Fantasy Baseball and Mathematics
A Resource Guide for Teachers and Parents, Grades 5 and Up
Published on 5. April 2007
Book
Paperback/Softback
224 pages
978-0-7879-9443-3 (ISBN)
Description
A great new way to get all kids excited about math!
Fantasy sports are a hit worldwide, and now teachers and parents can take advantage of this phenomenon to give students a reason to look forward to doing math. The games and activities in Fantasy Baseball and Mathematics will get kids excited about learning and practicing math, even if they're not big sports fans. With this fun-filled educational resource, you can teach one math concept or many, and plan lessons that can last for a week or a whole season.
Here's how it works. Students create fantasy teams by picking real-life professional baseball players, and then follow their players' statistics and calculate their teams' total points using algebraic or nonalgebraic methods specifically designed to complement the math skills they're learning. The instructions are easy to follow and the dynamic hands-on games address all learning styles and abilities. The book includes more than 100 scoring systems that give you the flexibility to customize the content according to your students' skill levels.
In addition to the basic Fantasy Baseball game, the book contains easy-to-use lesson plans, reproducible worksheets for extra practice on 46 different math concepts, graphing activities, quizzes, a pre- and post- test, and an answer key. More than just a fun way to learn math, the book's activities also support the NCTM Math Standards.
"The Fantasy Sports and Mathematics programs allow you to reach the students, making the lessons not only comprehensive and enriching, but very exciting. The students loved it, worked harder than ever, and their GEPA scores increased over 40 points in the first year alone!"
--Robert Creamer, teacher, Woodbine School District, Woodbine, New Jersey
"Fantasy Sports and Mathematics! Finally, a fun and effective method not only for teaching math knowledge but going further and providing a framework for students to comprehend, apply, and analyze the learned competencies. A rare and innovative example of academics using sports to teach students life skills."
--Kim Beason, associate professor, Park and Recreation Management, University of Mississippi
Also available in the Fantasy Sports and Mathematics series:
Fantasy Basketball and Mathematics | Fantasy Football and Mathematics | Fantasy Soccer and Mathematics
Fantasy sports are a hit worldwide, and now teachers and parents can take advantage of this phenomenon to give students a reason to look forward to doing math. The games and activities in Fantasy Baseball and Mathematics will get kids excited about learning and practicing math, even if they're not big sports fans. With this fun-filled educational resource, you can teach one math concept or many, and plan lessons that can last for a week or a whole season.
Here's how it works. Students create fantasy teams by picking real-life professional baseball players, and then follow their players' statistics and calculate their teams' total points using algebraic or nonalgebraic methods specifically designed to complement the math skills they're learning. The instructions are easy to follow and the dynamic hands-on games address all learning styles and abilities. The book includes more than 100 scoring systems that give you the flexibility to customize the content according to your students' skill levels.
In addition to the basic Fantasy Baseball game, the book contains easy-to-use lesson plans, reproducible worksheets for extra practice on 46 different math concepts, graphing activities, quizzes, a pre- and post- test, and an answer key. More than just a fun way to learn math, the book's activities also support the NCTM Math Standards.
"The Fantasy Sports and Mathematics programs allow you to reach the students, making the lessons not only comprehensive and enriching, but very exciting. The students loved it, worked harder than ever, and their GEPA scores increased over 40 points in the first year alone!"
--Robert Creamer, teacher, Woodbine School District, Woodbine, New Jersey
"Fantasy Sports and Mathematics! Finally, a fun and effective method not only for teaching math knowledge but going further and providing a framework for students to comprehend, apply, and analyze the learned competencies. A rare and innovative example of academics using sports to teach students life skills."
--Kim Beason, associate professor, Park and Recreation Management, University of Mississippi
Also available in the Fantasy Sports and Mathematics series:
Fantasy Basketball and Mathematics | Fantasy Football and Mathematics | Fantasy Soccer and Mathematics
Reviews / Votes
The book encourages kids to learn math through calculating player and team statistics. The book also contains easy-to-use lesson plans, activities and quizzes. A brilliant mixture of fun and learning! (GVParent Book Nook, 05/2008)More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
John Wiley & Sons Inc
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
Tables: 82 B&W, 0 Color; Graphs: 19 B&W, 0 Color
Dimensions
Height: 281 mm
Width: 217 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
635 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7879-9443-3 (9780787994433)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Dan Flockhart, M.Ed., is a former middle school math teacher who incorporated fantasy sports into his math curriculum. He presents his innovative method of teaching at conventions and maintains a Web site for the series at http://www.fantasysportsmath.com.
Content
About This Book: FAQs. About the Author.
Acknowledgments.
Introduction.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Standards and Expectations Addressed by Fantasy Baseball and Mathematics.
Part One: Computing Weekly Points.
Chapter One: How to Play Fantasy Baseball and Mathematics.
Step 1: Selecting Players.
Option 1: Permanent Teams with Salary Cap.
Option 2: Different Teams Each Week.
Choosing Your Own Team.
Trades.
Injuries.
Step 2: Reading Box Scores.
Step 3: Collecting Data.
Step 4: Computing Points.
Default Total Points Equation for Nonpitchers.
Default Total Points Equation for Pitchers.
Example Using Default Total Points Equations: Points Earned for the English Bulldogs.
Additional Scoring Systems.
Additional Scoring Systems (Total Points Equations).
Chapter Two: Explaining Fantasy Baseball and Mathematics to Students: Handouts.
Handout 1: Description and Rules.
Handout 2: Fantasy Team Roster.
Handout 3: How to Read Box Scores.
Handout 4: How to Collect Data.
Handout 5: How to Compute Points.
Handout 6: Practice in Computing Points, Using the Default Scoring System.
Handout 7: Default Total Points Equations.
Handout 8: Practice in Computing Points, Using the Default Total Points Equations.
Handout 9: Weekly Scoring Worksheet.
Handout 10: Weekly Scoring Worksheet Using Total Points Equations.
Handout 11: Total Points Week-by-Week.
Part Two: Using Graphs.
Chapter Three: Graphing Activities.
Circle Graphs 53
Stacked-Bar and Multiple-Line Graphs 55
Handout 12: Stacked-Bar Graph 56
Multiple-Line Graph 57
Additional Options for Graphing Activities 58
Part Three: Using Practice Worksheets and Quizzes.
Chapter Four: Practice Worksheets.
Number Sense.
Practice Worksheet 1: Rounding Whole Numbers and Expanded Notation.
Practice Worksheet 2: Least Common Multiple and Greatest Common Factor.
Practice Worksheet 3: Operations with Whole Numbers.
Practice Worksheet 4: Equivalent Fractions.
Practice Worksheet 5: Patterns and Multiples.
Practice Worksheet 6: Ordering Fractions and Decimals.
Practice Worksheet 7: Rounding Decimals.
Practice Worksheet 8: Improper Fractions, Mixed Numbers, and Reciprocals.
Practice Worksheet 9: Adding and Subtracting Fractions.
Practice Worksheet 10: Stacked-Bar Graph.
Practice Worksheet 11: Multiplying and Dividing Fractions.
Practice Worksheet 12: Rounding Fractions.
Practice Worksheet 13: Multiplying and Dividing Decimals.
Practice Worksheet 14: Unit Rates.
Practice Worksheet 15: Converting Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages.
Practice Worksheet 16: Ratios.
Practice Worksheet 17: Percentage of Price Increase and Decrease.
Practice Worksheet 18: Finding a Percentage of a Number.
Practice Worksheet 19: Proportions.
Practice Worksheet 20: Ratios and Proportions.
Practice Worksheet 21: Factoring.
Practice Worksheet 22: Interest, Depreciation, and Tax.
Practice Worksheet 23: Prime Factorization.
Practice Worksheet 24: Scientific Notation.
Practice Worksheet 25: Ordering Integers, Fractions, and Decimals.
Practice Worksheet 26: Operations with Integers.
Practice Worksheet 27: Permutations and Combinations.
Algebra and Functions.
Practice Worksheet 28: Unit Conversions.
Practice Worksheet 29: Evaluating Algebraic Expressions.
Practice Worksheet 30: Properties of Mathematics.
Practice Worksheet 31: Graphing on a Number Line.
Practice Worksheet 32: Linear Equations (A).
Practice Worksheet 33: Linear Equations (B).
Measurement and Geometry.
Practice Worksheet 34: Area and Perimeter of Rectangles.
Practice Worksheet 35: Golden Rectangles.
Practice Worksheet 36: Functions.
Practice Worksheet 37: Area and Circumference of Circles.
Practice Worksheet 38: Weight.
Practice Worksheet 39: The Pythagorean Theorem.
Statistics, Data Analysis, and Probability.
Practice Worksheet 40: Mean, Median, Mode, Range.
Practice Worksheet 41: Probability.
Practice Worksheet 42: Circle Graphs.
Practice Worksheet 43: Stem-and-Leaf Plots and Histograms.
Practice Worksheet 44: Scatter Plots.
Practice Worksheet 45: Box-and-Whisker Plots.
Mathematical Reasoning.
Practice Worksheet 46: Statements Using Math Terminology.
Extra Credit.
Extra Credit Worksheet: Extra Credit Problems.
Chapter Five: Quizzes.
Number Sense.
Quiz 1: Rounding Whole Numbers and Expanded Notation.
Quiz 2: Least Common Multiple and Greatest Common Factor.
Quiz 3: Operations with Whole Numbers.
Quiz 4: Equivalent Fractions.
Quiz 5: Patterns and Multiples.
Quiz 6: Ordering Fractions and Decimals.
Quiz 7: Rounding Decimals.
Quiz 8: Improper Fractions, Mixed Numbers, and Reciprocals.
Quiz 9: Adding and Subtracting Fractions.
Quiz 10: Stacked-Bar Graph.
Quiz 11: Multiplying and Dividing Fractions.
Quiz 12: Rounding Fractions.
Quiz 13: Multiplying and Dividing Decimals.
Quiz 14: Unit Rates.
Quiz 15: Converting Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages.
Quiz 16: Ratios.
Quiz 17: Percentage of Price Increase and Decrease.
Quiz 18: Finding a Percentage of a Number.
Quiz 19: Proportions.
Quiz 20: Ratios and Proportions.
Quiz 21: Factoring.
Quiz 22: Interest, Depreciation, and Tax.
Quiz 23: Prime Factorization.
Quiz 24: Scientific Notation.
Quiz 25: Ordering Integers, Fractions, and Decimals.
Quiz 26: Operations with Integers.
Quiz 27: Permutations and Combinations.
Algebra and Functions.
Quiz 28: Unit Conversions.
Quiz 29: Evaluating Algebraic Expressions.
Quiz 30: Properties of Mathematics.
Quiz 31: Graphing on a Number Line.
Quiz 32: Linear Equations (A).
Quiz 33: Linear Equations (B).
Measurement and Geometry.
Quiz 34: Area of Rectangles.
Quiz 35: Golden Rectangles.
Quiz 36: Functions.
Quiz 37: Area and Circumference of Circles.
Quiz 38: Weight.
Quiz 39: The Pythagorean Theorem.
Statistics, Data Analysis, and Probability
Quiz 40: Mean, Median, Mode, Range.
Quiz 41: Probability.
Quiz 42: Circle Graphs.
Quiz 43: Stem-and-Leaf Plots and Histograms.
Quiz 44: Scatter Plots.
Quiz 45: Box-and-Whisker Plots.
Mathematical Reasoning.
Quiz 46: Statements Using Math Terminology.
Chapter Six: Assessment.
Chapter Seven: Answer Keys.
Practice Worksheets.
Quizzes.
Pretest/Posttest.
Appendix: Lesson Plans.
Acknowledgments.
Introduction.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Standards and Expectations Addressed by Fantasy Baseball and Mathematics.
Part One: Computing Weekly Points.
Chapter One: How to Play Fantasy Baseball and Mathematics.
Step 1: Selecting Players.
Option 1: Permanent Teams with Salary Cap.
Option 2: Different Teams Each Week.
Choosing Your Own Team.
Trades.
Injuries.
Step 2: Reading Box Scores.
Step 3: Collecting Data.
Step 4: Computing Points.
Default Total Points Equation for Nonpitchers.
Default Total Points Equation for Pitchers.
Example Using Default Total Points Equations: Points Earned for the English Bulldogs.
Additional Scoring Systems.
Additional Scoring Systems (Total Points Equations).
Chapter Two: Explaining Fantasy Baseball and Mathematics to Students: Handouts.
Handout 1: Description and Rules.
Handout 2: Fantasy Team Roster.
Handout 3: How to Read Box Scores.
Handout 4: How to Collect Data.
Handout 5: How to Compute Points.
Handout 6: Practice in Computing Points, Using the Default Scoring System.
Handout 7: Default Total Points Equations.
Handout 8: Practice in Computing Points, Using the Default Total Points Equations.
Handout 9: Weekly Scoring Worksheet.
Handout 10: Weekly Scoring Worksheet Using Total Points Equations.
Handout 11: Total Points Week-by-Week.
Part Two: Using Graphs.
Chapter Three: Graphing Activities.
Circle Graphs 53
Stacked-Bar and Multiple-Line Graphs 55
Handout 12: Stacked-Bar Graph 56
Multiple-Line Graph 57
Additional Options for Graphing Activities 58
Part Three: Using Practice Worksheets and Quizzes.
Chapter Four: Practice Worksheets.
Number Sense.
Practice Worksheet 1: Rounding Whole Numbers and Expanded Notation.
Practice Worksheet 2: Least Common Multiple and Greatest Common Factor.
Practice Worksheet 3: Operations with Whole Numbers.
Practice Worksheet 4: Equivalent Fractions.
Practice Worksheet 5: Patterns and Multiples.
Practice Worksheet 6: Ordering Fractions and Decimals.
Practice Worksheet 7: Rounding Decimals.
Practice Worksheet 8: Improper Fractions, Mixed Numbers, and Reciprocals.
Practice Worksheet 9: Adding and Subtracting Fractions.
Practice Worksheet 10: Stacked-Bar Graph.
Practice Worksheet 11: Multiplying and Dividing Fractions.
Practice Worksheet 12: Rounding Fractions.
Practice Worksheet 13: Multiplying and Dividing Decimals.
Practice Worksheet 14: Unit Rates.
Practice Worksheet 15: Converting Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages.
Practice Worksheet 16: Ratios.
Practice Worksheet 17: Percentage of Price Increase and Decrease.
Practice Worksheet 18: Finding a Percentage of a Number.
Practice Worksheet 19: Proportions.
Practice Worksheet 20: Ratios and Proportions.
Practice Worksheet 21: Factoring.
Practice Worksheet 22: Interest, Depreciation, and Tax.
Practice Worksheet 23: Prime Factorization.
Practice Worksheet 24: Scientific Notation.
Practice Worksheet 25: Ordering Integers, Fractions, and Decimals.
Practice Worksheet 26: Operations with Integers.
Practice Worksheet 27: Permutations and Combinations.
Algebra and Functions.
Practice Worksheet 28: Unit Conversions.
Practice Worksheet 29: Evaluating Algebraic Expressions.
Practice Worksheet 30: Properties of Mathematics.
Practice Worksheet 31: Graphing on a Number Line.
Practice Worksheet 32: Linear Equations (A).
Practice Worksheet 33: Linear Equations (B).
Measurement and Geometry.
Practice Worksheet 34: Area and Perimeter of Rectangles.
Practice Worksheet 35: Golden Rectangles.
Practice Worksheet 36: Functions.
Practice Worksheet 37: Area and Circumference of Circles.
Practice Worksheet 38: Weight.
Practice Worksheet 39: The Pythagorean Theorem.
Statistics, Data Analysis, and Probability.
Practice Worksheet 40: Mean, Median, Mode, Range.
Practice Worksheet 41: Probability.
Practice Worksheet 42: Circle Graphs.
Practice Worksheet 43: Stem-and-Leaf Plots and Histograms.
Practice Worksheet 44: Scatter Plots.
Practice Worksheet 45: Box-and-Whisker Plots.
Mathematical Reasoning.
Practice Worksheet 46: Statements Using Math Terminology.
Extra Credit.
Extra Credit Worksheet: Extra Credit Problems.
Chapter Five: Quizzes.
Number Sense.
Quiz 1: Rounding Whole Numbers and Expanded Notation.
Quiz 2: Least Common Multiple and Greatest Common Factor.
Quiz 3: Operations with Whole Numbers.
Quiz 4: Equivalent Fractions.
Quiz 5: Patterns and Multiples.
Quiz 6: Ordering Fractions and Decimals.
Quiz 7: Rounding Decimals.
Quiz 8: Improper Fractions, Mixed Numbers, and Reciprocals.
Quiz 9: Adding and Subtracting Fractions.
Quiz 10: Stacked-Bar Graph.
Quiz 11: Multiplying and Dividing Fractions.
Quiz 12: Rounding Fractions.
Quiz 13: Multiplying and Dividing Decimals.
Quiz 14: Unit Rates.
Quiz 15: Converting Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages.
Quiz 16: Ratios.
Quiz 17: Percentage of Price Increase and Decrease.
Quiz 18: Finding a Percentage of a Number.
Quiz 19: Proportions.
Quiz 20: Ratios and Proportions.
Quiz 21: Factoring.
Quiz 22: Interest, Depreciation, and Tax.
Quiz 23: Prime Factorization.
Quiz 24: Scientific Notation.
Quiz 25: Ordering Integers, Fractions, and Decimals.
Quiz 26: Operations with Integers.
Quiz 27: Permutations and Combinations.
Algebra and Functions.
Quiz 28: Unit Conversions.
Quiz 29: Evaluating Algebraic Expressions.
Quiz 30: Properties of Mathematics.
Quiz 31: Graphing on a Number Line.
Quiz 32: Linear Equations (A).
Quiz 33: Linear Equations (B).
Measurement and Geometry.
Quiz 34: Area of Rectangles.
Quiz 35: Golden Rectangles.
Quiz 36: Functions.
Quiz 37: Area and Circumference of Circles.
Quiz 38: Weight.
Quiz 39: The Pythagorean Theorem.
Statistics, Data Analysis, and Probability
Quiz 40: Mean, Median, Mode, Range.
Quiz 41: Probability.
Quiz 42: Circle Graphs.
Quiz 43: Stem-and-Leaf Plots and Histograms.
Quiz 44: Scatter Plots.
Quiz 45: Box-and-Whisker Plots.
Mathematical Reasoning.
Quiz 46: Statements Using Math Terminology.
Chapter Six: Assessment.
Chapter Seven: Answer Keys.
Practice Worksheets.
Quizzes.
Pretest/Posttest.
Appendix: Lesson Plans.