Third graders are targeted to fluently multiply and divide within 100 by the end of the school year. Although this could be accomplished using flashcard-style activities, students need, and want, to apply this skill meaningfully. This template is designed as a simple application of their computational skills with an added component for students to explain their problem solving strategies.

Editor's Note: This blog is part of a series of posts from former math specialist Scott Loomis on the real world math templates he has created for Wixie and how you can use and modify them for your own awesome performance tasks. You can read the backstory on his experience and expertise below. 

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Although students have been working with fractions well before sixth grade, multiplying and dividing fractions with other fractions involves more than simple computation and procedures. 

An essential skill for success is the ability to rationalize if results "make sense" -- a necessary application of estimation skills. For example, when multiplying and dividing any number by a fraction, is the resulting solution less than the original multiplicand or dividend, or more? For many students, understanding that their answer is reasonable leads to a clearer understanding of the 'real world' application of these calculations.

Editor's Note: This blog is part of a series of posts from former math specialist Scott Loomis on the real world math templates he has created for Wixie and how you can use and modify them for your own awesome performance tasks. You can read the backstory on his experience and expertise below. 

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Although the concept of symmetry is introduced as early as first grade, it isn't until fourth grade that assessment indicators involving symmetry are listed in most standards. At this point, students build, draw and analyze the various properties of two-dimensional shapes. Within geometry, this includes the study of lines, angles, classifying shapes, and recognizing and identifying lines of symmetry. The Designing a Flying Disc template provides the ideal assessment for the symmetry standards.

Editor's Note: This blog is part of a series of posts from former math specialist Scott Loomis on the real-world math templates he has created for Wixie and how you can use and modify them for your own awesome performance tasks. You can read the backstory on his experience and expertise below. 

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With the introduction of volume, fifth-grade students learn to measure three-dimensional space. Recognizing volume and understanding it as a measurement of a space involving cubic units is an important skill. Wixie includes a Swimming Pool Volume template to provide opportunities for a guess-and-check calculation of volume in a real world context.

Editor's Note: This blog is part of a series of posts from former math specialist Scott Loomis on the real world math templates he has created for Wixie and how you can use and modify them for your own awesome performance tasks. You can read the backstory on his experience and expertise below. 

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One could easily argue that there is no more authentic math calculation than determining the area and perimeter. There are countless examples of 'real world' applications including:

• the necessity to calculate the perimeter of a room before deciding on the amount of carpet or crown molding you need to buy, or 
• calculating the perimeter of your yard to better estimate the amount of grass seed or fertilizer required.

One of my all time favorite examples involves a mini golf course design. I remember fondly spreading out pieces of carpet and wooden two-by-fours on the floor of my fifth-grade classroom. My students then completed a performance assessment in which they had to calculate the area and perimeters of a handful of given hole designs, so they could order the correct amount of material. Finally, they could create their own design and have a friend attempt the calculations. You can use Mini Golf Measurements activity in Wixie to do the same activity.

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