Content area
The programming challenges align primarily to fourth and fifth grade content standards within the Common Core State Standards (CCSSI, 2010) such as the algebraic ideas behind patterns (4.OA.5), the relative size of measurement units (4.MD.1), angle measurement (4.MD.5.b), lines of symmetry (4.G.3), and multiplication fluency (5.NBT.5). introducing the stations To start, we gathered all students on the rug in the center of the classroom. Figure 2). programming challenges: a closer look at the mathematics Programming Challenge 1 required students to use their knowledge of geometry content by focusing on the properties of squares-including the number of sides and interior angle measures. While many mathematical concepts are central to each of the four programming challenges, there was explicit attention to students' mathematical thinking by having them complete questions in a math log (Figure 5). career connection: virtual meeting with computer programmers To link to real-world endeavors, our class videoconferenced with three computer programmers to engage in a meaningful conversation about mathematics in the workplace. Through the computer programmers' thoughtful responses, students were able to take away key ideas including: computer programmers love their careers because of the problem solving and mathematical thinking involved; some computer programmers create video games, but many programmers do other exciting work; and that, surprisingly for the students, it takes hundreds of people to put together all of the parts it takes to program (create) an entire computer!