The pandemic has steamrolled us into the digital era and more so beneficially. Initially, educational institutes took a bit of time to get their e-learning bearing, but once they got into the swing of things, schools in the Middle East especially in Dubai flourished at the remote learning concept and proved that effective learning can take place from home as well. The UAE has since then discovered numerous e-learning platforms that provide learning in a fun, educative and engaging manner.

One such e-learning platform widely used especially in GCC areas is Mathseeds. It is the brainchild of 3P Learning Mathletics and Australian-owned Blake E-learning. Mathletics is the world’s leading online math’s program with over 3 million students using it world over. Mathseeds is a premium learning programme for children between the ages of 3 to 9 years which aims to teach early math skills in a fun and motivating way. It keeps children engaged and entertained throughout their learning journey.

Mathseeds has award-winning learning resources that are aligned to numerous international school curriculums. It works at individual levels as per the aptitude of the learner and hand-holds from there on. The learners will complete a series of self paced lessons that will build their confidence, rejoice their achievements and encourage them to keep learning. Let us discuss some of these lessons and games to get a deeper understanding of how Mathseeds can be used to our benefit.

Lessons 1 to 50 are teachings for learners who have little to no maths skills. The basic fundamentals of maths are introduced here along with rudimentary 2D & 3D shapes and their recognition. For example, the lesson “Catching the butterfly” consists of colourful butterflies flying past on the screen; each carrying a number. The learner must recognise specified numbers and guide the butterflies into the net. This allows them to distinguish between different numbers in an interesting and mildly challenging manner.

Another lesson involves Waldo and Ruby assisting in teaching comparison (big and small objects) to young math students. Children have to identify which objects are big and which ones are small and then segregate them. As they progress, players become more familiar with the two loving characters Aldo and Ruby who are involved in teaching them other mathematical concepts as well. Students look forward to undertaking these challenges and are engrossed in the learning process, as they are presented in an enjoyable, lively and colourful manner.

Lessons 51 to 100 cover the topics related to counting of numbers backwards and double-digit math functions of addition and subtraction. These lessons also cover the topics of learning how to tell the time and volume of objects using songs and games.

Lessons 101 to 150 are included in Year 2 where they touch upon new concepts as well as reinforce the skills previously learnt. Number counting upto 1000, place value, multiplication and division are all taught at this level. Tally charts and graphs are those curriculum topics that are covered right from the earlier lessons. With every lesson, complexity levels are increased bit by bit to keep things stimulating and age-appropriate.

Lessons 151 to 200 cover a range of topics from order of numbers to geometry and measurements. Themes such as area and perimeter are taught in a simple manner first by counting the number of squares one can fit within a given image. The students will learn to count squares to find out exactly what the area of that image is. Gradually, learners begin adding formulae (Ex. Length x breadth) to these topics which involves using the measurements of the lengths and breadths of the given shapes. The topic of Currency too is explored in depth at this stage in relation to terminology, counting and word problems.

Studies have shown that students achieve more through Mathseeds as it is self-paced and therefore stress-free as the learner is not pressured to keep up with the rest of the class. This leads to better student satisfaction resulting in more enhanced learning. Since it has aids such as slideshows, gamification, videos, images etc.; retention is faster and continuous as compared to physical school. Mathseeds lets the learner progress at his own pace, tailoring the program and personalising it to every preferred style. Progress is recorded and analytics utilized, to provide educational support, assessment and tracking opportunities.

Mathseeds is a boon to math enthusiasts who enjoy numbers and even for those who don’t. With its attention to detail and appealing maths games, Mathseeds is proven to increase maths skills in just 15 minutes of usage per day.

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What is a Triangle?

Triangle is a figure that consists of three edges and three vertices. To make a triangle we need to draw three straight lines and join them together. The sum of all the angles of the triangle adds up to 180 °. This is common for all the different types of triangles that we are going to learn about in this Blog today.

What is a Vertex?

A point where two sides of a triangle meet is called the vertex of the triangle. In the below △ ABC sides AB and BC are intersected at point B, therefore, B is called the vertex. Similarly, sides AC and BC are intersected at point C, so C is the vertex, and for sides AB and AC, the vertex is A.

Different Types of Triangles

As we have read earlier, the sum of all the angles of the triangle is 180 °, but, does that mean that all triangles look the same? In Geometry, there are three main classifications of triangles which are as follows:

Scalene Triangle

In a scalene triangle, all sides of the triangle are of different measures. If you take a ruler and check the length of sides AB, AC, and CB, you will notice that each one has a different measure. Also, all the angles of the scalene triangle are different degrees. Use a protractor to measure the angles and you will find that the angles are also different, though their sum is 180 °.

Isosceles Triangle

In an isosceles triangle, two sides are equal and the length of the third side is not the same as the other two. In the below diagram sides, DE and EF are of the same length and thus it is categorized as an isosceles triangle. Notice the interior angles of the triangle below? Theory states that the angles opposite to the equal sides of the isosceles triangle are of equal degrees. In △ DEF, where sides DE and EF are of equal length, ∠D = ∠F (vertex D and vertex F are of the same degree)

Equilateral Triangle

As the name suggests, an equilateral triangle has equal sides and qual measure of angles. Each of the interior angles measures 60 °. In △ PQR, sides PQ, QR, and PR are of the same size, and ∠P = ∠Q = ∠R = 60°.

As an educator, you must be wondering how to teach kids ‘types of triangles’ in an engaging manner, such that they remember the concepts thoroughly. Well, the Mathletics online platform integrates the same curriculum of International Schools in the Middle East & around the world, to offer well-researched modules to students. Learners can first access the resources to understand the basic concept and then put their skills to test by engaging in over 1200 activities. To learn more about Mathletics and its availability in the UAE region, simply visit this Link: https://knowledge-hub.com/mathletics/

Classification by types of Angles

With reference to angles, triangles can be further classified as; Acute angle, obtuse angle, and right angle.

Acute Angle

An acute angle is recognized when its internal angles are less than 90 °. That means the angle can be anything like; 45°, 30°, 83 ° and so on, unless it is lesser than 90°. In the below figure, the angle formed at the intersection of Ray 1 and Ray 2 is 60° which is lesser than 90° and hence it forms an acute angle.

Obtuse Angle

An obtuse angle is defined when the degree of the angle is more than 90 °, but less than 180°. In the figure, Ray 1 and Ray 2 intersect at vertex Y which is 120° and thus greater than 90 ° & lesser than 180 °, indicating it is an obtuse angle. Practice your Math concepts in a game-like program through the Mathletics platform whose trial version is available for Free to all in Dubai and other GCC regions.

Right Angle

A right angle is made by two rays that meet at a vertex at 90°. This means the two rays need to be perpendicular to each other. The right angle is therefore referred to as 90-degree angle.

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Thinking of ways to offer some motivation to your kids to join a coding class? We have a perfect solution for you. Books have the power to create a longstanding impact and positively influence readers, so, here’s a collection of Coding storybooks that you can gift your little ones.

How to Code a Roller-coaster by Josh Funk

It is a story about a little girl called Pearl and her Robot friend Pascal, who are very adventurous by nature and love to explore new opportunities. They are enjoying their day at the amusement park by participating in fun games, one after the other; but their eyes are set on this one ride the ‘Python Coaster’. Each ride requires a coupon, so Pearl saves one for her favorite roller-coaster ride. She & her Robot friend await patiently and with the help of coding skills, calculate when the entry line will be the shortest so that they get a chance to enter the biggest ride of the park – the Python Coaster. Will you join their coding journey and hunt for hidden codes, if & then sequences, and variables?

Ara the Star Engineer by Komal Singh

With the advent of the STEAM curriculum in schools across Dubai and other associated regions of the Middle East, children need to be introduced to technology at an early age. Ara the Star Engineer is a book about a bright little girl who aspires to count all the stars in the sky one day. But how is that possible, you would wonder? Ara and her robot droid DeeDee are on a mission to accomplish an important algorithm and solve the problem of ‘counting starts in the sky’. This takes them to different locations – Data Centers, X-Space, Coding Pods, & Ideas Lab, and also get a chance to interact with real-life women who are ‘tech heroes’ namely; Tenacious Troubleshooter, Intrepid Innovator, Code Commander, and Prolific Problem Solver. Together, they toil, build, and test, until they discover the correct way to go about writing the algorithm. There are some interesting hands-on activities to follow, which makes it an even more interesting read.

How to Code a Sandcastle by Josh Funk

And yet again, Josh Funk introduces us to the fun side of coding by revealing humorous verses and colorful illustrations, from his book ‘How to Code a Sandcastle’. This time Pearl and her robot buddy Pascal need to build a sandcastle before summer vacation is over. The twist in the plot is that the sandcastle has to be designed and constructed using coding language. Imagine how brain-wrecking and enriching this experience is going to be! As children read through the story, they learn to sequence, loop, and break down the sandcastle problem into small manageable steps, until a functional code is created. Children who have acquainted themselves with coding facts learnt on the CodeMonkey platform, will truly enjoy reading this book and find the coding problems relatable. CodeMonkey has made its way to every child’s (ages 4 to 14) coding class and is admired by students in GCC regions, for its game-like activities.

Girls Who Code: Learn to Code and Change the World by Reshma Sujani

Can a computer language change the world? Well, clearly, we can see how the advent of technology is taking over our lives and making it easier for us to thrive. This book is apt for today’s day & age and has even become the New York Times Bestseller! The book is more than just a coding journal because it showcases real-world ‘girl power’ by gaining support from women such as; Sheryl Sandberg and Malala Yousafzai. ‘Girls Who Code’ started as an initiative by owner Reshma Sujani in 2012 to inspire and motivate girls across America to learn to code. Conquering over 40,000 young women wasn’t enough and so the book is now available to audiences world over, including the UAE regions. This book is a pleasure to read with dynamic artworks, simple explanations of coding principles, and real stories of women working at Pixar and NASA. So, are you ready to create your own app, game, and software, that will take over the world?

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Robotify is an online robotics platform that teaches you how to code in an easy-to-learn, fun-filled and accessible manner without having to purchase any expensive hardware or actual robot components. All you have to do is register with a login name and password and you get access to its multiplayer platforms which present real-life challenges in extraordinary virtual environments. Students are inspired to produce innovative ideas and solutions in this game-like environment. Many schools in Dubai, UAE use the Robotify platform, as it boosts creativity and critical thinking along with collaboration skills and problem-solving. The GCC and the Middle East are soon realizing the potential of Robotify and how affordable and accessible it is, thereby introducing this platform in classrooms.

The digitized world of today demands that every child be equipped with coding skills to successfully be able to integrate into the man-machine partnership of Artificial Intelligence. Studies have proven that coding is related to superior cognitive execution and alertness. Practicing coding which is a multifaceted ability, boosts the brain’s ability to absorb more information by forging new neural pathways. One’s muscle memory gets developed by repeatedly using these neural pathways while reinforcing coding concepts.

Coding improves your brain’s cognitive aptitudes and memory which then also spills onto your daily applications and jobs. Developing bugs in your code is unavoidable but it is this that forces the learner to tackle issues in eliminating them. Learners remain persistent with their imagination and planning solutions.

STEAM robot toys offer hands-on learning which is screen-free coding. It helps the children to understand the world around them and express themselves better. They learn how to think sequentially and logically, to solve problems. They gain the confidence and abilities to achieve or create anything they can dream of. Coding provides the set of tools that they will require for self-expression.

Coding is a highly transferrable skill that you can apply to various fields regardless of whether you eventually become a software engineer or corporate professional. It develops computational thinking skills and breaks down engineering stereotypes about tools and technologies.

With STEAM learning, coding is developed around the idea of a playground with an option to practice Robotics without investing heavily on hardware, using platforms such as Robotify. Young learners can optimally learn to program on their laptops. Sharing their progress with peers also enhances their social skills and self-expression abilities along with teaching them how to work in groups or hone their leadership skills.

The comfort of the school’s learning environment motivates children to enroll in afterschool programs and benefit from Robotics classes. STEM learning provides a comfortable environment where the learner can make mistakes and innovatively solve them while experimenting. This practice also translates to the real world where some children are risk averse but gain more confidence in making mistakes and rectifying them with coding, in an afterschool class.

Afterschool programs can encourage coding, building, storytelling, decorating, roleplay, etc with their STEAM-related activities. They must focus on keeping these sessions flexible and age appropriate. Children as young as 7 or 8 can enroll for such classes. Most schools in Dubai will offer coding as an afterschool program with low teacher-student ratio, so that teaching is customized as well as personalized for better output and results. Help your child engage their creative thinking skills and set them onto the road to becoming future tech wizards.

Free webinar for teachers and students (suitable for K-8).

Title: Start your coding journey with Robotify

Preparation for CSEdWeek and Hour of Code.

• In this Webinar teachers and students will learn how to use Robotify for coding.

• All attendees will receive free login credentials, to use the Robotify platform, during CSEdWeek and Hour of Code.

• Certificate of attendance will be issued to all the attendees.

Date: 29th November 2022 | Time: 12.00 pm to 01.00 pm (UAE Time)

Get register here: https://knowledge-hub.com/robotify_webinar/

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Writing doesn’t come naturally to kids, but it has to be taught. There is a sequential process to follow which includes getting kids comfortable with holding a crayon or thick chalk, then asking them to practice the tripod grip by holding objects firmly, next is trying to hold a pencil correctly, and then proceeding to trace & write big letters on a blank paper. The final stage is eventually being confident to write on the blue & red line book using a pencil. Through this blog, we highlight some activities that are useful in the preparatory phase to enhance the kid’s pre-writing abilities.

Playdough

Kids love rolling, hitting, tearing, and building things with playdough. Getting their hands dirty in the colorful dough is their favorite pastime. So, why not combine playing with some study? At one’s pre-writing phase, i.e., children 3-4 years of age, are yet learning to memorize all 27 letters and their sounds. Most top schools in Dubai and other Middle East regions, encourage kids to learn phonics on the Reading Eggs platform through fun-filled activities and stories.

To make letters out of playdough, simply use cookie cutters in the shape of a letter and ask kids to press it downwards onto the flattened piece of clay, to get an imprint of it. In this way, practice all 27 letters from A to Z, thereby, enhancing the child’s phonetic speech and sensory-motor skills.

If cookie cutters are unavailable at home, use the plastic clay knife that comes with the playdough set and let children write A to Z with the help of the knife on the piece of clay.

Magic Sand

Montessori’s across GCC and world-over, make use of writing trays and fill them up with sand or salt, as an activity to help kids in their pre-writing age. Letters have a specific pattern that they follow and to get used to the flow of writing, children must run their pointer finger over the printed letter again & again, till they get the confidence to be independent.

When children try to write the letters on magic sand, they learn to use the right strokes and begin to practice letter formation correctly. This stage prepares them to use a pencil and actually start writing letters on the blue & red line book. Practice tracing for lowercase & uppercase letters and even cursive formats. You can also ask your little ones to write numbers, draw shapes, and practice strokes, as a pre-writing activity to strengthen their fine motor movements.

Pre-writing Worksheets

Teachers discourage introducing the pencil to kids at first, rather they stress on giving the kids a thick crayon. This is because, kids below the age of 5 do not have the strength to hold the pencil with the correct tripod grip, but holding a crayon is easier. Simply type ‘prewriting’ worksheets on Google and you will find plenty of worksheets for kindergarten students to practice tracing. Even by subscribing to Reading Eggs, users get access to printable worksheets, that can be used to teach kids reading & practice writing. To learn more about Reading Eggs and its availability in UAE, visit our page: <link> The worksheets will have different patterns & lines with zig-zag prints and curvy bends that, improves the child’s ability to control their tiny finger movements and prepares them for formal writing.

Beading

Who thought stringing a thread with beads could teach children something indispensable? This fun craft activity does something very important for kids by teaching them how to manipulate their hand movements. If you think of it, there are many steps involved in the beading process, and each one plays a role in improving the finer movements of the fingers & hand. Kids start by picking up beads, and this exercise of merely lifting the bead between two pinched fingers is a good start. Next, the kid has to figure out where the hole of the bead is located, and this involves rotating the bead, which improves eye-hand coordination. Finally, threading the bead with one hand and holding the string in the other, will level-up preschoolers for what lies ahead of them.

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