SIMULATION REPORT
By:Caroline Jones
Brief description
I chose the Number Line Frog Hop (Addition and Subtraction) simulation activity targeted for grades 3 through 5. The game’s beginning setup starts with 4 base logs labeled 0, 10, 20, and 30. In between, there are lines representing the numbers in between the base numbers. A frog is placed on a certain line and can choose to either subtract or add to reach the logs. For an extra challenge, you can choose the “add fly” option and a fly will appear on a line in the game. The student must add or subtract the correct number in order for the frog to reach the fly. I found this simulation extremely unique and have never seen anything like it. This gizmo is not only interactive, but also integrates science into the math lesson. The user will experience an adequate amount of practice with addition and subtraction through this interactive learning gizmo. This gizmo targets the grades just beginning to add and subtract by allowing the children to experiment with multiple number combinations. Children can choose to hop 3 spaces(add 3) or hop 4 spaces and move back a space(add 4 and subtract 1). Additionally, the student will be engaged with a science concept by learning that a fly is part of a frog’s diet.
Learning objectives addressed
-Add numbers using a number line.
-Subtract numbers using a number line.
-Decompose a two-digit number into tens and ones.
-Mentally add/subtract by first adding/subtracting the tens and then the ones.
Interest level for students
As a teacher candidate, I found this gizmo to be very interesting! I found myself making different combinations to reach the flies right off the bat. I feel that young students would jump right in to this appealing activity, begin interacting, and engage in the addition/subtracting learning process without even realizing it. Additionally, the gizmo allows the child to have complete control over how many hops the frog makes, which will have the child engaged for hours. Supplying young children with paper and pencil math problems may sound boring and as a result, they will have no desire to learn. However, this gizmo is created with a children’s imagination in mind and will result in successful math practice.
Ease of use
This website was very easy to navigate and took almost no time at all to become acquainted with its many features. I first chose whether I was interested in a math or science simulation and then chose the specific lesson I was interested in presenting. I was given a great variety of simulations to choose from, which lets me know that this site would be a dependable resource throughout the semester. As I read through the directions for this certain simulation, I found them to be short, sweet, and to the point. I truly believe that any student could navigate and utilize this gizmo with ease. Additionally, the tools within the simulation consisted of about three choices: add fly option, number of jumps, and an addition/subtraction option. I was able to immediately engage in the simulation even before reading the directions thanks to the difficult-free tools. I would highly recommend this student-friendly simulation for any classroom working with addition and subtraction.
Usefulness
Before I began this simulation, I began to wonder just how useful this Number Line Frog Hop was going to be. From my past experience, I have found that many simulations that are set up into a game have had no benefits for a student. However, I found this gizmo to be highly beneficial for students learning about addition and subtraction. The student will be able to learn the properties of addition and subtraction through the art of experimentation. I find that some students have trouble with understanding the concept of adding and subtracting because they do not physically see all the numbers. However, this simulation allows the student to see the frog jump from the beginning number to the final answer. Additionally, students can control how many jumps the frog will take to reach the fly. This highly interactive simulation would be an asset for any student learning to add and subtract.
