Math Mania

Every 2 weeks there will be 2 math activities: one for lower grades (K-3) and one for upper grades (4-5). Send your responses to: [email protected] OR bring them into your classroom teacher. A bulletin board will display some responses.

In most Japanese homes you will find a room called a tatami room that has mats made of straw on the floor. Tatami is basically made of straw that is put into layers and stitched together, and the surface is covered with rushes. When you enter a room with tatami mats you must remove your slippers. Only socks or bare feet are permitted on the mats because there is no way to wash the mats. If one gets dirty, it must be replaced. The tatami room pictured here is for a Japanese Tea Ceremony. Notice each mat is bordered in black.

A single tatami mat measures about ninety by a hundred and eighty centimeters (6 ft. by 3 ft.), and the size of a room is usually measured by the number of tatami mats.

Primary Grades (k-3):

How big would a 3 tatami room be? How about a 4 tatami room? How big is your bedroom? Measure in feet. How many tatami mats would fit in your bedroom? So your room is a ????? tatami room.

Upper Grades (4-5):

Start by doing the primary grade assignment. Now draw your bedroom to scale on quarter inch graph paper. Use the scale one inch = one foot. Draw in the tatami mats how they'd best fit in your room.

Click here for the previous weeks' math activities.