Paper Art Friday - Dan McPharlin

Today we introduce a new segment on our site which we will call Paper Art Fridays. We'll scour the web to find both new and established artists and their works of art on which the medium has to be paper based and is not limited to the other paper crafts that we have posted here in the past.

We all know how difficult it is to do regular sized papercrafts and even harder with the smaller ones, well our first talented artist has no problems with that whatsoever, Dan McPharlin (ILLUSTRATOR/PAPERCRAFTER) and his hand-made cardboard miniatures are just magnificent - synthesizers and keyboards the size of an Ipod Shuffle and no bigger than your fist, due to Dan's amazing craftsmanship and exquisite detailing he has earned Paperkraft.net's first Paper Art Friday featured artist spot, so go check it out.



Dan McPharlin [web site] [flickr page] [blogger site]

Final Fantasy IX - Vivi papercraft

For a while I wanted to do a character nice and colorful and finally I did it Vivi from the game Final Fantasy IX. It's in a three page template and would take about 7-8 hours of work to build this 6 inch tall masterpiece. For those who don't know him that well, Vivi Orunitia is one of the most popular character from Final Fantasy IX, he is a Black Mage who gets entangled in Tantalus' plan to kidnap Princess Garnet when he travels to Alexandria. He has a black skin of unknown material, no visible facial features - except for his distinctive glowing yellow eyes, and he has the ability to cast magic without training. Vivi is just nine years old but is incredibly powerful and mature for his age.

Chamoo

Disgaea - Prinny Papercraft

From the PS2's tactical role-playing games Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, here's a papercraft model of Prinny - the pouch-wearing blue penguin with disproportionately small bat wings and two peg legs for feet. The game was released by Nippon Ichi Soft. around 2003. These small little creatures where usually under Etna's control and they explode when thrown at a target. They also follow a ranking system, which starts at Private Prinny, then Captain, General, King, God, and finally Uber Prinny. Papercraft model is in a PDF format and thanks to Kei Kusanagi for the pattern.

Prinny - [Download]
Photo Page - [Flickr]

In Love With The Riot

Accidentally found this video and thought I'd share it with you guys, it has papercrafts on it so I guess that counts as relevant, I like the papercrafts and the music is up beat. The only thing I could find about this group is that their called "Bring Me The Fucking Riot...Man", yes that's the name of the group and their a Swedish punk band. So if you like this sort of music, Rock On!

BMTFR Official Site? [bringmethefuckingriotman.se]

Homeschool Blog Awards

Check out Belated 2006 Homeschool Blog Awards at a site dedicated to this:

www.homeschoolblogawards.com

Right now is the nomination stage. Voting starts some time in April.

"The HSBAwards Team have made some adjustments to categories, added NEW categories we didn’t have in 2005, are offering some awesome prizes for the winners, and we are settling into our new site to house the fun!"

Homeschool Blog Awards

Check out Belated 2006 Homeschool Blog Awards at a site dedicated to this:

www.homeschoolblogawards.com

Right now is the nomination stage. Voting starts some time in April.

"The HSBAwards Team have made some adjustments to categories, added NEW categories we didn’t have in 2005, are offering some awesome prizes for the winners, and we are settling into our new site to house the fun!"

Do you need drill to learn multiplication facts?

Continuing on the same lines as my previous post, what about multiplication facts and drill?

Well, the principle is similar: show them first the concept and patterns.

Then can come some plain drill.

But, I want to share with you a few more detailed points.

1. The main "patterns" in various multiplication tables of course follow from the concept of multiplication. For example, table of 2 is counting by 2's. You get table of 4 by doubling the answers in table of 2. You get table of 8 by doubling the answers in table of 4.
   
   Table of 10 is counting by 10s. Table of 5 - just take half of what the 10 ×
   
   Here are some resources to give you ideas about these kind of patterns and little "tricks".
   
   * Michele's Math
   * Times Tables' factsheets
   
   


2. We ALSO need them to know the tables "backwards".
   
   Let me explain.
   
   It's not enough to know that 8 × 7 is 56, when someone asks what is 8 × 7. The students ALSO need to know that 56 is 8 × 7, when given just the answer 56.
   
   This is very important. Students need this fairly soon when they start learning division. Later on it will be important when simplifying fractions or factoring.
   



3. Since it's important to know the tables backwards, I do not feel it's enough if the child is able to "figure out" the multiplication problems. I feel they need to memorize them, period, and not just be able to count or use some other method to find the answers.
   
   It's fine initially, and indeed very helpful, if the child figures out 8 × 8 by first going 8 × 2 and doubling that twice.
   
   But this fact also needs memorized so that later on, when she comes to the problem 64 ÷ 8, it won't take her 10 seconds to find the answer.
   
   Now you might ask why is that important? Because of long division, for example. It's going to be a pain to learn long division if you don't know your division facts by heart.
   
   Here's another reason: soon the student is going to have fractions to simplify. If you know your division facts, then simplifying 35/56 will be a breeze, otherwise a pain.
   

See how it all builds on the previous topics? You need to get a good foundation, and multiplication facts "both ways" is part of that foundation.

I have posted online the entire guide to effective oral drilling from one of my books.

The guide explains how the teacher and student can achieve memorizing multiplication tables in this manner where they know the answers and they know which answer goes with which multiplication problem.

Check also a list of online games that practice times tables. These are great after you've done some basic drill and the child needs reinforcement (practice!!!).

Do you need drill to learn multiplication facts?

Continuing on the same lines as my previous post, what about multiplication facts and drill?

Well, the principle is similar: show them first the concept and patterns.

Then can come some plain drill.

But, I want to share with you a few more detailed points.

1. The main "patterns" in various multiplication tables of course follow from the concept of multiplication. For example, table of 2 is counting by 2's. You get table of 4 by doubling the answers in table of 2. You get table of 8 by doubling the answers in table of 4.
   
   Table of 10 is counting by 10s. Table of 5 - just take half of what the 10 ×
   
   Here are some resources to give you ideas about these kind of patterns and little "tricks".
   
   * Michele's Math
   * Times Tables' factsheets
   
   


2. We ALSO need them to know the tables "backwards".
   
   Let me explain.
   
   It's not enough to know that 8 × 7 is 56, when someone asks what is 8 × 7. The students ALSO need to know that 56 is 8 × 7, when given just the answer 56.
   
   This is very important. Students need this fairly soon when they start learning division. Later on it will be important when simplifying fractions or factoring.
   



3. Since it's important to know the tables backwards, I do not feel it's enough if the child is able to "figure out" the multiplication problems. I feel they need to memorize them, period, and not just be able to count or use some other method to find the answers.
   
   It's fine initially, and indeed very helpful, if the child figures out 8 × 8 by first going 8 × 2 and doubling that twice.
   
   But this fact also needs memorized so that later on, when she comes to the problem 64 ÷ 8, it won't take her 10 seconds to find the answer.
   
   Now you might ask why is that important? Because of long division, for example. It's going to be a pain to learn long division if you don't know your division facts by heart.
   
   Here's another reason: soon the student is going to have fractions to simplify. If you know your division facts, then simplifying 35/56 will be a breeze, otherwise a pain.
   

See how it all builds on the previous topics? You need to get a good foundation, and multiplication facts "both ways" is part of that foundation.

I have posted online the entire guide to effective oral drilling from one of my books.

The guide explains how the teacher and student can achieve memorizing multiplication tables in this manner where they know the answers and they know which answer goes with which multiplication problem.

Check also a list of online games that practice times tables. These are great after you've done some basic drill and the child needs reinforcement (practice!!!).

Pyramid Head

Hello everyone. My name is Anne-marie but on the papercraft scene im known as Chamoo232

About 3 years ago I made my first paper model. it was Metal Gear Rex that was given at some game show for the promotion of the twin snake. after that I started searching for more video game papercraft but I wasnt always able to find what I wanted so I though to myself "if it dont exist do it yourself". And that is how I started creating my own models.

For my first post I bring you Pyramid Head papercraft model from the game Silent Hill 2

This is actualy the second version of pyramid head I created. the first one was hard to build and wasnt very good looking but it still got very popular and I even found a download of it on a russian website. I hope version 2 will have as much success.

The template can be found on my website as well as most of my other templates.


Due to bandwith problems I had to make a rapidshare link. I got no donations yet to help me pay for an unlimited bandwith host.
This rapidshare contain my whole collection of templates.

Chamoo

How NOT to drill addition facts

Some people think "drill is kill", and many people think it's necessary.

And of those that use it, not everyone knows HOW to actually drill math facts effectively.

You know, this is NOT the most effective way:

Shuffle the flash cards and start asking randomly.

Why? Because you are not utilizing techniques that help our brain remember quicker.

For example, it is easier to remember when the mind can tie the fact into something already known.

This is the idea behind silly rhymes such as "five, six, seven, eight - fifty-six is seven times eight."

Besides those, we want to show our children the PATTERNS in math.

So this is how I start drilling math facts (whether addition or multiplication):

I make a list on paper, IN ORDER. For example, lately we've been doing this with my daughter:

8 + 2
8 + 3
8 + 4
8 + 5
8 + 6
8 + 7
8 + 8
8 + 9

We went through the answers and notice how each one is ONE MORE than the next! That's a pattern!

Then I would point to a fact and say the problem so she'd both see and hear it (using two senses). You can additionally MOVE her finger on the chart with yours - so she's using three senses. This should help the auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learners all.

When I'd point to a fact further down the list, automatically she'd know it's more than a fact that is up on the list. It's a visual pattern.

First, I drilled just a few of them, namely 8 + 3, 8 + 5, and 8 + 8 until she remembered those.

After that, I would go first to 8 + 8 which she knew, and immediately after that to 8 + 9, and she was able to deduce it from knowing 8 + 8.

I would gradually add new facts in a similar manner - using the known facts as "stepping stones" so that the new fact was one more or less than a well-known fact.

And so we go "round and round" on this chart.

NOTICE THIS:
= > The chart creates an organized context for the addition facts.

Obviously, the child is also associating the position of the fact on the chart with the answer, and so after this is well remembered, it will still take another effort to remember the facts when they're in isolated context, such as in a game, or in a math book, or on flash cards.

But at least it is a very good start, I feel!

What are your thoughts?

How NOT to drill addition facts

Some people think "drill is kill", and many people think it's necessary.

And of those that use it, not everyone knows HOW to actually drill math facts effectively.

You know, this is NOT the most effective way:

Shuffle the flash cards and start asking randomly.

Why? Because you are not utilizing techniques that help our brain remember quicker.

For example, it is easier to remember when the mind can tie the fact into something already known.

This is the idea behind silly rhymes such as "five, six, seven, eight - fifty-six is seven times eight."

Besides those, we want to show our children the PATTERNS in math.

So this is how I start drilling math facts (whether addition or multiplication):

I make a list on paper, IN ORDER. For example, lately we've been doing this with my daughter:

8 + 2
8 + 3
8 + 4
8 + 5
8 + 6
8 + 7
8 + 8
8 + 9

We went through the answers and notice how each one is ONE MORE than the next! That's a pattern!

Then I would point to a fact and say the problem so she'd both see and hear it (using two senses). You can additionally MOVE her finger on the chart with yours - so she's using three senses. This should help the auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learners all.

When I'd point to a fact further down the list, automatically she'd know it's more than a fact that is up on the list. It's a visual pattern.

First, I drilled just a few of them, namely 8 + 3, 8 + 5, and 8 + 8 until she remembered those.

After that, I would go first to 8 + 8 which she knew, and immediately after that to 8 + 9, and she was able to deduce it from knowing 8 + 8.

I would gradually add new facts in a similar manner - using the known facts as "stepping stones" so that the new fact was one more or less than a well-known fact.

And so we go "round and round" on this chart.

NOTICE THIS:
= > The chart creates an organized context for the addition facts.

Obviously, the child is also associating the position of the fact on the chart with the answer, and so after this is well remembered, it will still take another effort to remember the facts when they're in isolated context, such as in a game, or in a math book, or on flash cards.

But at least it is a very good start, I feel!

What are your thoughts?

Origami Basics

The basic folds/creases underlying all origami projects are very simple. The two major creases and their symbols (sometimes the symbols differ, but the diagram should tell you if they aren’t using the “standard” notation) are:

1.)Valley Fold (fold the paper so there is a “valley” along the crease): -----------
2.)Mountain Fold (fold the paper so there is a “mountain” along the crease): _--.._--.._--.._—

You can do a great deal with just those two creases! In fact, Pureland Origami (developed by John Smith) only uses those two creases.

-->[3 Pureland style models to try out, and a flash video of how to fold a Pureland Dracula. Also, click the “Smith’s Models” link on John’s site (link above) to get even more diagrams (including non-pureland models). Yay!]<--

The next step from there is to familiarize yourself with common origami symbols/notation, and then get a few bases under your belt. Bases are the series of creases a model is “based” on. Many of these bases date back to the early days of origami, and are used in a huge variety of origami models. The standard bases are also a good place to start if you want to try your hand at making your own models.

A great website to visit if you’re just starting out in origami (and even if you’ve been doing it for awhile) is Oriland. They have some great free diagrams available, as well as a section called ”Oriversity”, where you can access simple diagrams for practice, learn the important origami bases, brush up on your knowledge of origami symbols, and even get some helpful hints. So get folding!

(I guess what I said earlier about “less words next time” was a lie. This is a blog after all, right? :p )

Here are some photos of models I just folded (fresh for you!) from diagrams on the Oriland website:

1.) Box; 2.) Fruit(eggplant...?); 3.)Fern; 4.) Fern and Fruit; 5.) Everyone fits in the box -convenient!

P.S. Is anyone interested in seeing more Kirigami on here? It’s been an age since I’ve done any, but if there’s interest, I’ll try to chuck in some posts about that too. :)

Typical Intro Stuff

Hey everyone – my name is Jane, and I hail from the lovely state of Oregon. Ron has invited me to join the Paperkraft blog so I can share some of my paper skills with you reader types. :) Sorry for the late introduction – it figures that I’d be called out of town for work as soon as I agreed to contribute to a blog!

I’ve been doing origami since I was in pre-school, and over the years I’ve managed to become pretty good at it. Until recently it’s the only kind of “papercrafting” I was really involved in. A few years ago while trolling through the internet for more origami diagrams, I came across the Canon Papercraft page. The papercraft projects they had looked cool, but I didn’t have my own printer (or any access to a color printer, being a poor student). A few months ago I came across the Canon site again, along with the Readymech website. Finding myself in the possession of a color printer (not to mention having some cardstock lying around the house), I quickly pasted up a veritable army of Readymechs. At that point I felt ready to try something more serious, and wound up making a box and a pop-up card from the Canon website. This papercraft stuff is addicting!

Around the time Ron posted his request for another writer on the paperkraft blog, I was knee deep in constructing the Jaguar E-Type model, and decided that I’d submit an e-mail to Ron, freshly bitten by the papercraft bug as I was. So here I am – hopefully now I can get the Jaguar finished off without any more interruptions...

Now that your eyes are burning from too many words (I promise less next time), here are some soothing pictures of some of my Origami projects (better ones to come), as well as a photo of one the Readymechs I made. I’ll post the Jaguar as soon as it's done!

1.) Batboxes; 2.) Star of Peace; 3.)Unit Origami Ball; 4.)Kusudama Ball; 5.)Tentaclops Readymech

Thanks again to Ron for having me on the blog – feel free to drop me a comment if you have any questions! :)

Puma/AC-30 Papercraft

Today we've got the Puma/Ac-30 papercraft model designed by Nick Hayes, it's pretty simple and straightforward so beginners wouldn't have any problems with this one. Gitaroo-Man, was a game developed by Koei and produced in very low quantity for Sony's PlayStation 2 that garnered good reviews with limited sales, but attracted a loyal fanbase and somehow became a "cult video game". The story revolves around U-1 and his talking dog Puma, their alter-egos being Gitaroo-Man and AC-30 respectively. AC-30(Puma) was responsible for teaching U-1 about battling and throws the Gitaroo guitar to him when a challenge is presented. Nuff' said.

Puma/AC-30 Gitaroo Man Papercraft - [via Mediafire]
Puma /AC-30 Photos - [Flickr]

TechBrew/FeedBurner Contest

Just want to let you guys know I recently won a contest from TechBrew.net about showing off your creativity, my prize, a FeedBurner Total Stats Pro account for one year. Made a papercraft Feedburner Car Freshener, in case you were wondering.

Special thanks goes to:

Mark Woodman [TechBrew.net]
Jessica Graeser [Feedburner.com]

Developing positive attitude

What are the incentives needed in order to develop a positive attitude in children and other students towards mathematics?

I am not sure if (special) incentives is the main factor in developing a positive attitude towards mathematics.

I feel it is probably sufficient to get a few of the basics right, and then that alone will take care of most of it, and students can like math just fine.

Disliking math is not something that is inherent in us or in our kids. Little kids don't dislike math or numbers. They're just fine with math. As we know, this "I hate math" or "I don't like math" attitude seems to develop during school years.

Now, I also don't think that children are disliking reasoning, because they're happy to do puzzles and go through games where you have to think.

And, students' negative attitude towards math also is NOT due to (school) math being difficult. The math we learn in school is not difficult. You don't have to be a math whiz to understand it.

If you can learn to read and to use computer software, surely you can learn basic math. It's not that complex.

So... here are the two main factors that I feel contribute most to what attitude children develop towards math:

1) The teacher's attitude.

If you love math and are enthusiastic about it, it is seen in your teaching, and your attitude will be somewhat contagious.

It's true the other way around as well: if you don't like math and are teaching it, students will sense it. (I've written about the teacher's attitude in this article.)


2) How the math is being taught.

Children can end up not liking math when it is taught in such a way that they don't end up understanding it.

When they don't understand it, then they don't like studying more of it.

The teacher is obviously hugely influental in how the math is taught, but curriculum or the math book also plays a role.

So if we as teachers can get these two things straightened out and thus have the basics covered, then some special incentives and other extra "math goodies" won't hurt either.

---

See also:
Four habits of highly effective math teaching

Is your math curriculum coherent?

How to motivate and prevent math anxiety

Developing positive attitude

What are the incentives needed in order to develop a positive attitude in children and other students towards mathematics?

I am not sure if (special) incentives is the main factor in developing a positive attitude towards mathematics.

I feel it is probably sufficient to get a few of the basics right, and then that alone will take care of most of it, and students can like math just fine.

Disliking math is not something that is inherent in us or in our kids. Little kids don't dislike math or numbers. They're just fine with math. As we know, this "I hate math" or "I don't like math" attitude seems to develop during school years.

Now, I also don't think that children are disliking reasoning, because they're happy to do puzzles and go through games where you have to think.

And, students' negative attitude towards math also is NOT due to (school) math being difficult. The math we learn in school is not difficult. You don't have to be a math whiz to understand it.

If you can learn to read and to use computer software, surely you can learn basic math. It's not that complex.

So... here are the two main factors that I feel contribute most to what attitude children develop towards math:

1) The teacher's attitude.

If you love math and are enthusiastic about it, it is seen in your teaching, and your attitude will be somewhat contagious.

It's true the other way around as well: if you don't like math and are teaching it, students will sense it. (I've written about the teacher's attitude in this article.)


2) How the math is being taught.

Children can end up not liking math when it is taught in such a way that they don't end up understanding it.

When they don't understand it, then they don't like studying more of it.

The teacher is obviously hugely influental in how the math is taught, but curriculum or the math book also plays a role.

So if we as teachers can get these two things straightened out and thus have the basics covered, then some special incentives and other extra "math goodies" won't hurt either.

---

See also:
Four habits of highly effective math teaching

Is your math curriculum coherent?

How to motivate and prevent math anxiety

Tarutaru

You've got the Moogle, the Cactuar, Bahamut, and now here's another Final Fantasy papercraft model that you can add to your collection, the Tarutaru is from Square Enix's MMORPG - Final Fantasy XI:Online which was set on the fictional world of Vana'diel. The Tarutaru are a race of skilled mages who live alongside the Mithra in Windurst, having a racial prejudice towards magical studies, they have a higher reserve of magical power (MP) and excels at Black/White/Red Magic and the art of summoning. The only downside to their abilities as with other traditional spellcrafters is their lack of durability (HP) and strength which makes them extremely vulnerable to physical attacks.

Tarutaru Pics - [Flickr.com]

Tarutaru - Download
Bahamut - Download
Cactuar - Download
Moogle - Download

New package products

There's so much going on with my Math Mammoth books that I again have a little "piece of news" along those lines.

I have made two new CD products, besides the one existing:


1) Blue Series package

This package contains all 16 Math Mammoth Blue Series books. It is available as a download and as a CD.

The price for this is $40 (download) and $45 (CD).


2) Golden/Green series package

Golden/Green series package is offered on a CD for $50. Remember that my Green series worksheets collections are totally duplicate content with the Golden ones, but the CD contains both series for convenience's sake. That way you may find quicker the exact worksheets for your needs.


3) ALL INCLUSIVE Math Mammoth CD

This CD contains all of it: the Blue series, the Golden series, and the Green series. Price: $80.

You can order all those above on this page

New package products

There's so much going on with my Math Mammoth books that I again have a little "piece of news" along those lines.

I have made two new CD products, besides the one existing:


1) Blue Series package

This package contains all 16 Math Mammoth Blue Series books. It is available as a download and as a CD.

The price for this is $40 (download) and $45 (CD).


2) Golden/Green series package

Golden/Green series package is offered on a CD for $50. Remember that my Green series worksheets collections are totally duplicate content with the Golden ones, but the CD contains both series for convenience's sake. That way you may find quicker the exact worksheets for your needs.


3) ALL INCLUSIVE Math Mammoth CD

This CD contains all of it: the Blue series, the Golden series, and the Green series. Price: $80.

You can order all those above on this page

Los primeros libros Mamut Matemáticas

Finalmente he logrado que los tres primeros libros Mamut Matematicas (traducidos de los de Math Mammoth) están disponibles en el sitio web Mamut Matematicas.

Los libros que están listos son:

1) Valor posicional 1 - se trata de decenas y unidades.

2) Valor posicional 2 - se trata de centenas, decenas, y unidades.

3) Multiplicación 1 - concepto de multiplicar, y práctica de las tablas. Este libro en particular (o su versión inglés) ha recibido algunas reacciones 'muy entusiastas' de los compradores.

Todos los libros son electrónicos, o archivos PDF, lo que permita imprimir sus páginas repetidas veces.

También significa que los precios son bajos (entre $2 y $5) porque yo no tengo el costo de imprimir.

Los libros Mamut Matematicas son para usted, si...

* necesita materiales autodidácticos, los cuales se puede usar sin preparación.
* necesita flexibilidad (imprimir las páginas que necesita, cuándo los necesita, cuántas veces quiere)
*
* Y sobre todo.. usted quiere que su hijo realmente aprenda y entienda los "porque"s de matemáticas - y no solo memorizarla. Algo que explica los conceptos CLARAMENTE.

Estos textos se *encofan* en el entender de los conceptos y principios matemáticos, sin olvidar la repetición necesaria para dominar los procedimientos.

Vease usted mismo... las hojas ejemplares (gratis!) de cada libro le dan un buen vistazo de mis libros.

=> MamutMatematicas.com

Los primeros libros Mamut Matemáticas

Finalmente he logrado que los tres primeros libros Mamut Matematicas (traducidos de los de Math Mammoth) están disponibles en el sitio web Mamut Matematicas.

Los libros que están listos son:

1) Valor posicional 1 - se trata de decenas y unidades.

2) Valor posicional 2 - se trata de centenas, decenas, y unidades.

3) Multiplicación 1 - concepto de multiplicar, y práctica de las tablas. Este libro en particular (o su versión inglés) ha recibido algunas reacciones 'muy entusiastas' de los compradores.

Todos los libros son electrónicos, o archivos PDF, lo que permita imprimir sus páginas repetidas veces.

También significa que los precios son bajos (entre $2 y $5) porque yo no tengo el costo de imprimir.

Los libros Mamut Matematicas son para usted, si...

* necesita materiales autodidácticos, los cuales se puede usar sin preparación.
* necesita flexibilidad (imprimir las páginas que necesita, cuándo los necesita, cuántas veces quiere)
*
* Y sobre todo.. usted quiere que su hijo realmente aprenda y entienda los "porque"s de matemáticas - y no solo memorizarla. Algo que explica los conceptos CLARAMENTE.

Estos textos se *encofan* en el entender de los conceptos y principios matemáticos, sin olvidar la repetición necesaria para dominar los procedimientos.

Vease usted mismo... las hojas ejemplares (gratis!) de cada libro le dan un buen vistazo de mis libros.

=> MamutMatematicas.com

Spanish versions of Math Mammoth books - Mamut Matematicas

Finally...! I have three books available on the Spanish website MamutMatematicas.com:

Valor Posicional 1 y 2

Multiplicacion 1

These are the exact translations of my existing books Place Value 1, Place Value 2, and Multiplication 1.

I will make a separate blogpost about them in Spanish as well...

Spanish versions of Math Mammoth books - Mamut Matematicas

Finally...! I have three books available on the Spanish website MamutMatematicas.com:

Valor Posicional 1 y 2

Multiplicacion 1

These are the exact translations of my existing books Place Value 1, Place Value 2, and Multiplication 1.

I will make a separate blogpost about them in Spanish as well...

Paper Transformed

If your anywhere near Escondido, California - here's a unique paper exhibit at the Mingei International Museum (North County) that's comprised of two similar paper art forms. "Origami - The Art of Paper Folding" on the first floor - has dinosaurs, animals, and other origami objects which was made by a group of 25 artists and the second one is called "Crowning Glory", located on the second floor, it's filled with 250 elaborate hats made out of brown paper bags from Hawaiian artist, Moses. The museum is also giving free demonstrations on Saturdays to learn simple origami and the exhibit will run through July 21, 2007.

Paper Transformed [mingei.org]
chess photo [nctimes.com]

Cat Box

This is a cute and simple papercraft project made by Henk Stolker. Best printed on stiff paper or thin cardboard. The pdf file is available in colour or black and white which makes it great for kids craft to be used in schools or at home. It takes only a few minutes to assemble this cat box. It's about 4.5" in height.



Henk Stolker's website >> http://www.stolker.nl/n/js/download/bouwplaat.html
Coloured PDF file (215 kb) >> http://www.stolker.nl/download/poezendoos-kleur.pdf
Black and White PDF file (88 kb)>> http://www.stolker.nl/download/poezendoos-zww.pdf

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I'd just like to say hi to everyone and thanks to Ron for allowing me to contribute in PaperKraft.Net . I hope that everyone would like the paper models that I post up :)

Need multiplication tables practice or games?

Remember, I have created a list of the best online activities, games, tutorials, etc. for this (and other topics as well).

All kids love games, and with multiplication tables, it's one way to give them more practice.

The complete list of online activities is here, but I'll copy and paste a sample to this blogpost:

---

Multiplication grid
Drag the scrambled answer tiles into the right places in the grid as fast as you
can!

Multiplication.com
Strategies, worksheets, games just for times tables.

The Times Tables at Resourceroom.net
Fill in the multiplication chart - partially or the whole thing - or take quizzes, and get graded.

Explore the multiplication table
This applet visualizes multiplication as a rectangle.

Table Mountain
Climb the mountain with 20 questions from a selected table.

Multiplication table Challenge
100 questions, timed.

Multiplication mystery
Drag the answer tiles to right places in the grid as they are
given, and a picture is revealed

Mr. Taylor's Multiplication Facts Drill
Simple practice (click on the right answer) for the easy ones, the hard ones, the monsters, or them all.

Multiplication memory game
Click on corresponding pairs (problem-answer).

---

You will find a few more here, plus some recommended books and software.

Need multiplication tables practice or games?

Remember, I have created a list of the best online activities, games, tutorials, etc. for this (and other topics as well).

All kids love games, and with multiplication tables, it's one way to give them more practice.

The complete list of online activities is here, but I'll copy and paste a sample to this blogpost:

---

Multiplication grid
Drag the scrambled answer tiles into the right places in the grid as fast as you
can!

Multiplication.com
Strategies, worksheets, games just for times tables.

The Times Tables at Resourceroom.net
Fill in the multiplication chart - partially or the whole thing - or take quizzes, and get graded.

Explore the multiplication table
This applet visualizes multiplication as a rectangle.

Table Mountain
Climb the mountain with 20 questions from a selected table.

Multiplication table Challenge
100 questions, timed.

Multiplication mystery
Drag the answer tiles to right places in the grid as they are
given, and a picture is revealed

Mr. Taylor's Multiplication Facts Drill
Simple practice (click on the right answer) for the easy ones, the hard ones, the monsters, or them all.

Multiplication memory game
Click on corresponding pairs (problem-answer).

---

You will find a few more here, plus some recommended books and software.

Disney's Stitch - Experiment 626

From the animated feature movie Lilo and Stitch, we present the Stitch (Experiment 626) papercraft model - he's blue, mischievous, nearly indestructible, bulletproof, fireproof, night vision and infrared capable, can move objects 3,000 times his size, and extremely cute. Handle with care when adding to your papercraft collection, he has a tendency to destroy everything he touches. You have been warned!



Stitch - Download
Stitch Photos - Flickr

News

A few "news" items...

1) I added some images and banners for others to use when linking to Math Mammoth website over here - including images that say "I use Math Mammoth" if you'd like to use such!





2) California Faces Critical Shortage of Math and Science Teachers

3) Kentucky is considering monetary incentives for math and science teachers - as we all know, those qualified to teach math often find better paying jobs elsewhere.

News

A few "news" items...

1) I added some images and banners for others to use when linking to Math Mammoth website over here - including images that say "I use Math Mammoth" if you'd like to use such!





2) California Faces Critical Shortage of Math and Science Teachers

3) Kentucky is considering monetary incentives for math and science teachers - as we all know, those qualified to teach math often find better paying jobs elsewhere.

Math and Fun

I strongly believe math can be quite fun in some aspects of it; yet I also believe that not all of it has to be all fun.

It's good for students to learn to work through problems that are just that: work and no fun. That's what real life and real jobs will involve too.

Of course most of us try to get an occupation that we are interested in and can enjoy for the most part, but even then, we probably won't like all parts of our "dream job".

So in math, as in all education, we need to let our students learn to work, struggle, prowl through it.

But we can also let our students have some fun every once in a while. This can make them enjoy math, like math, appreciate it, like learning, and so on. I'm sure it's easy to agree with that.

In lower grades you might have more play than work, and then later on it's more work than play. For example, maybe you're studying coins and their values. Your child can play with real coins, do paper-and-pencil problems, and maybe play an online game about money or coins.

When studying algebra, it is going to be more on the work side, since algebra is similar to learning the "alphabet" and "basic grammar" of a new language. The "fun" topics tend to come after you've learned your basic language and can go off exploring (such as in calculus).

So I feel there is a balance between these two.

---

Along these lines, I've recently turned my attention to a math website Called Googol Learning whose founder Susan Jarema is making math to be googols of fun (googol is the number 10¹⁰⁰, or 1 followed by 100 zeros).

For example, she encourages you to, and gives ideas and resources for starting your own math club! This could be a family math night, or a monthly gathering of a few kids and adults together.

Susan uses a lot of music to make things more fun. She's produced audio CDs that combine math, music, and story telling for better learning.

Susan also gives interactive workshops in schools and homes.

One of these workshops is also now recorded on a CD (Crazy 4 Math), and for another one there is a family and teacher's kit (Discovery Multiplication Math Program).

The site also features a list of virtual field trips about volcanoes, tsunamis, earthquakes, or how many everyday things are made.

And what would be math fun without games? On her site you'll also find a list of best online math games.

Math and Fun

I strongly believe math can be quite fun in some aspects of it; yet I also believe that not all of it has to be all fun.

It's good for students to learn to work through problems that are just that: work and no fun. That's what real life and real jobs will involve too.

Of course most of us try to get an occupation that we are interested in and can enjoy for the most part, but even then, we probably won't like all parts of our "dream job".

So in math, as in all education, we need to let our students learn to work, struggle, prowl through it.

But we can also let our students have some fun every once in a while. This can make them enjoy math, like math, appreciate it, like learning, and so on. I'm sure it's easy to agree with that.

In lower grades you might have more play than work, and then later on it's more work than play. For example, maybe you're studying coins and their values. Your child can play with real coins, do paper-and-pencil problems, and maybe play an online game about money or coins.

When studying algebra, it is going to be more on the work side, since algebra is similar to learning the "alphabet" and "basic grammar" of a new language. The "fun" topics tend to come after you've learned your basic language and can go off exploring (such as in calculus).

So I feel there is a balance between these two.

---

Along these lines, I've recently turned my attention to a math website Called Googol Learning whose founder Susan Jarema is making math to be googols of fun (googol is the number 10¹⁰⁰, or 1 followed by 100 zeros).

For example, she encourages you to, and gives ideas and resources for starting your own math club! This could be a family math night, or a monthly gathering of a few kids and adults together.

Susan uses a lot of music to make things more fun. She's produced audio CDs that combine math, music, and story telling for better learning.

Susan also gives interactive workshops in schools and homes.

One of these workshops is also now recorded on a CD (Crazy 4 Math), and for another one there is a family and teacher's kit (Discovery Multiplication Math Program).

The site also features a list of virtual field trips about volcanoes, tsunamis, earthquakes, or how many everyday things are made.

And what would be math fun without games? On her site you'll also find a list of best online math games.

Pornogami

Origami, the Japanese art of paper folding has long been a family oriented past time, from the young ones all the way to the young once. But recently, a new style has branched out geared primarily for the adult practitioners of origami. Marc Kirschenbaum, 37 yr. old native New Yorker and Master Origamist has started doing Pornogami, yes that's right, Pornographic Origami. Although sexual material in the 3D paper model world has been around for a while, it's not that very common in origami because origami purists would like to keep it G-rated. Marc has done pornogami for Playboy (vagina) and Maxim (copulating bunnies) out of dollar bills, and is a board member of OrigamiUSA.

Fold Me Now [Village Voice]
Pornogami Gallery [Village Voice]
Marc Kirschenbaum [Web Site]