Word Clouds in the MATH Classroom

Ways to Use Word Clouds in the Classroom - by Michael Gorman 

http://www.wordle.net/

http://www.tagxedo.com/

http://wordsift.com/

Math

1. Make a word cloud of a math story problem
2. Have students show ratios, proportion, and scale using a word cloud. Use advanced number feature.
3. Have students work out ways to illustrate statistics in a word cloud. Have them work with both advanced numbers and colors.
4. Create word clouds using geometric shapes with vocabulary words to fit in those shapes. Since Wordle cannot do this you will need to use Tagul or Tagxedo.
5. Show units of measurement in a word cloud. Try to scale it by proportion… to some extent where possible. Put each type of measurement such as volume, linear, mass in its own color. Be creative and use both the advanced number and color tool.
6. Create a word cloud that shows a pattern and have students discuss via classroom, groups, or online forum.
7. Have students either spell out or use number values to show relative size of numbers along a number line or place value within the metric system.
8. Create word clouds that display fractions. Example: A word cloud with three different insects, two mammals, four fish, and five birds. Ask for fractions of each animal type.
9. Have students find mathematical papers written by famous mathematicians and create a word cloud of some of their writing. See what words have high occurrence and see what they might mean.
10. Have students analyze a writing and give statistical information using percentages, proportions, and numbers of used words. Remember that you can use a word count to analyze and even popular words. What kinds of graphs might be able to be used to illustrate better?
11. Create a word cloud of standards to be used in the course.
12. Have students come up an original way to use a word cloud to tell a mathematical story.