Math Dictionary
Math Dictionary
The math dictionary will help students remember the meaning of the terms they learn
and as a way to review old material and introduce new.
Primary Learning Objective
The assimilation and learning of math terms for present and future use.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Assessed QCC Standards
Grade: 8
Mathematics
Problem Solving
2
Topic: Vocabulary
Standard: The student describes orally and in writing, using the appropriate vocabulary,
mathematical concepts and procedures, such as solving word problems or computing.
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Procedures/ Activities
Step: 1 Duration: Five minutes
Have students take out their math journal/notebook. They should designate one
section of it as their math dictionary. If you have your student use spiral notebooks,
hopefully they have one with sections and have an available section. If your students
use three-ring notebook, have them add a divider to create a new section.
Step: 2 Duration: Five to Ten minutes
Depending on the size of your class, assign students a partner to work with. If you
have a small class, students could work individually. Assign each student or group
of students one of the following words: absolute value, associative property of
addition, average, commutative property of addition, commutative property of
multiplication, composite number, distributive property, greatest common factor,
identity property of one, identity property of zero, least common multiple, mean,
median, mode, order of operations.
Step: 3 Duration: Two to Three minutes
Distribute ¼ piece of poster board to each pair of students. They should also have
markers, colored pencils, crayons, etc.
Step: 4 Duration: Fifteen to twenty minutes
Take students to the computer lab. They should access the Math Glossary to
determine the definition of their term. Then, the students should write the word and
its definition on the poster board and decorate the poster.
Web Resources for Step 4
Title: Harcourt Brace Math Glossary
URL: http://www.harcourtschool.com/glossary/math_advantage/index.html
Annotation: Glossary with math terms and their definitions sorted by grade.
Step: 5 Duration: Twenty minutes
Have students share their posters with the class. As terms and definitions are
shared, have students add them to their Math Dictionary.
Step: 6 Duration: Three to Five minutes
Explain to the students that we will be adding to this dictionary throughout the
year. During each unit we will be adding new terms that pertain to that particular
unit of study. We will add to this particular unit the following terms: base, cube
root, exponent, integer, perfect square, power, real number, rational number,
irrational number, repeating decimal, scientific notation, square, square foot,
fractions.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------Materials and Equipment
Computers with Internet access
Standards (Local and/or National)
Total Duration
Fifty minutes
Technology Connection
Use of the Internet to find definitions of math terms
Assessment
Correct completion of the poster with definition