With the crimson hues of persimmons signaling late autumn and the frost heralding the onset of winter, November brings with it a sense of renewal and anticipation. The Math Week at SHSID's Puxi and Pudong campuses for Grades 4 and 5 has officially commenced. Students immerse themselves in the world of mathematics, delving into everyday life and engaging in intricate numerical games to discover its profound beauty and elegance.

Grade 4: Making Charts and Strategizing Party Planning

During Math Week, fourth-grade students embarked on a mathematical adventure, delving into the complexities of Sudoku mazes, the exhilarating challenges of 24-point games, and the intrigue of logical puzzles. Amid laughter and engagement, they experienced the joy of mathematics and subtly refined their numerical intuition and critical thinking abilities.

These engaging math games served merely as the opening chapter of their journey into mathematical exploration. At the same time, students formed groups and made effort to plan their New Year party. They began to design and distribute a survey to collect preferences from guests regarding party souvenirs, games, and event duration. Next, they created charts, for example, bar graphs and line plot pictographs, to visually present these data. Through careful analysis and discussion, they made well-informed decisions based on the data analysis. On Wednesday, a special day in Math Week, grade 4 students expressed their love for mathematics by wearing outfits adorned with mathematical elements, adding a creative and festive touch to the occasion. The students continued to showcase their ingenuity by crafting vibrant and festive invitation posters. Using proportional diagrams, they meticulously planned the party venue layout. They also calculated expenses with precision, ensuring that all activities could be completed within time limitations and budget. 

In the project, students worked closely together as a team. They defined responsibilities, took charge of their tasks, and showed their unique strengths to ensure the completion of every task. As conflicts and different opinions were inevitable, they approached them patiently, listening to each other and debating their ideas. They used numbers and logic to exchange insights and reach consensus based on mutual understanding. At the end of the activity, the students engaged in thoughtful self-reflection. They acknowledged both individual and team efforts and achievements to identify areas for improvement in the future.

Grade 5: Utilizing the "Body Ruler" to Explore the Vastness of the World

Grade 5 students embarked on a unique journey of discovery during Math Week, redefining the art of measurement through a fresh and imaginative lens. Breaking free from the constraints of rulers and formulas, they turned their attention to themselves and the world around them. With outstretched arms, they estimated the dimensions of large spaces, and with strings in place of rulers, they meticulously measured the circumferences of curved objects. Immersed in the joy of exploration, the student's measured items in their classroom calculated the height of projectors and determined the area of whiteboards. Their enthusiasm extended to measuring their teachers' heights, comparing these measurements with their own, and standing on tiptoe to bridge the gap, experiencing firsthand the fun of growth and comparison. This creative and interactive approach not only deepened their understanding of measurement but also fostered a sense of wonder for the world’s dimensions.

As their curiosity continued to grow, students mastered additional methods of indirect measurement. For example, they used similar triangles formed by mirror reflections to estimate the height of hallways. They measured the length of the outermost track on the playground using their steps as units of measurement and approximated the area of Nianci Lake at the Puxi campus by "counting squares." Meanwhile, at the Pudong campus, students enthusiastically ventured into "Mystery Island," a thoughtfully designed activity crafted by their teachers, enjoying the exciting journey of measurement filled with curiosity and discovery.

In this uniquely engaging Math Week, students enjoyed the Math games and gained a profound appreciation for the beauty of mathematics through hands-on experience. Reflecting on this journey, the students expressed deep admiration. They came to realize that mathematics is not merely a collection of formulas and theorems in textbooks but rather an omnipresent source of wisdom and power in everyday life. Through the activities of Math Week, they learned to observe the world through a mathematical lens, adopt mathematical methods to solve problems, and, most importantly, experience the allure and limitless possibilities that mathematics offers. Looking ahead, they will continue to carry with them a deep love and respect for math, advancing with determination as they explore and progress in the vast ocean of mathematical discovery.

Written by Jie Zhou

Pictures/Videos by JieYing Zhang, G4-5 Math Team

Edited by Cong Luo

Supervised by Xumei Ge, Chenli Shen, Cong Luo, Judah, Kuhn