Communicating with Families
Family members come from so many different experiences with math. Having parents
or family members do MathScape activities gives them a common experience and
helps them see how the mathematics can be embedded in investigations. The following
are several ways to communicate with parents about MathScape.
- Write a letter to the family about individual units. A letter to families
is included in most units in the reproducible section of the teacher guide.
- Write newsletters to parents. These may include topics such as “Math goals for
our current unit,” “Sample problems from the unit,” or “Due
dates for projects, tests, and assignments.”
- Hold a family math night/breakfast. Offering a night/morning for parents to gather
and be lead in an overview of the curriculum, and sample activities that showcase
the types of investigations that happen in their child’s math classroom.
- Discuss MathScape at Back to School Night. Give a short overview of the curriculum goals, show
how MathScape correlates to state standards and state tests. Display student
work and have students available to discuss what they did. If time allows,
do an investigation with families.
Suggestions for 6th Grade parent activities
| Unit Name |
Lesson |
| From Wholes to Parts |
Lesson 11, Race for the Wholes |
| Beside the Point |
Lesson 3, Place Value Game |
| Patterns in Numbers and Shapes |
Lesson 3, Crossing the River |
Suggestions for 7th Grade parent activities
| Unit Name |
Lesson |
| Buyer Beware |
Lesson 11, Shop with Discount Coupons |
| The Language of Algebra |
Lesson 4, Raising Funds |
| Chance Encounters |
Lesson 5, The Mystery Spinner Game |
Suggestions for 8th Grade parent activities
| Unit Name |
Lesson |
| Looking Behind the Numbers |
Lesson 2, Who's the Best |
| Mathematics of Motion |
Lesson 10, The Lins Go on an Outing |
| Family Portraits |
Lesson 10, Folds and Regions |
