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April
Maryland Math Month
"No foolin'... Math is Fun!"
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There is a delightful little book written by Marilyn Kaye
titled, "A Day with No Math." Can you imagine a day without
numbers....?
With apologies to Marilyn Kaye I would like to challenge our
Math Keypals to write their own "Day With No Math."
Here are some ideas to get you started....
Patti's Day With No Math
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The morning light from my bedroom window crept over my eyes
and startled me. I always awaken when it is dark. Omigosh..
the alarm didn't go off! I looked across my pillow to the
clock but there were no numbers on it! I jumped out of bed
and got ready for school.
Usually I listen to the morning news on TV while I dress but
the TV set had no numbers. I couldn't find CNN. My raisin
bagel in the kitchen downstairs is yummy after a quick warmup
in the microwave.. but the microwave had no numbers! I
cooked it too long and it became hard to chew.
Disgruntled and hungry I got in my car and drove to school. I
tried to be careful as I drove because I had no idea how fast
I was traveling. The numbers were gone. My favorite morning
radio station wasn't there. I couldn't select the number!
School was in confusion. The bells didn't ring for change of
class and worse yet... for lunch! Students at last entered
the cafeteria but no one could buy a meal because our money
had no values....
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Ok, your turn. Now you have the idea. Can you write your
day with "no math?"
;-)
Patti
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From the Delmar kids
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A day with no numbers.....
When I woke up this morning I got dressed and then I was going to put a
roll in the microwave then I realized that there were no numbers!! I wondered
if my whole day would be like that and it did!! I was so confused! In math
we could not do math work because there were no numbers!! We didn't know
which page to turn to. I kind of liked that though!!
Well when I got home I was trying to call Chrissy then I realized that I could
not use the phone because there were no numbers. I felt really mad! I wanted
to draw numbers on the phone. I was going to go to the police and ask them
what is going on then I remembered that I could not drive....I would have to
ride my bike!
When I got to the police station there were no cars in the parking
lot!!
Then I knew something was wrong!! So I looked at my watch to see what time it
was...oh yeah No numbers! I really wanted this day to end then! "I really
don't get it." I told myself the whole way down the road. People could not
even drive because they would not know how fast they were going. Also when I
get home I could not even listen to my radio or watch tv because there would
be no numbers! I felt like screaming so I did......
AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!
Then I did it again it felt good!!
AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!
Then after the second time I woke up!! Oh no all that was just a
dream!! When I woke up I saw 2 people leaning over me...they were my mom and
dad! I said, "Oh I am glad that you are here!" They said, " Leslie, just go
back tobed hon...you will be ok when you wake back up."
"Ok mom and dad but I just want to tell you something....I will never complain
about numbers again!" " Ok, good night," I said, "see you in the morning!!"
Leslie
11 years old
Delmar Elem.
Ashley's Day With No Numbers
When I went to school I arrived right when I was suppose to, I think.
Well, I didn't know what day it was so I went to the calendar and the was no
numbers just the name of the month and the days of the week. I couldn't
believe this. When it was time for Science we were learning about graphs,
but when I supposed to put numbers I didn't know how to count to five. I was
really in trouble now! I was forgetting all of the things with numbers.
When it was time for math we were just reading but we didn't know what page
we were on! I thought I was lucky. I didn't have to do anything with
numbers. When I started to read there was a blank space. I thought
well, I wonder why it is blank there. I kept on thinking and then I thought
that this day was no numbers day and I said that this blank spot was for a
number. When I got home I didn't do anything with numbers and went right to
sleep. The next morning I took a look at my clock and it had numbers on it.
I said "Hoorray!" I never want to have a day like that again.
Ashley
grade 5
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A Day Without Numbers
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On Tuesday night I saw a shooting star. I wished on the
shooting star." My wish was that there would be no
numbers." When I woke up the next morning, there were no
numbers on the clock so I did not know what time it
was. School was all year around. There was no money so when I
went in a store I could take what I wanted. When I went to see
a car dealer I could take the car I wanted, because there was
no money. I could not call my friends, because there were no
numbers on the telephone. I saw another shooting star and I
"Wished everything was back to normal." The next morning
everyting was the same.
by: Betty
grade 5
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Christina's Day With No Math
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One day during school we were suppose to get our "Report Cards" - big scary
for some of us. The teachers were stuck on getting the averages of the grades,
Because there was no math..... It was terrible. The rest of the day was a
disaster.. We couldn't do any math which was good for some people who simply
did not pay attention.
Then when I got home I tried to make some snacks for a little sleepover I
was going to have for me and my friend Anna Blanchfield. I was going to make
Fudge, Brownies, Cookies, Dip, Popcorn, Nachos & Cheese, Delicous Drinks,
Super Sundaes, and more "YUMMY" stuff, But then I found out that there were no
numbers on the ingredients so there go the delicous snacks I was going to
make.
Then when Anna came it was time to go to bed because she got there late
because there weren't any numbers. They couldn't keep time neither could any
body else in the state of Delaware. We were going to have some good snacks but
we couldn't we had to eat regular snacks............................
THE END
By: Christina
grade 6
No Numbers
One morning I Woke up and checked the time and for some
reason the numbers were gone. So I got dressed ready for school
and the bus always comes at the right time, but it never came! It
always comes at 7:30 in the morning. So I walked to school.
Later on in the day I gathered with my friends to do a script about
a thing called D.A.R.E in school. We only had three minutes
to do it, but we didn't know how much time we had left,
because the clock didn't have any numbers on it! The thing
worse then that was that we couldn't find out what time it was
so we could go to lunch. When I came home from school that day
I grabbed a bite to eat, because I was so hungry. my parents
came home not too long after I did. We couldn't watch any movies
on cable because we didn't know what channel it came on. At night time
I was supposed to have a favorite show come on.
So the next day I did the same thing, I woke up
checked the time, and it had no NUMBERS ON THE CLOCK!!!!!
I was so angry I had to let out steam. At that moment my
parents came in my room just as angry as I was.
I went back to school the same day and the school still had the same
problem, the clocks still had
NO NUMBERS ON THEM!!!!!!!!!
I yelled out in even more ANGER! So later
on that day the whole school was trying to find out what classes
to go to. One time I heard someone say that there were no such thing
as time or numbers. Looks like that dream has come
true. I bet that the person who said it must be really happy
right now. But for one thing sure, I'm going to find him and
make him wish he never even said it. Until then I have been
tracing some steps, but I haven't found anything yet. Well
When I came home from school I checked the clock to see what
time it was, but There were still no NUMBERS ON IT!!!!!
The next day I went back to school to do some things, I did some papers
and found some files with my teacher, And I found out something that was
really interesting. There was a boy name alex who really didn't like
anything much at all. The things that he hated were...Rides,
roller blades, bikes, math, pets, And Flowers. I thought
that this boy is out of his mind. I Knew where he lived,
Later when I came home from school I saw the clock and the time
some how came back. Thank You lord!
THE END!!!!!!!!
James
grade 6
The Worst Day of my Life
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While I was in math my teacher was telling us to do a lot of
problems. I got real angry and wished there was no math. Then
a chicken came up to me and said,"Your wish is my
command". First thing when you come home run to your room
then cluck twice, then bang your head on the floor five times
then spin around ten times. Next I will come in and put an egg
on your head. Smash it nineteen times. "Thanks," I said. "You're
welcome," said the chicken. When I woke up that morning I
didn't know what time it was so when I got up I just stared at
the clock and kept whiping my eyes saying this was a rip-off
When my mom came in she said,"GET DRESSED, DO YOU KNOW WHAT
TIME IT IS?" I said,"No". Then she looked at my clock and said,
"What happened to your clock?" I said," Tell me what happened"?
After that I got dressed and ate my food. I didn't know what time
it was so I missed the bus and I had to walk, but I got lost
then the chicken took me to school. When I got there
everybody was running around saying,"What time is it"?
Then the Vice principal said," It is time to start school."
A little girl said,"Well what time is it"? "I don't know,but
it's time to start school." So when I got in the class room we had math first.
So when I got in math I smiled and stared at him wondering why was he
sad. Then I asked him," Why are you sad"? He said because school will never
end if there are no numbers. Then I screamed and said," Where's the chicken?"
After school when I came home I saw my mother was sad. I said, "Why are you
sad"? She said, "Because when I went to the mall I couldn't buy anything
because they didn't know how much it cost." When I got to my room the chicken
was there I wished if there could be numbers again and the chicken said," Your
wish is my command." When I woke up I looked at my clock and found
NUMBERS!!!! Now I am happy that we have numbers.
BY: Rhae
grade 5
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From Jan Dalton's students in Gibbons, Alberta, Canada
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I woke up at the usual time. I think! My watch had no numbers.
So I went to listen to my radio but there was no stations. Then I went
downstairs to watch T.V. but there was no numbers on the remote.
I woke up at the usual time today . I think ! My watch
had no numbers . So I went to listen to my radio But it had no stations .
Then I went downstairs to watch T.V. but there was no numbers on the remote
. I went to cook some porridge in the microwave but there was no numbers
and I didn't cook it long enough . So then I went to cook it in the oven
but there was no numbers on the dial and I cooked it to a crisp . I didn't
know the date so I just went to school . I went to my bus stop in front of
my house but the bus driver was clear on the other side of town there was
no numbers on the houses . Finally I got on the bus and when I got on the
bus driver took of so fast I almost fell on my face there was no numbers on
the speedometer . We got to school very quickly I didn't know when to get
in because the bells weren't ringing . When I got into class we were going
to go to reading buddies but we didn't know how many people were supposed
to go . My row was very good so we could earn points but there was no
numbers . We did not know when to go to go in because the bells weren't
ringing. When I got into class we were going to go to reading buddies but
we did not know how many people had to go. My team was good so we could
get points but there was no numbers. We did not know when to go to
computers so when we went we couldn't play any games because there was no
numbers on the games. When we got to class we were going to write in our
science books but we didn't know how many paragraphs to write. Our teacher
said it would be according to grade but there was no numbers. After that
we were going to go outside but we did not know the temp.We were going to
do math but there was no numbers in the math books. And that was my day
with no numbers.
by Steven grade 5
A Day With No Math
My day with no math is a disaster! When I woke up I found out that
my alarm hadn't gone off, I couldn't tell what time it was because the
clocks were blank. I didn't know if it was a school day or not because the
calendars were blank. I couldn't phone my friends to see if they could
walk to school with me. I couldn't watch my favourite T.V. station because
the T.V. didn't show the channels. I couldn't make an egg for breakfast on
the stove because I couldn't tell what setting to put it on. I couldn't tell
the temperature so I was really cold.
When I got to school I couldn't hear the bell at all. All our teams
points were blank. I couldn't go to pop & chip because I couldn't tell what
my money was worth. When we went to computers nothing worked. In our
math block we couldn't do any math because our books were all blank.
That was my day without math!!!
By, Laura
Grade 5
Gibbons School
NO NUMBERS
One Friday my Mom and I got up early in order to go
shopping at Safeway, but we didn't know if it was 10:00 AM or
1:30 PM! There were no numbers on the clocks! Not even the ones
that ran on batteries! So we ate a quick breakfast and got into
the car.
"We can finally get going!" Mom gasped as she turned on
the car and took off down the street.
First we went to get some gas, and that was a real
problem. My Mom didn't know how much gas she was getting because
there were no numbers on the machine! So she filled it until
she felt that it had the right amount, and then she went inside
to pay, but she didn't know how much to pay because the big
sign out front didn't say! Plus, the money didn't have any
numbers, so Mom couldn't tell if she was givin $100 or $1.00!
After ten minutes, we finally got going. But Mom went
awfully slow because the signs didn't tell us what the speed
limit was, and there were no numbers on the speedometer! And we
ALWAYS listen to the radio, but there were no numbers on the
dial so we couldn't find our favorite station!
"Mom, this isn't working!" I yelled after about 10 tries at
it.
"Oh, leave it alone!" Mom sounded really irritated, so I
left her and the radio alone.
At Safeway, things were even worse! Mom ordered some ham,
but the lady at the counter couldn't weigh it ! There were no
numbers! And when w went to get some milk, we didn't know how
many litres there were because there were no numbers on the
cartons!
After we had payed for everything (which was very
difficult), we finally went home, and when we got there, we
didn't know if it was supper time or lunch time! But Mom sorted
it out, and we had a late dinner and went to bed. I was glad
the day was over!!!
By: SUZANNE Grade 5, Gibbons School
No Numbers for a Day
I was going out for a walk and I saw everyone that was driving was
going too fast. And when I went home, I went to the phone my friend Danny.
But there were no numbers on the phone. So I went to the T.V. but I could
not find Goof Troop. And then I thought and thought. Then I was thinking
about the Aliens taking over the earth and stealing the numbers on the
earth. Then I ran out to Danny's and I saw him run out too. And he was
yelling like crazy! And I asked him if he had numbers. And he gasped NO.
It looked like the time to go to school and Danny agreed. And when
we got there it looked late but we went in and no one was there. So we
waited and waited but we left. Danny was hungry so we went for stuff to
eat. And we ordered pizza from K.B. and it was free. And I was still
thinking about the Aliens. Will we ever find out the truth?
By Alex Grade 5, Gibbons School
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Gibbons School
Gibbons, Alberta, CANADA
wjeske@edtel.alta.net
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From North Dakota
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a day with no numbers.....
I woke up this morning and got dressed. I went down stairs to the
smell of pancakes I told my mom that I wanted two pancakes. But she said, "you
want want?"
"I want 2 pancakes!"
"Please say that one more time."
So I yelled it this time, but she said she still couldn't hear me. So
I screamed it this time, but she still didn't hear me. So I went to the
police station and got a bullhorn. I went home and screamed at the top my
lungs!!!! But she stil didn't hear me! Then I realised she could not hear
me say "two" because there were no such thing as numbers!
watford city
north dakota
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Vicky Email:radk5400@spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov
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From Texas
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Barbara Hunter bhunter@tenet.edu
April 7 95
During the summer of 94 something strange and neat happened. I awoke one
morning one morning ready to go to the pool. I grabbed a couple of bucks
not looking how much I took. When I got to the pool I handed the guard my
money and ran for the pool. HALT
I heard the guard shout. When I went back the guard told me that it was
free because for some reason the money had no numbers on it. BOY thats
really crazy. So when he told me this I jumped in . Whoa, when I jumped
in the pool it came way over my head. Thats odd usually when I jump in
this spot it's at my knees. So I looked at the sign to see how d eep it
was and there were no numbers. By this timehe was really mixed up. He
didn't want to stay in the pool because he was afraid he might go to deep.
So he got out and went to the food stand to get a Snickers bar. when he
got there the lady told him he couldn't by anything because no one's money
had value. Oh yeah I forgot. This wouldn't be any fun if he couldn't swim
or eat. So I wlked home and took a nap till, well I don't know exactly
what time it was , but my mom said it was time for supper.
Zach Grade 5
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A Day With No Numbers!!
One day while listening to my teacher blabber about some Math problem
a little man appeared and told me I could make any wish in the world and
he would make it come true. I thought for awhile and decided since I hated
Math so much I should wish for th ere to be no numbers.So I told the
little man that I wished there would be no numbers.He said that my wish
would come true tomorrow.
* * * *
When I woke up the next day to my alarm I was eager to see if my wish
had come true and sure enough my alarm had no numbers on it. I knew we
still had school so I got dressed and went out to the bus stop. But the
buses didn't have numbers on them so
I just waved one over to the side and got on. When I got to school Mr.
Bergstrom said there would be no Math class since we had no numbers. So I
went to English and I stayed there for four hours instead of three hours.
That day we had more than enough homework in English.We had to diagram
fifteen twenty word sentences! It took me five hours to finish my homework
in all my subjects.The next morning I asked Mr. Bergstrom why we had to
stay in English for so long.He said that it was because that we had no
numbers and so then every day till numbers came back we were to have an
extra hour in language.I about died!! When I got home I did my home work,
to a bath, brushed my teeth, and went to bed. That night I prayed to the
little man wherever he was that numbers would please come back.
* * * *
The next morning I woke up to my alarm clock and I looke at the time.
Yipee!!!!! Numbers were back it was 6:03.That day at school I had English
for three hours then Math for an hour.When I got home it took me only an
hour to finish my homework.Then my alarm went off and I got up. Whew!
Thank- goodness it was all one big dream!!!!
THE END !!!!
Calyn
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One day when I woke up I looked at my alarm clock and it was blank
. I ran down the stairs one at a time , but I couldn't there were no
numbers so I jumped WHOOSH . I hurt my foot but I didn'T KNOW WHAT FOOT I
COULDN't COUNT THERE WERE NO NUMBERS AAAAA.......I stated breathing
heavily... I thought I was going insain . I ran in the kitchen aha aha
aha I looked at the oven ...NO clock ahaaaaa..Istarted shaking all over I
was braking down . I picked the phone but NO NUMBERS AHAAA. I rushed in
the garage I ran out the back door I looked down .NOTHING just EMPTY SPACE
. I realised the edge of the world layed infront of me . I turned around
NOTHHING .All that was left was me , the step that my feet were on and
then I looked up and all the missing numbers were falling ,,from the sky.
Then I woke up and I WAS IN A MENTAL HOSPITAL.I looked to my side and
there was a lady in a white gown talking to a doctor.'' His case is very
bad his mentaly disturbed.
Jeremy Grade 5
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Barbara Hunter Barbers Hill Intermediate
bhunter@tenet.edu Mt. Belvieu, Texas USA
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From Canada
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No Numbers
One morning when I woke up I thought it would be in the middle of the
night and I would get to sleep a lot more and wouldn't have to get up for a
long time. So I turned around to look at the clock. It was blank it had
nothing on it. I didn't believe it so I got up and looked to see if it was
plugged in it was plugged in.So I went and asked my mom " Why isn't my
alarm clock plugged in?"I asked "Never mind and get ready for school" she
replied. So I got ready for school and met Holly at the corner and when we
got to school. I asked teacher what time is it? and before she could reply
"Bringgg" the bell went "I don't know she finally replied and then we had
our whole day without numbers! It was very,very different.
Jennifer
Grade 5
Gibbons School
A Day With No Numbers
I woke up one morning, but I didn't know what time it was because my
alarm clock was blank. I went in the kitchen to make microwavable oatmeal,
but when I took it out, it was burnt. Next, I went downstairs to do a
puzzle, and when I checked how many pieces were in it, the box didn't say.
Next, I tried to watch channel 14, but the remote wouldn't work.
On the way to school my dad stopped at the gas station and didn't know
how much gas was in his tank because the gas pump didn't say. My brother
turned on the radio and tried to turn it to his favourite station but the
line wouldn't move.
At school, math block was first, but block 2 didn't come because
the bell didn't ring. After that the teacher said we should start science.
We went outside and the teacher held up the thermometre but we had no idea
what the temperature was. When we got back to the classroom, the teacher
was going to give out points but when she tried writing on the board the
chalk wouldn't write.
By,
Jenine
grade - 5
Gibbons School
A Day with no Math
I woke up and went to see what time it was but the clock
had no numbers on it so I went to toast some bread in the toaster but the
toaster had no numbers on it either so there goes that idea. My mom had to
drive me to school because I didn't know if my ride had left with out me or
what.
Then when I got school , the bells were all messed up. And nobody
knew when recess was. At lunch nobody could go to (T,C's fresh snacks)
because the money had no value.
By Chad
Gibbons school
No Numbers
One bright afternoon math was coming up in next subject, and plus
how would we know what time to start. After school I went to the store and
I wanted to buy candy but I didn't know the price! After I went to the
arcade but no one was there so I went over to one game but I couldn't play
because I didn't know how much it cost. So after school I had a baseball
game and there was a problem we couldn't keep score.
By Ricky Grade 5
Gibbons School
Gibbons, Alberta, CANADA
wjeske@edtel.alta.net
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