timetable begins in earnest, all pupils should continue to revise for a minimum of 2.5 hours each week, paying particular focus on any of the previous topics that they struggled with. Later we will continue the topics of Differentiation & Integration going onto harder questions, so all pupils should ensure that they are well versed in these topics and to revise these as necessary.

We then started the topic Wave Function which is relatively straightforward as long as the working is set out properly, and the same for every question (this is a topic which frequently occurs in the non-calculator paper relating to exact values).

Posted in Maths Class 5C2

4B4 – week ending 21st February

Posted on by Mr Sullivan

The first lesson was spent going over the Added Value Unit Test.

 We then spent the next lesson on a practice assessment for the Numeracy Test to prepare the pupils for what will be in the test.

 The class were again directed to the SQA website www.sqasolar.org.uk which has online practice assessments for a number of courses, including National 4 – Numeracy. The class were encouraged to practice some of these by following the links to Open Assess, selecting the subject (Mathematics: Nat 4) followed by the assessment (Numeracy) and then creating the assessment followed by launching the assessment. The likelihood is that all pupils sitting National 4 will be enrolled for this, and will then sit their assessment online. So the more practice an individual has now, the better prepared they will be for the assessment.

 There was a parents’ evening on Thursday 20th February.

Posted in Maths Class 4B4

3A6 – week ending 21st February

Posted on by Mr Sullivan

This week we started the topic Brackets & Equations continuing work done in S1 & S2 on this topic. This can be found on the MyMaths website under Library – Algebra – Algebraic Manipulation – Simplifying 1 & 2 and Single Brackets as well as Algebra – Equations Linear – Simple Equations and Solving Equations.

Posted in Maths Class 3A6

2B1 – week ending 21st February

Posted on by Mr Sullivan

The class sat the test based on the topics covered Integers, 2D & 3D shapes – Triangles & Quadrilaterals (including Angles and Areas), Fractions, Ratio & Proportion, Equations & Expressions, Multiples, Factors & Primes; Powers & Roots; Pythagoras; Estimation & Rounding; Angles & Scale Drawings; Areas of compound shapes, Surface Area & Volume; Speed/Distance/Time; Scientific Notation; Circles as well as Patterns & Relationships. Previous work in S1 & S2 could also be tested.

 The class spent one period of revision before sitting the Level 4 Test.

 We then started the Finance Project with a lesson on Percentage Increase/Decrease and also Interest Rates. This can be found on the MyMaths website under Library – Number – Percentages – Percentage Change 1 & 2 as well as Number – Money & Finance – Simple Interest.

Posted in Maths Class 2B1

2A1 – week ending 21st February

Posted on by Mr Sullivan

The class sat the test based on the topics covered Integers, 2D & 3D shapes – Triangles & Quadrilaterals (including Angles and Areas), Fractions, Ratio & Proportion, Equations & Expressions, Multiples, Factors & Primes; Powers & Roots; Pythagoras; Estimation & Rounding; Angles & Scale Drawings; Areas of compound shapes, Surface Area & Volume; Speed/Distance/Time; Scientific Notation; Circles as well as Patterns & Relationships. Previous work in S1 & S2 could also be tested.

 The class spent one period of revision before sitting the Level 4 Test.

Posted in Maths Class 2A1

1W2 – week ending 21st February

Posted on by Mr Sullivan

This week we spent another lesson on the area of a circle which is on the MyMaths website under Library – Shape – Area & Perimeter – Area of Circles.

In continuing the Café Project the class had some more practical work on constructing models so that they may display their finished café design using cardboard if they wish (later we will look at skeleton models as well). We also discussed how computer software can enhance a design to best effect. This led to looking at the properties of 2D shapes in particular the rectangle as it is one of the most commonly used shape in numerous building designs.

The groups need to be ready to give their presentations in three weeks on their finished designs for their cafés (poster/powerpoint; models; scale drawings; computer designs and/or interior/exterior design and layout).

Posted in Maths Class 1W2

3A6 – week ending 14th February

Posted on by Mr Sullivan

This week we finished the work on the Statistics Project which will be the basis of evidence of the coursework that they have achieved. The class had previously been assigned certain aspects which needed to be completed at home.  Some had not completed this work as requested. The project is based on many of the statistical calculations and processes that the class have carried out, involving Stem & Leaf diagrams, calculating the Mean, finding the 5-Figure Summary and drawing Multiple Boxplots. Every pupil should have a detailed list of the processes that they needed to carry out and then prepare a conclusion based on these calculations. They had to produce a report which will be filed to show that they have achieved these elements of the course.

Posted in Maths Class 3A6

2B1 – week ending 14th February

Posted on by Mr Sullivan

We did some revision of Surface Area & Volume a topic that was part of the S1 Project looking at compound areas, surface areas of 3D Shapes & Volumes of Prisms. This can be found on the MyMaths website under Library – Shape – 2D & 3D Shapes – Nets of 3D Shapes as well as Shape – Volume & Surface Area – Nets, Surface Area and also Complex Surface Area. The work on volume is under – Shape – Volume & Surface Area – Volume of Cuboids; Prisms and also Cylinders. The class were reminded of how to perform these sorts of calculations without a calculator, as the test next week would be without a calculator.

 The class were reminded that there would be one period of revision then the test (without a calculator) on the following topics – Multiples, Factors & Primes; Powers & Roots; Pythagoras; Estimation & Rounding; Angles & Scale Drawings; Areas of compound shapes, Surface Area & Volume; Speed/Distance/Time; Scientific Notation; Circles as well as Patterns & Relationships. Previous work in S1 & S2 could also be tested.

Posted in Maths Class 2B1

2A1 – week ending 14th February

Posted on by Mr Sullivan

We finished the topic Speed/Distance/Time in particular using the appropriate formula for calculating these. This is on the MyMaths website under Library – Shape – Measure – Speed, and we also looked at Distance/Time Graphs. Library – Algebra – Graphs – Distance-Time Graphs. The pupils were once again asked to learn/revise how to convert common fractions into decimal form and how these relate to converting time from hours into minutes in order to perform various calculations. The class were reminded of how to perform these sorts of calculations without a calculator, as the test next week would be without a calculator.

 The class were reminded that there would be one period of revision then the test (without a calculator) on the following topics – Multiples, Factors & Primes; Powers & Roots; Pythagoras; Estimation & Rounding; Angles & Scale Drawings; Areas of compound shapes, Surface Area & Volume; Speed/Distance/Time; Scientific Notation; Circles as well as Patterns & Relationships. Previous work in S1 & S2 could also be tested.

Posted in Maths Class 2A1