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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hands-On Investigation!

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students read, analyze, and solve a mystery using problem-solving skills. They explore the History Detective website, discuss the difference between clues and red herrings, complete a dot-to-dot sheet, take notes in a detective...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

SUPPLIES FOR COLUMBUS

For Students 4th
In this problem-solving worksheet, 4th graders draw and label the supplies that were needed by Columbus when he sailed across the Atlantic.
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Activity
University of Regina (Canada)

University of Regina: Math Central: Sample Problems for Grades 1 5

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st Standards
The Saskatoon Board of Education gives samples of math word problems for pairs or small groups of students. At each grade level three types of problems are provided: translation, process, and realistic.
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Activity
University of Georgia

University of Georgia: Problem Solving With Heron's Formula

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
From the University of Georgia, this tutorial provides exercises and problems using Heron's Formula for the area of a triangle, makes use of several problem representation methods, including a graph.
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Website
Other

Christopher Columbus Awards

For Students 6th - 8th
The Christopher Columbus Awards is a national, community-based science and technology program for middle school students. The program challenges the students to work in teams, with an adult coach, to identify a problem in their community...
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Interactive
Other

Explora Vision: Explora Vision Official Web Site

For Students 3rd - 8th
ExploraVision is a highly interactive site for both educators and K-12 students. It encourages them to create and explore future technology by combining their imaginations with the tools of science. All inventions and innovations result...
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Website
Other

Embrace the Future: Resilient Kids

For Students 3rd - 8th
Advice about strengthening your ability to bounce back from adversity. Learn key skills, such as problem solving, making friends, and positive thinking, that will help you stay happy, healthy, and productive.
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Study Guide
University of South Florida

Fcat: Problem Solving Strategies

For Students 9th - 10th
This page gives students a guide for problem solving. A list of strategies is presented, and each strategy has an example to demonstrate it.
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Professional Doc
Queen's Printer for Ontario

E workshop.on.ca: Effective Instruction in Math, K 6: Problem Solving [Pdf]

For Teachers K - 1st Standards
Volume 2 in an eworkshop Guide to Effective Instruction in Math outlines and illustrates instructional strategies for building mathematical problem-solving skills and skills in communicating mathematical concepts to students in...
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Activity
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Patterns in Mathematics: How Many Valentines?

For Students 3rd - 8th
Students look for patterns to determine how many valentines will be distributed in a class of 28 students. After trying the problem, they can look at several other methods that could be used and compare the answer they got. There is also...
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Activity
Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments: Numb3 Rs: Phreak Out!

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Based off of the hit television show NUMB3RS, this lesson introduces students to modern applications of mathematics, namely espionage. Through this lesson, students will learn of Van Eck Phreaking, in which electromagnetic radiation...
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Activity
Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments: Numb3 Rs: "Uncertainty Principal" Checksum

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson plan introduced students to algorithms in the context of bank routing numbers (printed on checks). Students learn that the final digit in the routing number serves a specific purpose, and find such digits so that the routing...
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Professional Doc
Primary Resources

Primary Resources: Word and Real Life Problems

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st Standards
Are you looking for some problem solving activities to do with your class? Look no farther. This site includes games, worksheets, presentations in PowerPoint, and smartboard files.
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Activity
Other

Emsl: The River Crossing Problem

For Students 9th - 10th
The lesson plan for an interesting word problem concerning swimming and rowing across a river, being swept downstream by the current, and walking back up the other side. Basic arithmetic skills are all that are needed to approach the...
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Graphic
Cut the Knot

Cut the Knot!: Mathematics: The Science of Patterns

For Students 9th - 10th
A book excerpt, this page discusses John Venn's "simple, geometric method for checking the validity of syllogisms," with diagrams, examples, and related links.
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Activity
University of Cambridge

University of Cambridge: Nrich: Konigsberg Plus

For Students 9th - 10th
See if you can solve this classic problem that Leonhard Euler first presented in 1736. Use the interactive section of this website to help you.
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Activity
University of Cambridge

University of Cambridge: Nrich: Read This Page

For Students 3rd - 8th
On this one page website sharpen your logic and problem solving skills while working on this challenge. The solution is available to double check your solution.
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Lesson Plan
Hopelink

Hopelink: Math Lesson Idea: Word Problems

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
Teach your students to reason with language and to use imagery to translate language into mathematical equations.
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Interactive
Other

After School Excellence: Word Problems Grades 1 3

For Students Pre-K - 1st Standards
This is a resource for elementary word problems. It links to interactive and hands-on sites with videos and strategies.
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Activity
Scholastic

Scholastic: Math Maven's Mysteries

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Scholastic.com offers information on how to use the Math Maven's Mysteries to enhance problem-solving skills, partly through class discussion. For the actual mysteries, click on Math Maven Home.
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Article
Intel Corporation

Intel Education: Benefits of Project Based Learning [Pdf]

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
This article gives a brief overview of project-based learning and its effectiveness as an instructional strategy as well as its potential to help develop 21st century skills. Requires Adobe Reader.
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Article
Intel Corporation

Benefits of Project Based Learning [Pdf]

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
This article gives a brief overview of project-based learning and its effectiveness as an instructional strategy as well as its potential to help develop 21st century skills. Requires Adobe Reader.
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Activity
University of Cambridge

University of Cambridge: Nrich: Romantic Riddle

For Students 3rd - 8th
See if you can figure out the solution to this romantic riddle. You can find the solution right at this one page website once you have formulated your own.
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Activity
University of Cambridge

University of Cambridge: Nrich: Make 100

For Students 3rd - 5th Standards
On this one page website sharpen your logic and problem solving skills while working on this challenge. The solution is available to double check your solution.