What Happens In the Faculty Lounge (Doesn't Necessarily) Stay In the Faculty Lounge

Some of the most interesting math action in my school takes place, not in a classroom, but in here:

The Faculty Lounge

   

     Recently, I blogged about how seeing this on one of the tables...

...inspired a 3-Act problem solving task.

And earlier this year I described how seeing this Thanksgiving leftover...

...inspired some interesting noticings and wonderings.  Here are a few more examples of what I think of as "Faculty Lounge Math":

The Soda Machine

     Did you notice the soda machine in the back right corner?  One afternoon a few months ago I caught the delivery guy in the process of refilling the machine.  I snapped this picture:

     Thinking I might use it as the basis for another 3-Act, I found out that the machine holds 288 bottles, which is 12 cases at 24 bottles per case.  One of our grade 5 teachers has already used it as a noticing and wondering prompt.

Candy

     Here's something a teacher left on the table after Valentine's Day.  I used this as an estimation180 task:

How many candies inside?  Give me a too low, a too high, and a just right.  On an open number line, of course!

I opened the box and took this picture for the reveal.  It also suggests fractions, arrays, multiplication, and subitizing.  

Later that afternoon I found that someone had been at the candy!

Speaking of subitizing and candy, one morning in early November I found this bag of left over Halloween treats...

...and brought it back to my room.  I arranged them in different configurations...

...and downloaded the pictures onto our school's shared drive for the primary grade teachers to use as subitizing prompts.  OK, I confess.  I ate the candy.

Supplies

Several weeks ago I found myself in Aimee's first grade classroom, working with a group of kids trying to make 2-dimensional shapes using play-doh and what looked like over-sized collar stays. Things were not really working out.
     "I wanted to use coffee stirrers," she explained, "But I left them at home."
     "Just a sec!"  I told her.  A quick trip to the Faculty Lounge...

    ...and the kids were good to go!

Donuts

Some kind soul brought these in one morning:

I thought this would make another nice subitizing prompt, or maybe start an array chat.

But food doesn't last long in the Faculty Lounge, and as the day progressed I took this series of pictures, hoping it might inspire the kids to write and solve some number stories:

     So there you have it.  The Faculty Lounge is many things: a sanctuary, a meeting place, a destination where a hungry teacher can find some much needed sustenance.  And it's one of my go-to spots for mathematical inspiration.  Now you know what's in my Faculty Lounge.  What's in yours?