BUSHY PARK GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAM 2018 - 2019
  • Gifted Education
    • Why do we need gifted education?
    • Gifted Definitions
    • National Gifted Standards
    • Gifted Education Resources
  • GT Mathematics
    • Grade 4 >
      • Mental Math
      • Summer Math Curse
      • Problem Solving
      • Olympiads
    • Grade 5 >
      • Problem Solving
      • Olympiads
      • Ratio Relationships
      • Cartoons
  • GT Curriculum Extension Units
    • Grade 2 >
      • Archaeologists Really Dig It!
    • Grade 3 >
      • Weather
    • Grade 4 >
      • Ancient Civilizations
    • Grade 5 >
      • Oceanography >
        • Ocean Systems: The Coriolis Effect and El Nino
        • Waves and Tsunamis
  • GT Seminars
    • 4th Grade GeoBee
    • Geobee Grade 3
  • Enrichment Interactions
 

Ancient Number Systems

Have you ever wondered how we arrived at our Hindu-Arabic number system? Our 4th grade math students studied the origin and evolution of several ancient math systems including the systems of the Egyptians, the Romans, and the Mayan cultures. Then they created an number system of their own with original symbols, rules, and even a creative story of how the system came to be.
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Hindu Arabic Number System

The number system we use today was invented by the Hindus in India thousands of years ago and was brought to Europe around the year 900 by Arab traders.  In this system all numbers are written with the nine digits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 to show how many, and the placeholder zero.  It is a decimal system, that is, it is based on powers of 10.  It also is a place value system meaning that these digits have different values depending upon their placement.
          

I remember when...

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I remember when I was just a youngster in GT Math. I loved to learn numbers that the ancient civilizations used. For example, ancient Egypt used symbols from everyday life like a tadpole and a coiled rope to represent the values of the numbers. T.J.

I remember when we did the Roman and Egyptian number systems. They were pretty easy, fun, and made me feel like I could time travel!  K.R.

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The Challenge

Now that you have explored the Egyptian, Roman, and Mayan number systems, it is time to INVENT YOUR OWN NUMBER SYSTEM!
Your number system must include the following information:
  1. The title of your number system and your name.
  2. The symbols used in your number system.
  3. Counting from 1-20.
  4. At least four examples of conversions.  Two examples must convert a number from your system to our decimal system and the other two examples must convert our numbers to your system.  Record the original problem, the solution, and show all your work on the key.
  5. At least two addition problems and two subtraction problems using your base. Show all your work. Record the original problem, the solution, and show all your work on the key.
  6. Answer key for your conversions, addition, and subtraction problems. Record the original problem, the solution, and show all your work on the key.
  7. A short story of about one typed page that tells the history of your number system. You may use up to size 20 font.
  8. Create a flipbook that shares all the number system information that you created above. The project must be NEAT, CREATIVE and decorated with pictures and/or designs representing your civilization.
  9. Keep this sheet. Before you turn in the project, use the Student Evaluation to grade yourself. Tuck the sheet into the back of the project and turn it in.
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  • Gifted Education
    • Why do we need gifted education?
    • Gifted Definitions
    • National Gifted Standards
    • Gifted Education Resources
  • GT Mathematics
    • Grade 4 >
      • Mental Math
      • Summer Math Curse
      • Problem Solving
      • Olympiads
    • Grade 5 >
      • Problem Solving
      • Olympiads
      • Ratio Relationships
      • Cartoons
  • GT Curriculum Extension Units
    • Grade 2 >
      • Archaeologists Really Dig It!
    • Grade 3 >
      • Weather
    • Grade 4 >
      • Ancient Civilizations
    • Grade 5 >
      • Oceanography >
        • Ocean Systems: The Coriolis Effect and El Nino
        • Waves and Tsunamis
  • GT Seminars
    • 4th Grade GeoBee
    • Geobee Grade 3
  • Enrichment Interactions