Calculator activities
Theses were developed with BRAC primary schools in mind but could be the basis for activities in any classroom where there is only one calculator
Each school will have one simple strong solar powered calculator and a set of activity sheets either in booklet form or printed on separate sheets.
About the Materials
The activities are designed to
Book 1 (click to go to Book 1)
A1 Learning to add on the calculator Introduction to +
A1 Learning to multiply on the calculator Introduction to x
A1 Playing with the calculator Simple introduction
A2 Place Value Activity to help understanding of place value
A3 Doing Division on the Calculator Introduction to division
A3 Make 99 Mental addition practice
A3 Target Addition 1 Using calculator to practice mental addition
A3 Target Addition 2 Using calculator to practice mental addition
A4 Missing Signs Problem solving using operations
A 4 Pick Pairs
B1 Checking with the calculator Using division to check multiplication.
B1 Getting to Know Your Calculator Fractions to Decimals
B2 Divide by 10 Mental skills of division by 10
B2 Fractions on the Calculator Equivalent fractions
B2 Guessing Game Estimating Multiplication
B2 Multiplication Puzzle Mental estimation
B3 Multiplication Challenge Finding missing figures, estimation, deduction
B4 Odds and Evens Result of x odd or even?
B4 Quick Mental Addition Estimation, rounding off to get answers mentally
C1 The Magic of 101 Multiplication patterns, deduction
C1 Fraction Fun Using the calculator to compare fractions
C2 Multiplication with Decimals Equivalent multiplications
C2 Multiplying Decimals Estimation and counting decimal places
C2 Mystery Multiplication Problem solving involving estimation/deduction
C2 Some Strange Division Recurrent Decimals
C3 Magic adding constant Simple programming on the calculator
C3 Mystery Problem with Brackets Estimation, deduction
Book 1
Book 2
Book 3
Notes
The materials are often in the form of stories. In some of the activities I have written Neena and Hamid are doing an activity or playing a game. This is so the rules are explained in a friendly and simple way. Please make sure the language is simple and clear when you have translated them. The materials are also to be seen as supplementary reading so you may want to check with language group.
There are usually more keys on the calculator than we need at the primary level, in particular the square root key, the memory keys. Theses are not used in the activities.
The calculators of course use Hindu Arabic numerals not Bangla numerals. This will make the activities harder for the children
Teachers may like to try the activities in Refreshers before they are given to the children. However the main idea of these activities is that they will be done by the children on their own.
Children will discover for themselves how the calculator works. The activities will give guidance. The Teacher does not need to tell the children anything. Calculators cannot be broken by pressing the wrong keys! They provide a wonderful opportunity for experimental learning.
Using and managing
the activities
This will not be easy. Most BRAC work is based on whole class activities.
There is only one calculator per class.
The activities are for a group of 4 or 5 children to work with one calculator and the Activity Sheet
The activities are to be tried out in NFPE schools.
It may be a good idea to use several different types/makes of calculator so we can find out from the trial which are best.
Suggested approach
I suggest you give the materials + calculator to teachers in trial schools and just find out what they do with them. Build on the good practice of those who find a successful way to use the calculator and the materials. Don’t go in and tell teachers what to do. Lets find out what ideas they have themselves. This is an experimental pilot stage.
In the trial I would like you to find out by observing and talking to children the following;
And by observing and talking to teachers to find out
And about the calculators