Can you beat 5 second?

With Terra Nova testing just around the corner, it's a good idea to give yourself some time to review math facts before the big test.  Of course, any time is a good time to review math.  But here's a fun new game to play.  Our second graders and fifth graders got their times down to under a minute today.  Can you??

Kakooma Game

1. Click on the link above, then click on the Kakooma game.

2. Choose which math facts you want to practice.

3. Choose easy or hard on the six sided shapes (other shapes are available, but the hexagons are free!)

4. In addition, fractions, and integers, the goal is to pick the number in each hexagon that is the sum of two other numbers in the hexagon.  In multiplication, the goal is to choose the number that is the product of two other numbers, then the final hexagon is addition.

See if you can beat your best time each time you play.  Or see if you can beat the All Time records on the side of the page.

Just another way practicing math can be fun!!

The Pope retires! Can he do that?

In addition to being the resource teacher, I teach one class of fifth grade religion.  It just happens that we were discussing how Pope's are elected and how the conclave works this past Friday.  I even said to my students, "It's good to know, but this probably won't happen for a while."  Then I woke up this morning to the very interesting news of Pope Benedict XVI resigning.
In trying to find some information to present to the class, I came across a couple great resources.  This one is a very easy to read graphic from the Washington Post that was put together at the time Pope Benedict XVI was elected.  The numbers may be a little off, but the process is the same.

How Does a Pope Get Elected (Graphic)

This one is a video from You Tube that has much of the same information, but is presented in a different way.

How do they choose a Pope (video)

Hope that helps!