Learn everything you need to know (and more) about campervan furniture. We will go deep on tools, joinery & cabinetry, colorants & finishes, as well as a bunch of tips & tricks!
WHY?!?! The most intriguing question that I ask and try to have an answer for. So I was about to teach how to find area of a trapezoid, and I thought I could just teach them the formula and how to use it, but then the question hit me... Why?? Why is the formula like this??? My students had a formula chart we refer to as the "cheat sheet" (they get to use this on their STAAR test) and I knew I would not be a good teacher if I didn't explain why the formula was the way it was. My students already had figured out the formula to finding the area of a triangle: bh/2 because a triangle is 1/2 of the area of a rectangle or square. They figured that out all on their own... with a little jogging by me. But I had NO IDEA why the formula to a trapezoid was (Base 1 + Base 2)h/2. Why was the formula this?? And if I couldn't figure it out, how on earth could I teach it??? AHHHH.... So I sat at the kitchen table with my husband and drew, thought, scribbled, reassessed, guess and checked and learned all over again. The divide by 2 made me think... somehow a triangle is involved here....Then it hit me.... duh... 2 triangles make up a trapezoid.... but they have different bases. If I find the area of each one and add them then I can find the area. And it worked. So I used my jogging questions to help my students figure out the formula to a trapezoid. We started with a trapezoid cut out that I provided to all my students. I told them that triangles and trapezoids were related. Using one line, can you figure out how and draw it? Gotta admit... it stumped some them... they really wanted to draw a square and a triangle(just like I did the night before), but soon enough the light started turning on and they drew a line cutting the trapezoid into 2 triangles. I told them they already knew how to find the area of triangles, so what could we do to find the area of the trapezoid? ( Find the area of each triangle and add them) And so they did. You can see the work in each triangle and the adding of the 2 triangle areas in the bottom right hand corner of the journal page. Once they understood this concept, I told them there was an easier way then finding the area of both triangles and adding. I asked what did the 2 triangles have in common? (the height) What was different in both triangles? (the bases) Well both the bases are being multiplied by the height. right... couldn't we just add the bases and multiply them by the height since they are going to anyway? Lets test it and see what happens.... Sure enough... we got the same answer. So why can we do this? (both of the bases are being multiplied by the same number) Then I asked what did they notice about the 2 bases? what kind of lines were they? (parallel) So how can you always find the bases in a trapezoid? (look for the parallel lines) With much practice, they can do the formula in no time, but even more importantly, when I ask them why we add the bases, or divide by 2, they can tell me exactly why. Warm feeling filling the heart now... And on a side note.... didn't I learn all this in 10th grade Geometry???? When did 10th grade become 6th grade math!??!?! Gotta get my warm heart feeling again after that blood pressure spike.... Happy Teaching the answer to WHY???
TOH assembles even more pro wisdom from master carpenter Norm Abrams archive
Master carpenter Norm Abram shares his top how-to secrets for flawless DIY
There’s two old fellers in the neighborhood and you gotta love em although they’re so often misunderstood. Slim and Slick is not their given name but I’ll call em that if it’s all the same. They’re a jack of all trades and they can do anything. They raise hogs, calves, chickens, grow gardens, the best you’ve ever seen, collect junk metal and haul wood, the list could go on and that’s just the upswing. Anything that comes along, these fellers can do. They never back down, they always see it through. They’ve cleaned up the community and the country side too. There’s no scrap metal or junk to be found and we all feel pride when we pass through. They cut and haul wood in their spare time, deliver and unload, no better service will you find. If you need anything done, just give them a call. They’ll come running even if they’re so tired they have to crawl. You might find em at the barn bottle feeding a calf or running after a cow and it’s hard not to laugh. One old cow named Oprah thought she had em pegged one day as she run. She was gonna show em it was her way or the highway before she was done. They put her in the pasture to dry up some, hoping for a calf when the cooler weather come. She got out of the pasture and was on the other side of the fence. It was early morning when it all commence. They run her all day on the other side of that fence. Their tongues were hanging out, it was a good thing they both had stopping sense. She wore em plum out, they were tuckered don’t you know. That old cow thought that grass was greener on the other side and after it she did go. Now old Oprah is usually a really good,ole cow. She’s produced a lot of milk, butter and buttermilk, done more than any other cow. This time she wanted to be wild and free and who could blame her. She should have won the mother of the year award for feeding so many calves loyally. When they finally caught her and put her back in the stall. She was mad as a hornet and what happened next takes the cake and beats it all. They keep an old box fan in the barn on when it’s hot. She flew mad and did her business at the back of the fan and it became windblown in every corner and spot. I’m telling you the truth, yes-siree. That stuff blew all over the place and oh what misery. You’ve heard the old sayin, the crap hit the fan. Well if you knew these fellers like I do, you’d understand. Old Slim is lanky and quite tall and Slick is shorter and built kinda small. If you ever see em you’ll know em and they’ll be easy to recall. Slim was the one that discovered what she did and he hollered come quick Slick and lookiee here, and while you’re at it bring me another beer. Slick said, what’s that on your face Slim, and why you got that big, ole grin. Slim said, will you open your eyes and look around, where you been? Apparently, Slick had been tending to a calf in the back of the barn. About that time something hit him in the eye and all he could say was I’ll be darn. Not to many people know about this little incident but word has ways of getting around, and as long as they live they’ll never live this one down. It’s things like this that happen all the time. These old boys are like two peas in a pod and two of a kind. It seems if it wasn’t for bad luck they’d have no luck at all. They sure can get themselves in a mess and that’s their downfall. It‘s even harder on em come winter time when the cold, north wind blows in. They build a big fire in the wood heater and all the chickens, dogs and cats gather in. I call that barn their headquarters, so many things going on every day. Headquarters are very important to all working men when it’s the place they purt nigh stay. Before ye walk in ye can smell a pot of beans, etc on the wood, burning stove or whatever suits their fancy, two old working fellers cooking up a tasty, treasure trove. It doesn’t matter what the season is, they’ve always got work to do. You might even pass em on the road, hauling in feed. It keeps em really hopping too. What time they’re not in the gardens, sweating to beat the band. But it all pays off and harvest time is so grand. They can grow the prettiest and biggest gardens you’ve ever seen. They do all this while raising calves and hogs and everything else in between. And they believe in sharing their bounty with the neighborhood. They ain’t a bit stingy, they give more than they should. I get my fair share every year. That kraut sure will taste good when cold weather gets here. And those squash, beans, corn and maters are oh so fine. Nothing like em anywhere, store bought ain’t worth a dime. These fellers provide more services in one day then you’ll find in the phone book. If they can’t do it they’ll find a way, if you don’t believe me then come and take a look. They should have won The Nobel Prize Award for being the most generous around. I’m gonna make sure their name’s in the pot the next go around. So every morning when they wake and their feet hit the floor, they grab a dip of Copenhagen and run out the door. Taking care of business like the day before, so much to do as they tend to each chore. They go from one thing to another the live, long day, working hard with plenty of satisfaction and blessings as their pay. So if you pass through my neighborhood and see it so clean, or two old fellers running after a cow and tending a garden in between, hauling wood or junk metal, they’re living the good life the best you’ve ever seen. And be sure and watch for em next on the evening news. They’re real popular in these parts and the old cow too. She’ll be the one that moos and they’ll be the ones with manure on their shoes. This is an older post but still remains true today some what. Please keep Slick, Aka my cousin in your prayers. He had a heart attack over the weekend and had to have stints put in. But he's on the road to recovery and should be home soon. I know Slim sure is missing him along with everyone else and their aunt and uncle too. Many Thanks in Advance. ~Susie P.S. Slim is Aka, my brother .
TOH compiled the latest and greatest from the master carpenter
TOH assembles even more pro wisdom from master carpenter Norm Abrams archive
Master carpenter Norm Abram shares his top how-to secrets for flawless DIY
TOH compiled the latest and greatest from the master carpenter
TOH compiled the latest and greatest from the master carpenter
A collection of the latest and greatest tips from the TOH master carpenter
Master carpenter Norm Abram shares his top how-to secrets for flawless DIY
Master carpenter Norm Abram shares his top how-to secrets for flawless DIY
Master carpenter Norm Abram shares his top how-to secrets for flawless DIY
The miter saw is one of the tools we use the most to make DIY furniture projects. Here are 7 miter saw tricks and tips to make the most of your miter saw!
Master carpenter Norm Abram shares his top how-to secrets for flawless DIY
As a Blogger and Entrepreneur, I've learned to be decent at a lot of little things. Not great, and definitely not exceptional - but decent. I share my knowledge as much as I can, like in my blogging tips and small business posts, but I'm no expert in these areas. I'm constantly working to improve my skills in a
Master carpenter Norm Abram shares his top how-to secrets for flawless DIY
Master carpenter Norm Abram shares his top how-to secrets for flawless DIY
Learn how to make and apply a simple vinegar weed killer to rid your driveway and sidewalk of unwanted plants.
TOH assembles even more pro wisdom from master carpenter Norm Abrams archive
Looking for some easy home repair hacks, or rather do you have some things that need fixing around your house, but either don't think you have the time, skills or money required? Turns out, many home repair projects can be done with some genius shortcuts, and was I ever happy to find them. My handyman
Circular knitting needles are the jack-of-all-trades in knitting. They let you knit pretty much everything you'll ever need to knit.
TOH compiled more of master carpenter Norm Abrams best how-to tips for stress-free projects
I will go into detail about selling a call option. For many people, they don’t understand that you can sell options without having the stock or without owning the other options side of the trade. Selling call options or selling options, in general, is more popular amongst professionals than buying options contracts and that is […]
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Pimples on the nose are quite tricky to deal with. Read this article to learn the causes and natural remedies to cope with them effectively.
A collection of the latest and greatest tips from the TOH master carpenter
Our goal in this trade is to setup at a 10 delta on the puts and calls. I’m going to set up first with verticals and then we’re going to get into it with just a single iron condor trade. This is a good set up to do because you’re creating a very balanced iron […]
Learn about 3 useful woodworking apps that can assist woodworkers of all skill levels, including I.D. Wood, iHandy Carpenter and Ad-Free Unit Converter.
Whether you're new to makeup or an old pro, this collection of makeup tutorials will teach you the most amazing secrets of makeup artists everywhere!
When you think of a Jack of all trades, you might think of Jane going forward. Learn all about her crafting in this issue of A Stitch A Day.
