Curated OER
Historical Mathematicians Project
Students, in small groups, use the Internet and other traditional sources to research historically significant mathematicians, write a paper, and creatively present research in class.
Education World
Greater Than or Less Than With "Mr. Great"
Those tricky symbols for greater than and less than have stumped young mathematicians for generations. Mr. Great is a paper plate cut into a Pac-Man shape that can be used to keep track of which direction the symbols should face. This...
Virginia Department of Education
Practical Problems Involving Decimals
After discussing decimals and "going shopping" in the classroom, young mathematicians are given four practical word problems that require them to estimate their answers, given specific information. The highlight of the lesson plan is...
Illustrative Mathematics
Making Cookies
Hooray for chocolate chip cookies! Ask your mathematicians to triple a chocolate chip cookie recipe and then reduce the recipe by one-fourth. Your class may need two days to complete, tripling the recipe the first day and reducing the...
Odyssey of the Mind
Odyssey of the Mind Curriculum Activity: Mathematicus Dramaticus
The best part about this resource is that you've got four wonderful activities to choose from. Each of the projects can work together or on its own to help learners understand the history of math and how it can be seen every day. In...
Curated OER
Decimal Baseball
Young mathematicians represent recorded information in decimal form. In this decimals instructional activity, learners play a "classroom friendly" basketball game in which pupils take 10 shots. Number of shots made out of 10 is recorded...
Illustrative Mathematics
Who is the Tallest?
A simple question, with a not-so-simple answer. Working with whole and mixed number measurements in inches, feet, and yards presents a problem with many possible solutions. A great activity that challenges the minds of young...
Illustrative Mathematics
Fractions and Rectangles
Visual models are excellent teaching tools when explaining equivalent fractions. Looking at a rectangle cut into twelfths, students first identify the shaded fraction, and then explain whether the fraction is equal to one-fourth....
Henrico County Public Schools
Models for Teaching Addition and Subtraction of Integers
Positive and negative numbers are everywhere in the world around us. Whether it's charged particles in atoms, a hot air balloon rising and falling in the sky, or a series of bills and checks being delivered in the mail, this resource...
Illustrative Mathematics
It's Warmer in Miami
Brrrr it's cold in Alaska! When given the temperatures of Anchorage and Miami in the winter, your mathematicians will calculate how much warmer it is in Miami. Answer key provides two different solution choices. Great as a warm-up for...
Illustrative Mathematics
The Escalator, Assessment Variation
A great way to practice with unit rates, the activity gives your mathematicians an opportunity to compare different statements and select which are true. They can practice with "choose all that apply" by setting each statement into its...
Curated OER
Find 1
Extend your class's ability to represent unit fractions on a number line with this challenging worksheet. Given two number lines, one labeled with zero and 1/4, the other with zero and 5/3, students must accurately locate the number one...
Curated OER
Find 2/3
This short problem with representing fractions on a number line is more than meets the eye. Labeled only with the numbers zero and 1/4, a number line is used to locate the fraction 2/3. A solution can be found in multiple ways, but young...
Illustrative Mathematics
Lines of Symmetry for Quadrilaterals
Explore how lines of symmetry help define different categories of quadrilaterals. Looking at a square, rectangle, trapezoid, and parallelogram, young mathematicians discover that each shape has its own, unique symmetry. Encourage your...
Illustrative Mathematics
Numbers in a Multiplication Table
Identifying patterns is a crucial skill for all mathematicians, young and old. Explore the multiplication table with your class, using patterns and symmetry to teach about square numbers, prime numbers, and the commutative and identity...
Illustrative Mathematics
Explaining Fraction Equivalence with Picture
Visual models are a great tool for demonstrating the concept of equivalent fractions. Given two pictures, young mathematicians first identify each fraction and then write an explanation for why they are equivalent. Use as a guided...
Curated OER
Multiple Variables in an Equation
Young mathematicians apply problem-solving skills to equations that have more than one variable. They will work through the process to problem solve and discover the solution.
University of Arkansas
Twizzling Fractions
Using food as a manipulative is one of the best ways to incorporate hands-on learning in the classroom. This hands-on approach allows young mathematicians to compare, order, and identify fractions with the use of Twizzlers® and fraction...
Odyssey of the Mind
Odyssey of the Mind Curriculum Activity: Shape-Shifter
Geometry is everywhere, and I mean everywhere! Those skillful mathematicians discuss shapes and then come up with a well-researched list of shapes seen in everyday applications. They put their knowledge of shapes to work as each small...
Curated OER
The History of Mathematics
Research the interrelationship between math and science. Search the Internet to discover the history of several branches of mathematics and make text-to-world connections between the concepts covered in each branch with related...
Curated OER
Sieve of Eratosthenes
Students discover the Sieve of Erathosthenes. They explore a method to find all the prime numbers in a group of numbers. Using models, students practice divisibility rules while examining the difference between prime and composite numbers.
Curated OER
Eye Spy a Pattern
Fifth graders identify patterns by understanding how things work together.
Curated OER
Eye Spy a Pattern
Fifth graders examine how to see patterns by showing how things work together. They identify, analyze and determine a rule for predicting and extending numberical patterns involving operations of whole numbers, decimals and fractions.
Curated OER
Who Would Have Figured?
Learners investigate what happens when a coin is tossed a few times versus many times. They analyze, in groups, the data from tossing coins, and the Law of Large Numbers.