When The Blog and The Day Job Collide: Sir Cumference and the First Round Table
If you follow me on Twitter, you might know I blog about math as part of the day job*. Every week I struggle to find a math topic that excites me enough to write three complete paragraphs on it. Thank goodness for the internet. If it wasn't for that, I'd never realize that there's a whole subset of math fiction.
So with the help of the Boston Public Library, I had a copy of Sir Cumference and the First Round Table in my hot little hands when I should've been revising**.
Sir Cumference and the Round Table is a cute story that takes place in Arthurian England. King Arthur and his knights have a meeting to discuss potential invaders to Camelot but have problems talking with a rectangular table in the way. Through a series of trial and error, they try different shaped tables but each shape poses their own problems.
What I liked about it: The character names and how they relate to circles. The naming conventions do remind you what the terms circumference, radius, and diameter mean. It's part of series, so you can follow Sir Cumference throughout Angleland*** and become math savvy while you're at it.
Also, there's tons of educational resources that tie into the book (and series). This is great for both homeschoolers and teachers alike. Below you can find some links to different lessons plans for this title.
Sir Cumference and the First Round Table does align with NCTM standards. For more information that, you can click here.
* Fortunately, all math topics mustn't exceed Grade 9, which works out fantastic since I stopped after Algebra II.
** That it's taken my three weeks to start round two revisions on Phoenix Rising is pretty pathetic.
*** There's a reason for the misspell. Trust me.
______
Last.fm hit of the day: Mourning Palace by Dimmu Borgir
So with the help of the Boston Public Library, I had a copy of Sir Cumference and the First Round Table in my hot little hands when I should've been revising**.
 |
| Image from Charlesbridge Publishing. |
What I liked about it: The character names and how they relate to circles. The naming conventions do remind you what the terms circumference, radius, and diameter mean. It's part of series, so you can follow Sir Cumference throughout Angleland*** and become math savvy while you're at it.
Also, there's tons of educational resources that tie into the book (and series). This is great for both homeschoolers and teachers alike. Below you can find some links to different lessons plans for this title.
- Alabama Learning Exchange
- SMart Books Lesson Plans
- Round Table Discussion Guide. (Note: This pulls up a PDF immediately.)
Sir Cumference and the First Round Table does align with NCTM standards. For more information that, you can click here.
* Fortunately, all math topics mustn't exceed Grade 9, which works out fantastic since I stopped after Algebra II.
** That it's taken my three weeks to start round two revisions on Phoenix Rising is pretty pathetic.
*** There's a reason for the misspell. Trust me.
______
Last.fm hit of the day: Mourning Palace by Dimmu Borgir