A Math Journey Through Space by Anne Rooney: A Math Picture Book

Bibliographic Information:
Rooney, A. (2015). A math journey through space. New York : Crabtree Publishing Company, 2015.

Plot Description: This math picture book takes children on a mission through space and encourages the use of math skills to journey past planets, comets, and asteroids. Each page features puzzles and math problems in order to introduce students to various math concepts such as angles, decimals, time, estimating, charts, patterns, fractions, and more. The object of the puzzles and exercises is to make it all the way to the planet Mars and in doing so, introduces them to using math in real world applications.

Quantitative Reading Level: Lexile Score: 830L

Qualitative Reading Analysis: A Math Journey through Space is an engaging way to help 3rd and 4th graders build on their basic math skills. While a slim hardback volume of only 32 pages, each of those pages is packed with real world math exercises and colorful infographics. Appropriate for students who are fluid readers and can complete problems involving addition and subtraction. Complete with a table of contents, answer key, glossary, and index, students are quickly able to navigate the book. Colors are bold and complement the large amount of graphics and heavy fonts, and each 2-page spread is numbered as a mission (Mission 1, Mission 2, etc). Very little margin space, but that is appropriate to the graphical quality of the book. The infographics are extremely helpful in breaking down math exercises and visually defining values and complex concepts.

Content Area: Math

Content Area Standard: CCSS Math Standards Grades 3-4

1. Interpret products of whole numbers, e.g., interpret 5 × 7 as the total number of objects in 5 groups of 7 objects each.

2. Interpret whole-number quotients of whole numbers, e.g., interpret 56 ÷ 8 as the number of objects in each share when 56 objects are partitioned equally into 8 shares, or as a number of shares when 56 objects are partitioned into equal shares of 8 objects each.

3. Use multiplication and division within 100 to solve word problems in situations involving equal groups, arrays, and measurement quantities, e.g., by using drawings and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.

6. Understand division as an unknown-factor problem. For example, find 32 ÷ 8 by finding the number that makes 32 when multiplied by 8.

7. Fluently multiply and divide within 100, using strategies such as the relationship between multiplication and division (e.g., knowing that 8 × 5 = 40, one knows 40 ÷ 5 = 8) or properties of operations. By the end of Grade 3, know from memory all products of two one-digit numbers. Solve problems involving the four operations, and identify and explain patterns in arithmetic.

8. Solve two-step word problems using the four operations. Represent these problems using equations with a letter standing for the unknown quantity. Assess the reasonableness of answers using mental computation and estimation strategies including rounding.

9. Identify arithmetic patterns (including patterns in the addition table or multiplication table), and explain them using properties of operations. For example, observe that 4 times a number is always even, and explain why 4 times a number can be decomposed into two equal addends.

2. Understand a fraction as a number on the number line; represent fractions on a number line diagram.

3. Explain equivalence of fractions in special cases, and compare fractions by reasoning about their size.
a. Understand two fractions as equivalent (equal) if they are the same size, or the same point on a number line. b. Recognize and generate simple equivalent fractions, e.g., 1/2 = 2/4, 4/6 = 2/3). Explain why the fractions are equivalent, e.g., by using a visual fraction model.

1. Tell and write time to the nearest minute and measure time intervals in minutes. Solve word problems involving addition and subtraction of time intervals in minutes, e.g., by representing the problem on a number line diagram.

7. Relate area to the operations of multiplication and addition.

1. Understand that shapes in different categories (e.g., rhombuses, rectangles, and others) may share attributes (e.g., having four sides), and that the shared attributes can define a larger category (e.g., quadrilaterals). Recognize rhombuses, rectangles, and squares as examples of quadrilaterals, and draw examples of quadrilaterals that do not belong to any of these subcategories.

2. Partition shapes into parts with equal areas. Express the area of each part as a unit fraction of the whole. For example, partition a shape into 4 parts with equal area, and describe the area of each part as 1/4 of the area of the shape.

Curriculum Suggestions: This would make an excellent study aid for group problem solving. Each page is broken down into distinct "missions," which facilitates daily exercises and would motivate a class working toward the end goal (reaching the planet Mars). The subject matter could also be a helpful tie-in to an astronomy unit. The pages feature leveled exercises and charts which can also be useful in breaking down assignments according to skill level.

Links to Supporting Digital Content: N/A

Series Information: This title is part of the GoFigure! series on math by Crabtree Publishing Company. Other titles include A Math Journey through the Animal Kingdom, A Math Journey through the Human Body, and A Math Journey through Planet Earth.