Pre-Christmas EOG review packet

Here is a copy of the review packet I gave the kids in class today.  I was only able to make a class set, so if you would like a copy, please download and print one out.  I made this from cutting and pasting questions I have found from EOG review material.  These are very typical problems that they will encounter on the test at the end of the year.  I am allowing calculators on this assignment.  They will have 2 days to complete in class and then it will become homework.  I will go over every question in detail when we return from Holiday break.   I will post an answer key when every class has completed it.

Pre-Christmas Review Packet

12 Days of Christmas BONUS QUESTIONS

Here is your bonus questions for this week.  5 BONUS quiz points (total) for all 3 correct answers handed in to me by FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19.


We are all familiar with the Christmas song "the 12 days of Christmas".  (SEE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR SONG)

Your bonus questions are:

1) How many TOTAL gifts would you receive if you got every present mentioned in the song
2) what gift (or gifts) was given the least number of times
3) what gift (or gifts) was given the most number of times
(for questions 2 and 3, count each item individually)

IF YOU HAVE YOUNGER CHILDREN, YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN THIS LINK. IT IS AN INTERACTIVE MAP THAT GIVES YOU THE TOTAL COST FOR THE GIFTS IN THE SONG.... IT IS UPDATED EVERY YEAR AND IS QUITE AN EYE-OPENER.  ENJOY!

INTERACTIVE SITE FOR CALCULATING COST OF CHRISTMAS



HERE IS THE SONG IN CASE YOU FORGOT IT....

On the first day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
A Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the second day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the third day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the fourth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the fifth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the sixth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the seventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the eighth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the ninth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the tenth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Ten Lords a Leaping
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the eleventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Eleven Pipers Piping
Ten Lords a Leaping
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the twelfth day of Christmas

my true love sent to me:
12 Drummers Drumming
Eleven Pipers Piping
Ten Lords a Leaping
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

HELP WITH SOLVING 1 STEP EQUATIONS

I have spent some time this week introducing the kids to Algebra.   For most of the kids, this is their first time really using VARIABLES as an actual part of math rather than just substituting for them in a problem.  We spent a few days talking about how to change word problems into math equations by picking out key words or phrases and converting them to actual math problems.  Your child should have a list of key words and phrases that correspond to specific operations (example:  'the sum of' means to add, 'the product of' means to multiply) in their notebooks.  Please make sure they have looked them over and are familiar with them.

I then went on to show them how to SOLVE simple equations that have 1 variable in them.  I am including a link below that will direct you to site that gives a very good explanation of how I taught it to my classes.  This may or may not be how you may have learned this, but I find this to be a very easy way for the kids to solve these problems.  I am trying to introduce them to manipulating equations to find missing values.  I am requiring all the kids to be fluent in solving 1 step equations (those that only require one step to solve the problem) and for my more advanced students, I showed them how to solve 2 step equations as well.  The link I am including is for a site called PURPLE MATH.COM  which I have been using for a while and that I use when I am tutoring higher level students in higher grades.  Take a few minutes to poke around on that site and see what they have to offer.  (Don't forget about Kahn academy as well for video lessons)

If you have not already purchased a calculator for use in class, now would be a good time to get one.  As soon as we finish our lesson on solving equations, we will move onto percents and ratios and calculators will become very helpful.  You do not need an expensive graphing calculator (they will need one by 8th grade though).  Please try to find one that does fractions easily.  The TI 30X series is very reasonably priced and will do everything needed for 6th and 7th grade.

I am very pleased with the progress of my students learning integers (negative numbers).  It was a difficult topic and most of the kids seemed to master it.  If your child is still having difficulties, encourage them to ask questions in class and/or stay with me after school for some small group help.

Lastly, please encourage your students to continue working with the MobyMax program.  It is a very good resource to help kids fill in the gaps they have in their math knowledge.  The program seems to go back to the earliest material they have not mastered and gives them lessons on those topics until they catch up.  You can see your child's current grade level assessment according the program.  I am hoping that by the end of the year, ALL of my kids are at a minimum of a 6th grade level and ideally into the 7th or 8th grade material.

NOTES ON SOLVING EQUATIONS

WEEKLY CHALLENGE PUZZLE... week of 12/1 - 12/5

Using the shapes above, your challenge is to fit the pieces together to create a rectangle that uses ALL the pieces.

Download the pieces from this link...

bonus puzzle pieces

then cut out the pieces and give it a try.  You goal is to fit the pieces together into a 10 X 6 rectangle (it should be 10 squares long by 6 squares wide).  If you can do this, please tape or glue the pieces together onto a piece of paper and bring it to me to get credit.   If you print the pieces onto cardstock paper rather than plain copy paper it will hold together better (not a requirement though).

GOOD LUCK

5 BONUS POINTS ADDED TO QUIZ GRADES IF IT IS CORRECT.

DUE TO ME BY FRIDAY DECEMBER 12TH