Introduction: Learn your math vocabulary the fun way! Everyone knows math is a foreign language. A lot of what makes math hard is the language your teacher uses when he/she talks math to you. Speaking the language can make math easier to understand.
Prior Knowledge: None! This is for beginners.
Grade Level: 5-7
Task: You and your classmates will create crossword puzzles that use the definitions of math terms you use as clues. The terms will be the answers which go into the puzzle. After making your puzzle, you will trade with another student and solve their puzzle. When you're done, you should be able to understand that strange "mathspeak" your teacher does daily in class.
Resources:
Mathematics Glossary - Middle Years <http://MathCentral.uregina.ca/RR/glossary/middle/>
Math Dictionary <http://users.adelphia.net/~mathhomeworkhelp/dictionary2.html>
Puzzlemaker <http://puzzlemaker.school.discovery.com/CrissCrossSetupForm.html>
You can also use the glossary in the student text or a teacher provided vocabulary list instead of the online dictionary.
Process: First decide on what math terms you and your classmates need to learn. Then find their definitions in the online dictionary (or somewhere else). Next you will build a crossword puzzle using those terms and using their definitions as clues. Trade puzzles with someone else. You will build your vocabulary as you solve the puzzle.
Learning Advice: You may wish to exclude terms that have no relevance to the math you are learning. You may want to make a really tough puzzle to challenge your teacher.
Evaluation: Students could be evaluated either by giving a vocabulary quiz or by being given another puzzle to solve, but without access to reference material.
Extensions: Students could be asked to give an example of what the term means.
Ex. equation x + 2 = 6
expression x + 2
Conclusion: This activity should increase a student's familiarity with the language of math. This means they should have a better understanding of what you say in class.
Source: http://score.kings.k12.ca.us/lessons/mathcrwd.htm