Mathematics Belt Loop
Complete these three requirements:
- Do five activities
within your home or school that require the
use of mathematics. Explain to your den how
you used everyday math.
- Keep track of the
money you earn and spend for three weeks.
- Measure five items
using both metric and non-metric measures.
Find out about the history of the metric
system of measurement.
Mathematics Academics Pin
Earn the Mathematics belt loop, and
complete one from each of the five areas below:
Geometry is related
to measurement but also deals with objects and
positions in space.
- Many objects can be
recognized by their distinctive shapes: a
tree, a piece of broccoli, a violin. Collect
12 items that can be recognized, classified,
and labeled by their distinctive shape or
outline.
- Select a single shape
or figure. Observe the world around you for
at least a week and keep a record of where
you see this shape or figure and how it is
used.
- Study geometry in
architecture by exploring your neighborhood
or community. Look at different types of
buildings-houses, churches, businesses,
etc.-and create a presentation (a set of
photographs, a collage of pictures from
newspapers and magazines, a model) that you
can share with your den or pack to show what
you have seen and learned about shapes in
architecture.
Calculating is
adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing
numbers.
- Learn how an abacus
or slide rule works and teach it to a friend
or to your den or pack.
- Go shopping with an
adult and use a calculator to add up how
much the items you buy will cost. See
whether your total equals the total at check
out.
- Visit a bank and have
someone there explain to you about how
interest works. Use the current interest
rate and calculate how much interest
different sums of money will earn.
Statistics is
collecting and organizing numerical information
and studying patterns.
- Explain the meaning
of these statistical words and tools: data,
averaging, tally marks, bar graph, line
graph, pie chart, and percentage.
- Conduct an opinion
survey through which you collect data to
answer a question, and then show your
results with a chart or graph. For instance:
What is the favorite food of the Cub Scouts
in your pack (chart how many like pizza, how
many like hamburgers, etc.).
- Study a city
newspaper to find as many examples as you
can of statistical information.
- Learn to use a
computer spreadsheet.
Probability helps
us know the chance or likelihood of something
happening.
- Explain to your den
how a meteorologist or insurance company (or
someone else) might use the mathematics of
probability to predict what might happen in
the future (i.e., the chance that it might
rain, or the chance that someone might be in
a car accident).
- Conduct and keep a
record of a coin toss probability
experiment.
- Guess the probability
of your sneaker landing on its bottom, top,
or side, and then flip it 100 times to find
out which way it lands. Use this probability
to predict how a friend's sneaker will land.
Measuring is using
a unit to express how long or how big something
is, or how much of it there is.
- Interview four adults
in different occupations to see how they use
measurement in their jobs.
- Measure how tall
someone is. Have them measure you.
- Measure how you use
your time by keeping a diary or log of what
you do for a week. Then make a chart or
graph to display how you spend your time.
- Measure, mix, and
cook at least two recipes. Share your snacks
with family, friends, or your den.
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This site was last updated
09/10/08