Brock U-NCDSB CT + Math Tasks

With a focus on experiential learning, Brock University students worked collaboratively with Niagara Catholic District School Board teachers to develop engaging, coding-based activities for students that were explicitly or implicitly about mathematics. For more information, read the News Article from Brock University.

Teams first explored some resources developed by Dr. George Gadanidis, which led them to further develop 4 CT-based math tasks, which summaries you can access below.

1. Probability & Scratch

Probability & Scratch is a task created with the goal of teaching probability by using computational thinking concepts to help students grasp a new and abstract math topic concretely. It was designed for a Grade 7 or 8 level according to the Ontario Math Curriculum, but could be adjusted for other levels.

If you try Probability & Scratch in your classroom or for more information about this task contact Kirstin Dreise – kirstindreise@gmail.com

2. Exploring Geometry & Patterning with Coding

Exploring Geometry and Patterning with Coding was developed with the intention of aiding the students’ development of conceptual and fundamental skills for mathematics. It was created for a special Grade 9 class for students with diverse challenges. However, for first time coders, the Geometry and Spatial Sense and Patterning and Algebra material covered in this project could be done any time from Grade 6 to Grade 9, depending on both the programming and math skill level of the class.

If you try Exploring Geometry and Patterning with Coding in your classroom or for more information about this task contact Ashley Lovnicki – ashleylovnicki@gmail.com

3. Creating a T-Shaped Puzzle with CNC

Creating a T-Shaped Puzzle with CNC is designed to integrate mathematics (coordinates) and technology (Computer Numerical Control Laser machine) at a Grade 8/9 level. The T-shaped puzzle is a tangram that has four pieces and one solution. This task is a computational thinking activity in which students refine a code and create something new while engaging with math concepts and having fun in the math classroom.

If you try Creating a T-Shaped Puzzle with CNC in your classroom or for more information about this task contact Marika Fowler – mf14kl@gmail.com – or Tianxingjian (Aries) Wu – wtxj00789d@gmail.com

4. DASHing the way to Scratch

DASHing the Way to Scratch is a series of tasks created with the goal of teaching young students the increasingly more useful skill of computational thinking, as well as supporting their learning and understanding of integers, angles, shapes, and patterns. This task was designed for a grade 4-7 learning skills class, however it can be implemented in classrooms from grades 2 to 8 with only minor changes to the complexity of the shapes the students create.

If you try Creating a T-Shaped Puzzle with CNC in your classroom or for more information about this task contact Joyce Khouzam – joyce.khouzam96@gmail.com