So, you may be wondering, what exactly IS a Master Angle? And what do you use it for?
It's a cool little math tool that I received from the company The Master Ruler along with a 76-page workbook and poster (free of charge for review purposes). The Master Angle itself is round with a red rotating radius on top of a stationary radius and color-coded markings and holes to use with your pencil when marking angles. It's very sturdy - the well-made design lends itself willingly to frequent use.
If the Master Angle were the lock, then the corresponding workbook would be the key. The book begins by laying a foundation for angles: What are they? Where are they found in the real world? The student then proceeds to study five types of angles. Once this foundation has been well laid, the workbook moves on to the actual measurement of angles using the Master Angle tool. The center of the Master Angle rests on the vertex of the angle being measured. Once the stationary red radius and the rotating red radius are positioned properly the student can measure and construct angles. Polygons, quadrilaterals, circles, sections, chords & shapes, and architecture are covered in the workbook and the sequentially ordered activities flow together nicely. Included in the back of the book is a template, answer key, and teaching suggestions.
According the the workbook's introduction, the goal of the Master Ruler's products is to help students develop a solid foundation in math; in the specific case of the Master Angle real-world math topics like geometry, measurement, time, and money are used to attain said goal. This Christian company recognizes that today's students are the designers, architects and builders of the future.
One of the first things I noticed about this curriculum was that I could begin using it with ease at any time during our homeschool year. It's easy to teach, easy to understand, and is a "light" enough addition to our current math curriculum that adding it in was easy rather than overwhelming. The Marvels of Measures! poster was a nice "bonus" that clearly and simply makes measurement simple ~ I only wish I'd had it when my children were younger! The workbook itself is well bound and won't quickly fall apart with normal use. After 13 years of homeschooling, I can attest to the value of a product that does not fall to pieces! While the age guidelines for the Master Angle state it is for grades 1 through 4, I feel this product is easily adapted to most any age. Homeschool families look for products that can be used over broad age ranges, and this company's products certainly fit the bill.
Some of Master Innovations/The Master Ruler's other products include the Master Ruler, Master Clock, and Master Fractions. These products are marketed to classrooms as well as homeschoolers, so the prices vary from one product to another depending on the size of your order, but most of the items homeschool families would purchase fall between $9.95 and $17.95. The Master Angle itself sells for $5.95 and the workbook for $15.95. For more information visit their website at www.themasterruler.com
Go ahead & start mastering those angles today!
Day 58 done :)
Jan L. Burt
www.homeschoolingmothersbiblestudy.com
Enjoyed reading your review. My little guy really had fun using & learning with this product!
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