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Thursday, March 21, 1991 / University Daily Kansan
Students learn to teach math in different form
by Sarah Davis
Kansan staff writer
Five buckets full of tiny, plastic shapes — orange squares, green triangles, yellow hexagons — await used.
In small groups, students took turns arranging the blocks to form shapes.
These students were not kindergarten-
ers. UU students learning a new form,
of reading.
About 30 students are enrolled in Modern Elementary Mathematics, a course that teaches math to students who want to become elementary teachers.
That is where the blocks come in. They are visual, hands-on form of multiplying.
Students use the shapes to generate pattern sequences. When they figure out the pattern, they can predict what the final outcome will be.
For example, by adding a triangle to each side of the pattern, they learn that the sequence increases in multiples of three.
"The idea of sequence is a basic concept of math," said Judy Roitman, professor of mathematics, who teaches one of the sections of the course. A graduate teaching assistant teaches the other section.
Roitman said the block method
was one of many she taught in the class to help education majors better understand math so they could relate it to children more easily.
"The purpose of this class is to teach math that people will do in elementary school." she said. "I'm using this because patterns are a very important part of the curriculum now starting in kindergarten."
Children grasp more when learning is fun. Roitman said.
"Wouldn't you rather get on the floor and play with blocks?" she said. Stacey Smith, Shawnee senior who is in the class, agreed.
"If they start out using this in younger grades, it's good because they can relate to shapes better than to numbers," she said. "It's fun because it's hands-on experience, and they learn it easier."
Jenny Anderson, Omaha, Neb.
senior, said that although learning math using the blocks herself was hard to grasp, a child might benefit from the technique and not even know they were learning.
Anderson said she enjoyed learning the block method.
"I've learned more in the class in how to teach math and relate it to children on their level," she said. "I just all board and book. It's hands-on."
Water wars
Delta Chi members Adam Rhoades, Omaha, Neb., freshman; Greg Kendall, St. Louis sophomore; Scott Lubert, Olathe freshman; and Chris Ball, Springfield, Mo., junior, prepare to launch a water
Julie Jacobson/KANSAN
balloon at members of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house. In the spirit of friendly competition, the two fraternities have issued official declarations of water-war.
By Amy Francis
Kansan staff writer
The thought of air pollution has emerged in many people's minds as the images of black smoke clouds inuwait oil fields flash on TV screens.
At extremes, air pollution can seriously affect people's health. But Lawrence residents, lacking burning oil fields or heavy industry and being surrounded by rural areas, are not faced with high-level pollution.
information for the Kansas Department of Health, said, "Overall, I think the air quality in Kansas is rather good."
Greg Crawford, director of public
Lawrence Magee, physician at Watkins Memorial Health Center, said that there was no way a person could escape completely from air pollution.
"I think you need to watch out for it pretty much whenever there are automobiles," he said.
Those bothered by pollution usually are vulnerable to it in some way, such as having asthma. Short-term problems of bronchial spasms, a runny nose or shortness of breath are possible reactions.
Low levels of air pollution are not a problem for most people, he said.
Magee said reactions in the throat and eyes could occur in anyone. A person's throat can become sore or itchy. The eyes can become irritated Scar tissue on the lining or the blockage of ducts around the eyes can occur in chronic cases, he said.
Over-the-counter eye drops can be
used to help with the irritation. But if it continues, a person should see a physician about the problem, Magee said.
Lee Bittenbender, a local dermatologist, said that low levels of air pollution did not pose a threat to a person's skin.
"I would say for the most part there is not a problem of air pollution adversely affecting the skin," he said.
Air pollution actually can help a person's skin if it blocks some of the ultraviolet rays that harm the skin. But that is a minimal benefit that can be gained in other ways, Bittenbender said.
Air pollution may cause a person to feel uncomfortable or dirty, but normal washing is all that is needed, he said.
cause serious problems, but the results were not as clear as short term problems.
"We can accomplish that same end by using a good sunscreen," he said.
Higher instances of lung or heart problems may result because of carbon monoxide in the body, he said.
Magee said long-term exposure to high levels of air pollution could
"It basically keeps your body from carrying enough oxygen in the blood." he said. "The main part of entry is through the mouth, nose and lungs. A lot of people choose to wear masks or filters."
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Jorge Serrano Elías is ...
a) Right-wing businessman recently elected President of Guatemala
b) Former Contra leader assassinated on the streets of Nicaragua
c) Former Chicago Cub great elected to the Hall of Fame
d) All of the above
Come find out at :
Rice and Beans Dinner
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Ecumenical Christian Ministry
Ecumenical Christian Ministries
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Movie: "Romero" starring Raul Julia
Latin Amercian Solidarity
Peace through Solidarity