Explain this
Creative Use of Odd Moments
How the publisher describes it:
“Odd moments are the occasions when half the class arrives late for some reason or when the main business of the lesson is completed before the bell or whenever you as teacher contrive to find a short period of time to discuss an interesting problem. The contents of this book provide a variety of ideas to use creatively in such odd moments. Each item contains something to discuss or explore which can be adapted or extended to suit a wide range of students.”
Review by Peter Hall
In brief:
In short this is a really good book that would surely become one of your most precious resources.
“They are also rich tasks that would enable students to make their own ideas come to life”
The author opens with ‘What are Odd Moments’ They are the occasions when half the class arrives late for some reason or when the main business of the lesson is completed before the bell or whenever you as teacher contrive to find a short period of time to discuss an interesting problem?.
That nicely sets the tone for the content of this book. In essence this is a collection from the Mathematics in School journal between 1993 and 2001, with additional comments, a pdf version and a set of powerpoint slides (the two latter items on an accompanying CD).
There are 80 ideas covering a wide range of topics - here is a short sample: What is special about multiples of 11, the classis 142857, a pentagram, some good Pythagorean questions, Möbius strips, recurring decimals and so on. What makes this book a real gem is the wide variety of topics addressed in such interesting ways.
As the author suggests in his opening sentence these questions would make good lesson starters and good for filling in odd moments, but they are also rich tasks that would enable students to make their own ideas come to life. These tasks would work well for group work and with further time would make good display work.
In short this is a really good book that would surely become one of your most precious resources.
Peter Hall • AST Mathematics, Imberhorne School, East Grinstead
Paperback: 166 pages
Publisher: Mathematical Association (April 2007)
ISBN-10: 0906588626
ISBN-13: 978-0906588628
Product Dimensions: 20.8 x 15.6 x 1.8 cm
