Button Math

For kids in 3rd through 8th grade. Build reading and math skills. Learn how to follow written directions

Your students learn how to operate computers as they draw pictures, make pin-on buttons, and solve math problems.

BASIC STEPS

1. Make or purchase enough Cartesian coordinate grids for your class.

2. Draw simple pictures on the grid that require making lines, circles, angles and arcs.(I use a picture of a house, a snow man and a ship.

3. Create a sequential set of ruler, compass and protractor steps needed to make each picture.(Make enough copies for each student or group of students.)

4. Have the students follow the directions and make the simplest of the drawings on a grid.

5. Repeat steps 4 until all the pictures have been made.

6. Have students make a 2 1/4 inch circle on a piece of paper.

7. Have students practice the line, circle, angle and arc skills they learned making the grid pictures to make pictures of their own design inside the circle.

8. Have students color and cut out the pictures made in step 7. Make them into buttons that the students can give as gifts or keep for themselves. (The machines to make the buttons start at sixty dollars and button hardware costs about twenty-five cents a button.)

For more information on purchasing the button making machines  and button hardware contact Badge-A-Minit at
www.badgeaminit.com or phone them at 800-223-4103.



HIGH TECH STEPS

1. Make or purchase enough Cartesian coordinate grids for your class.

2. Create an example by drawing simple pictures on a grid. Your pictures should require making lines, circles, angles and arcs. (I use a picture of a house, a snowman and a ship.)

3. Create a sequential set of ruler, compass and protractor steps needed to make each picture. (Make enough copies for each student or group of students.)

4. Create a sequential set of computer steps needed to reproduce the drawings on a computer drawing program. (I use Paint because it comes free with Windows, but there are plenty of commercial drawing products available.) Make enough copies for each student or group of students.

5. Have the students follow the directions and make the simplest of the drawings on a grid.

6. Have the students follow the directions and make the simplest of the drawings on the computer drawing program.

7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 until all the pictures have been made.

8. Have students make a 2 ¼ inch circle on a computer drawing program.

9. Have students practice their newly learned computer drawing skills to make grid pictures or free hand pictures of their own design inside their circles.

10. Print out the pictures made in step 9 and make them into buttons that the students can give as gifts or keep for themselves. (See above for more information about machines and button hardware.)

Needs List

SIMPLE	HIGH TECH
Cartesian coordinate grids Paper Ruler Pencil Compass Protractor Crayons Button machines Button parts	Same as simple, plus: Computer loaded with computer drawing program (I use Windows Paint)