Why are warm-ups important?

Why do you warm-up in sports?

The warm-up should gently prepare the body for exercises by gradually increasing the heart rate and circulation; this will loosen the joints and increase blood flow to the muscles. Stretching the muscles prepares them for physical activity and prevents injuries. The warm-up is also a good opportunity for an individual to prepare themselves mentally for the game ahead and for a team to work together prior to the start of the game. Warm-ups can also be used to practice skills and team drills.

http://www.nsmi.org.uk/articles/injury-prevention/warming-up.html

Just like in sports your brain is a muscle. Doing a quick activity to "warm it up" helps you prepare for the day! It helps you get ready for the subject we are about to learn, and it is good for practicing previous knowledge.

Everyday we will complete a warm-up. The warm-up should only take about 6 minutes of our time. It will be time for you to get "warmed up" and focused with math, and ready to go for the day.

Each day will also have a theme, for example, what we do on Thursday will be the same concept every Thursday throughout the year.

Here are out daily warm-ups:

Memory Monday
At the beginning of the week it is important to review what we did the previous week! So Monday will either be a review day or a Mental Math day. Whatever the teacher decides.

Target Number Tuesday
This has been a favorite in the past! I will pick a random number for the day and you will have 3 minutes to come up with as many ways to get to that number. For example: If the number I chose was "20" you need to come up with as many ways as possible to get it in 3 minutes. Ready?!?! GO.  4*5  100/5  18+2  76-56  2*10  1*20  15+5  do you see what I mean? Can you come up with more? Some days I will make it tricky and request that you only do multiplication and subtraction. Or I will say, come up with at least 4 addition, 7 subtraction, and so on...it gets your brain workin....gettin it warmed UP!

Word Problem Wednesday
We will learn a strategy for reading word problems in math. I will give you a 2 to 3 step problem that will need to be solved. It will be a thinker, and most likely about a subject we are learning about!

Think About It Thursday
It is important to write in every subject. I will post a question on the board, it may be something like "What is the difference between area and volume?" It may be a riddle that you need to think through, or it may be a question "How did you use math outside the classroom this week?" All I ask is that you write 1 paragraph and you will get full points for your warm-up that day!

And last but not least.....

Four Card Friday
This is a great brain booster!!! The Asian students as early as 8 years old are able to do this activity in a matter of seconds! For this warm-up (and I will have to do it along with you) I will choose 4 random cards from a deck. Lets say I chose a  -K,7,2,4- with these 4 cards you need to put the numbers in any order ( you have to use ALL of them) and you can use any order of operations to make the answer 21. Try is out! Get that brain going!

how about... (7x2) + K - 4 = does that equal 21? (K=10 by the way)

ok now you and your parents try it! Here are 4 cards... ready???  -3,3,6,2-

Bring your answer to Back to School Night!