My Math Resources

 

Many of these resources are based on inquiry mathematics. They foster problem solving/critical thinking skills, deep conceptual ideas, and help students develop discussion skills. Most of these activities have been created by professors from Purdue University Calumet in Hammond, Indiana.

 

 

 

Place Value, Addition, Subtraction
Candy Factory
To learn about regrouping and other place value concepts, we use an activity called "Candy Factory". Instead of refering to the thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones, we refer to them as cases, boxes, rolls, and pieces respectively. We thinking of regrouping as "packing" and "unpacking" the items. We use unifix cubes and baggies to model the items when we are fist learning, but the kids catch on quickly to how the system works. We also practice addtion and aubtraction by thinking conceptually about what it means to add and subtract. Below are some of the activities.
Introductions
Tens
Hundreds and Thousands
     
Money Safe
Very similar to Candy Foctory, but instead of using the candy, we use money in the form of hundred, ten, and one dollar bills.
Ten Dollar Bills
Hundred Dollar Bills

 

Rounding
Train Station Rounding
I remember learning rounding by looking at a place value and then looking at the one to the right to see if it was more and less than 5. The train station approach gets kids to see the range of numbers and visualize where that number would come on a number line. We start with the number line with the pictures of trains and marks for each unit. We eventually work our way to a plain number line where the kids can visualize their range. They also seem to naturally figure out the rounding rule we were all taught. We start with 10 to get used to the train thinking...100s are easier...1000s and more come easily!

 

Multiplication and Division
We work really hard on trying to have a toolbox of strategies to help us solve multiplication and division problems. Some of our strategies include looking for patterns, adding and subtracting groups, breaking apart and making new groups, and repeated additon and subtraction. The following activities can be use to practice these strategies. I will add more to this section as we work on more things in class together.
Patterns
Balances
Ten Frame Multiplication - Used to flash different groups of frames for quick thinking and grouping
Number Sentence Patterns - Patterns used to see similarities in grouping

Contexts for Learn Mathematics

I have heard great things about this math program and I am going to be trying it our for the first time with my kids. The program is based on conceptual knowledge of mathmatics concepts. Students use real life examples to learn concepts. I will be using the multiplication and division set. I will let you know how it works out. In the meantime, check out the link.

 

Geometry and Spatial Reasoning
Quick Draw
This has to be one of my favorite activities to do with my kids. They get SO into it! I also like it because I can teach 3/4 of our geometry unit just by doing these quick draws daily. What a quick draw activity is a quick, flashing of a geometric picture on the overhead. I flash the picture of the overhead for like 2-3 seconds and then the kids have to take a mental picture and draw what they saw. I will give a few peeks and then we will discuss. We look at angles, polygons, quadrilaterals, congruency, symmetry, 2D vs. 3D figures, types of lines, and other things in geometry. We get some really good discussions going and get to practice those appropriate social norms! Here are the activities...

 

Measurement
   
   
   

 

Other Resources
   
   
   

 

My Favorite Books
These are some of my favorite (and my kids, too) books. Most of the books have problem solving and critical thinking challenges that my kids crave. If ever I find my kids having a hard time staying focused, I just need to pull out a Perplexor to work on for a few minutes and then we can go back to whatever it was we were doing, Many of these books can be found from The Critical Thinking Company and MindWare. I am also a fan of Laura Candlers Daily Math Puzzles. I have all of them!

 

Daily Math Puzzles from Laura Candler

 

These books come from the same author as the"Context for Learning Mathematics" program from above.

 

Math Websites