Blast into Space and Conquer Math Missions!

Download this application on your: iPhone, iPod Touch & iPad

Price to Download: $0.99

App Description:

Rocket Math allows children in grades kindergarten and up to practice math facts they are required to master. Students are able to test their knowledge in areas of math they have already learned and are also able to learn new concepts by going on different missions. This application keeps students engaged by allowing them to build and customize their own rockets which they will use during the entire game. Students are then able to travel to space in their rockets and are only able to win extra parts for their rockets by receiving money. Money is earned by completing a math mission successfully and once a round is completed, they will be able to make modifications to their rocket ships. Rocket Math also has a "Scribble Pad" section where at any time students can use to write out the problem and solve; this can be used as scratch paper for students who need to write out their thinking process. There are a total of 56 missions and students are able to select both the mission they wish to complete and the difficulty level of that mission. Players are also able to earn bronze, silver and gold metals by receiving a high score.

Mission Difficulty Levels: Beginner, Novice, Immediate, Advanced, Expert and Genius

Missions

Square Root	Fractions	Decimals	Counting
Patterns	Telling Time	Shapes (2D & 3D)	U.S. Money
Addition	Subtraction	Multiplication	Division
Even vs Odd Numbers	Greater Than & Less Than	Percentages	Fact Families

Because this tool covers a wide variety of math skills, teachers can use this application:

(1) for extra practice on a particular skill

[Students could use Rocket Math to have additional practice on a skill of their choice that is correlated to their grade level. Students can increase the difficulty level to test themselves on how proficient they are in the specific skill area, receiving harder problems to challenge themselves. Teachers can assign a student to complete one or more skills to have further repetition practice and based on their performance, teachers can make the necessary actions to assist that student. I also think that because students may be ashamed or embarrassed when they do not understand a concept, going on Rocket Math to further their comprehension will not bring them negative attention.]

(2) as an informal assessment

[After the teacher has taught a lesson on a particular math skill, students can test their knowledge and demonstrate their new found understanding. By using the Rocket Math app, students will get a break from the normal worksheet page they are usually required to complete after a skill is taught and compete against their peers to get all problems correct. It can also be used as a pop quiz to test students mastery of the skill taught and which students need further explanation. Applications like these interest students to earn more money for their rocket, which would translate to them getting more math skills practice. Games change the typical classroom time and teachers "trick" their students with this game because students are having fun and learning at the same time. Teachers could log down students scores and have them play the game at the start of the lesson as a pre-assessment and then at the end of the lesson as a post-assessment; comparing the two scores can show what students have learned.]

(3) as a formal assessment

[For younger grades, teachers could use this app as a formal assessment and have students complete a set amount of skills over a short amount of time. Many times when students know they have a unit test or a chapter assessment, the standard test paper can be both overwhelming and intimidating. By using Rocket Math as a formal assessment, students will be not be threatened by the appearance of the test and feel more comfortable demonstrating their understanding through playing the game. Teachers can "grade" their students by seeing how much accuracy the student demonstrates when answering the questions on the game.]

(4) as an incentive after a task is completed

[ For students who have finished an assignment, need an incentive to stay on task or need to get re focused, having them play Rocket Math would allow them to get back into the math atmosphere. Having a fun game to play after they are required to get something done will help them to stay focused while working and work at a quick pace. In addition because Rocket Math already has incentive programs in the game (moving on to new missions, winning rocket parts and medals), it benefits all the players to really try their best.]

(5) as both an in-class and homework assignment

[As an in-class assignment, teachers can assign a certain skill to be completed before they are able to go out to recess or move on to the next subject area. It is a quick way to test students and give them more practice in areas they need. As a homework assignment, teachers could require students to complete all the missions that deal with 1st grade even numbers or require a certain accuracy to be shown. Students could write down their scores and have the parent sign it to keep students accountable. ]

Colorado State Standards:

***In finding all Colorado State Standards that align with the content and skills used in Rocket Math, all standard areas expect Standard 3: Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability were addressed.

Grade

Standard 1: Number Sense, Properties & Operations

Standard 4: Shape, Dimension, & Geometric Relationships

Concepts & skills students master:

1. Whole numbers can be used to name, count, represent, and order quantity

Students can: a. Use number names & the count sequence.

i. Count to 100 by ones and by tens.

2. Composing & decomposing quantity forms the foundation for addition and subtraction

Students can: a. Model & describe addition as putting together & adding to, & subtraction as taking apart & taking from, using objects or drawings.

iii. Decompose numbers less than or equal to 10 into pairs in more than one way.

iv. For any number from 1 to 9, find the number that makes 10 when added to the given number.

b. Fluently add & subtract within 5.

Concepts & skills students master:

1. Shapes can be described by characteristics & position & created by composing & decomposing

Students can: a. Identify & describe shapes (squares, circles, triangles, rectangles, hexagons, cubes, cones, cylinders, and spheres).

ii. Correctly name shapes regardless of their orientation or overall size.

iii. Identify shapes as two-dimensional or three dimensional

Sample Kindergarten Lesson: After students have been introduced to different types of shapes, learning what their names are and its properties, students will do a cut and paste worksheet to match the name with its corresponding shape. For instance, the student would cut out the word square and paste it next to the shape that is a square. After students have completed the worksheet correctly, they will use Rocket Math to practice their new knowledge of shapes even more.

Grade

Standard 1: Number Sense, Properties, & Operations

Standard 4: Shape, Dimension, & Geometric Relationships

1st

Concepts & skills students master:

1. The whole number system describes place value relationships within & beyond 100 & forms the foundation for efficient algorithms

Students can: a. Count to 120

i. Count starting at any number less than 20.

c. Use place value & properties of operations to add & subtract

ii. Identify coins & find the value of a collection of two coins

Concepts & skills students master:

2. Number relationships can be used to solve addition & subtraction problems

Students can: c. Add & subtract within 20

iii. Demonstrate fluency for addition & subtraction within 10.

Concepts & skills students master:

2. Measurement is used to compare & order objects & events

Students can: b. Tell & write time

i. Tell & write time in hours & half-hours using analog & digital clocks

Sample 1st Grade Lesson: Students have been learning about how to tell time and what is the difference between analog and digital clocks. Each student has a small analog clock that they can move both the long and short hand. The teacher will call out times and students will place the hands to match the correct time. Then the teacher will assign the clock missions and students have to pick two of the three levels to complete for extra practice. The teacher will then go various problems the game presented and make sure students got the correct answer. If they did not, the teacher will further explain the specific issues.

Grade

Standard 1: Number Sense, Properties, & Operations

Standard 4: Shape, Dimension, & Geometric Relationships

2nd

Concepts & skills students master:

1. The whole number system describes place value relationships through 1,000 and forms the foundation for efficient algorithms

Students can: a. Use place value to read, write, count, compare, and represent numbers

ii. Count within 1000

iii. Skip-count by 5's, 10's, and 100s

v. Compare two three-digit numbers based on meanings of the hundreds, tens, and ones digits, using >, =, and < symbols to record the results of comparisons.

Concepts and skills students master:

2. Formulate, represent, and use strategies to add and subtract within 100 with flexibility, accuracy, and efficiency

Students can: b. Fluently add and subtract within 20 using mental strategies

c. Know from memory all sums of two one-digit numbers

Concepts & skills students master:

1. Shapes can be described by their attributes and used to represent part/whole relationships

Students can:

b. Identify triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, hexagons, and cubes.

Sample 2nd Grade Lesson: To review skip counting by 5's, 10's, and 100s, the teacher will play a game in table groups. The teacher will write a pattern sequence and leave a number missing. The tables must work together to write the missing number of the sequence based on whatever number they are skip counting by. After a set amount of rounds and the team with the most points is distinguished, all students will go on Rocket Math and review by doing the missions on skip counting. Using this app will help all students be on the same page with skip counting and for students who answered a problem incorrectly during the game, they will have another chance to practice the problem.

Grade

Standard 1: Number Sense, Properties, & Operations

Standard 4: Shape, Dimension, & Geometric Relationships

3rd

Concepts & skills students master:

2. Parts of a whole can be modeled & represented in different ways

Students can: a. Develop understanding of fractions as numbers

iii. Explain equivalence of fractions in special cases, and compare fractions by reasoning about their size.

1. Identify two fractions as equivalent (equal) if they are the same size, or the same point on a number line.

4. Compare two fractions with the same numerator or the same denominator by reasoning about their size

Concepts & skills students master:

3. Multiplication & division are inverse operations & can be modeled in a variety of ways

Students can: a. Represent & solve problems involving multiplication & division

i. Interpret products of whole numbers

ii. Interpret whole-number quotients of whole numbers

c. Multiply & divide within 100

ii. Recall from memory all products of two one-digit numbers

Concepts & skills students master:

1. Geometric figures are described by their attributes

Students can: a. Reason with shapes and their attributes

i. Explain that shapes in different categories may share attributes and that the shared attributes can define a larger category

1. Identify rhombuses, rectangles, and squares as examples of quadrilaterals, and draw examples of quadrilaterals that do not belong to any of these subcategories.

Concepts & skills students master:

3. Time & attributes of objects can be measured with appropriate tools

Students can:

a. Solve problems involving measurement & estimation of intervals of time, liquid volumes, and masses of objects.

i. Tell & write time to the nearest minute

ii. Measure time intervals in minutes

Sample 3rd Grade Lesson: Since one of the math standards for 3rd grade is to recall from memory all products of two one-digit numbers, the teacher can create a memory game in which students have to find the matching answer to the equation they randomly selected. After they have interacted with the memory game, they will practice the skill another way by using Rocket Math. The student will raise their hand when they are done playing the game and the teacher will check the combination's the student has come up with. If it is incorrect, they can move their answers or equations around to make them correct. Once all equations and answers are correct,they will do the missions that deal with skip counting on Rocket Math.

Grade

Standard 1: Number Sense, Properties, & Operations

Standard 2: Patterns, Functions, & Algebraic Structures

4th

Concepts & skills students master:
1. The decimal number system to the hundredths place describes place value patterns & relationships that are repeated in large & small numbers & forms the foundation for efficient algorithms

Students can: b. Use decimal notation to express fractions, and compare decimal fractions.

ii. Use decimal notation for fractions with denominators 10 or 100

iii. Compare two decimals to hundredths by reasoning about their size.

Concepts & skills students master:

2. Different models & representations can be used to compare fractional parts

b. Build fractions from unit fractions by applying understanding to operations on whole numbers.

i. Apply previous understandings of addition & subtraction to add & subtract fractions

2. Add & subtract mixed numbers with like denominators

Concepts & skills students master

3. Formulate, represent, and use algorithms to compute with flexibility, accuracy, & efficiency

Students can: a. Use place value understanding & properties of operations to perform multi-digit arithmetic

i. Fluently add & subtract multi-digit whole numbers using standard algorithms.

Concepts & skills students master:

1. Number patterns & relationships can be represented by symbols

Students can: b. Apply concepts of squares, primes, composites, factors, & multiples to solve problems

Sample 4th Grade Lesson: Fractions can be tricky for students to completely understand, as there are rules and a variety of types of problems that students need to understand. Since students prior to learning fractions are trained to add or subtract across when they are given two numbers, it becomes difficult to retrain their mindsets to apply a new rule. Instead of being drilled to automatically remember the answer upon sight, the teacher could teach students a simple way to remember the rule. Students could work with a math partner to complete a certain amount of problems, alternating turns to complete the next problem. Also after the partner has completed the problem, they will explain why they put the answer they did. The partner will double check the work and say if the answer is correct or incorrect. After the partners complete their worksheet together, students will go on Rocket Math and play the mission that tests their understanding of adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators.

Grade

Standard 1: Number Sense, Properties, & Operations

5th

Concepts & skills students master: 1. The decimal number system describes place value patterns & relationships that are repeated in large & small numbers & forms the foundation for efficient algorithms

Students can: b. Read, write, and compare decimals to thousandths.

ii. Compare two decimals to thousandths based on meanings of the digits in each place, using >, =, & < symbols to record the results of comparisons.

Concepts & skills students master:

2. Formulate, represent, & use algorithms with multi-digit whole numbers & decimals with flexibility, accuracy, & efficiency

Students can: a. Fluently multiply multi-digit whole numbers using standard algorithms

Concepts & skills students master: Formulate, represent, & use algorithms to add & subtract fractions with flexibility, accuracy, & efficiency

Students can: a. Use equivalent fractions as a strategy to add & subtract fractions

ii. Add & subtract fractions with unlike denominators (including mixed numbers) by replacing given fractions with equivalent fractions with like denominators.

Sample 5th Grade Lesson: To compare fractions, teachers can have students each receive 3 cards. The 3 cards will have a greater than sign (>), a less than sign (<), and an equal sign (=). The teacher can write or say two fractions to be compared and the student has to hold up the correct sign to make the equation true. The teacher can call on a student who got it correct and incorrect and explain why they held up that card. After students understand the correct answers, they will play Rocket Math. The mission they will complete is comparing fractions using the greater than, less than and equal sign.

Grade Level

Standard 1:Number Sense, Properties, & Operations

Standard 2: Patterns, Functions, & Algebraic Structures

6th

Concepts & skills students master: 2. Formulate, represent, & use algorithms with positive rational numbers with flexibility, accuracy, & efficiency

b. Fluently add, subtract, multiply, & divide multi-digit decimals using standard algorithms for each operation.

Concepts & skills students master: 1. Algebraic expressions can be used to generalize properties of arithmetic

Students can: d. Identify when two expressions are equivalent.

Sample 6th Grade Lesson: At a 6th grade level, the concepts and reasoning behind math concepts learned become more intricate; as students move up to the upper grades, they are required to be fluent in K through 6th curriculum and contents. Not only do students have to be fluent in the four operations, they also have to be able to identify when two expressions are equivalent and when they are not. A fun way for students to review being fluent with decimals and identifying when two expressions are equivalent is to play a of bingo. The teacher would say the equation and the student would place a bingo piece over the correct answer. At this grade level, the teacher should also require the students to write down the equations and solve the problem first, then place their bingo chip on the corresponding answer. After a student has a potential bingo arrangement, they will yell out bingo, go in front of the class and share all the equations with the answers. The teacher will check their work and listen carefully to their explanations; the teacher will determine if the student wins the round or not. After bingo is played, students will use Rocket Math to test their knowledge in a different format.