This site has four fun interactive number activities. One plays with base ten blocks, one ecourages estimation, another
http://www.learningbox.com/Base10/index.htm
Friday, December 12, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
Math Incentives: Students as Teachers
We tried this idea last year in a math classroom at Addison Middle School as a way to review. The students that participated were very enthusiastic. I can't say for sure how it effected individual SOL scores but the class as a whole had a very high pass rate.
The best way to know if we really understand something is to have to teach it to someone else. We gave students an opportunity to become "student teachers." They were given a teaching contract and could earn math bucks for each lesson they taught. A "lesson" consisted of teaching anyone older then them (parent, grandmother, teenage sibling, principal, teacher after school tutor etc) how to work a particular problem. A special form was used and signed by the adult that received he lesson (sample form). Completed lessons were turned into the teacher for math bucks (sample bucks). After an indicated length of time, we set up a store for students to redeem their math bucks. It amazed me that they were excited to spend 10 math bucks on a small bag of chips.
email me at sbazak@rcps.info if you need any more details about this incentive activity.
The best way to know if we really understand something is to have to teach it to someone else. We gave students an opportunity to become "student teachers." They were given a teaching contract and could earn math bucks for each lesson they taught. A "lesson" consisted of teaching anyone older then them (parent, grandmother, teenage sibling, principal, teacher after school tutor etc) how to work a particular problem. A special form was used and signed by the adult that received he lesson (sample form). Completed lessons were turned into the teacher for math bucks (sample bucks). After an indicated length of time, we set up a store for students to redeem their math bucks. It amazed me that they were excited to spend 10 math bucks on a small bag of chips.
email me at sbazak@rcps.info if you need any more details about this incentive activity.
Smartboard Activities for Math
If you have access to a Smartboard or other brand of interactive whiteboard, you don't have to spend hours creating activities. Here are some other options:
Smartboard Lessons: http://www.topmarks.co.uk/Interactive.aspx?cat=22
Harcourt ELabs: http://www.harcourtschool.com/menus/math2004/math2004_menu.html
Create a Graph - http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/
Virtual Manipulatives - http://nlvm.usu.edu/
Virtual Pattern Bocks - http://www.arcytech.org/java/patterns/patterns_j.shtml
Virtual Base ten Blocks - http://www.arcytech.org/java/b10blocks/b10blocks.html
BBC Math Games (the best) - http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/
Scholastic Online Activities - http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/learn.jsp
Scholastic Whiteboard Activities - http://www.scholastic.com/interactivewhiteboards/
Primary Math Games - http://www.primarygames.com/math.htm
Interactive Clock - http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/clock.html
Teaching Tools Created by an elementary School - http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/numeracy.htm
iMath (has a fee but very good activities): http://www.imathlearning.com/whiteboard/
- Use activities already created specifically for the Smartboard and posted on the internet.
- Find internet sites that have interactive math activities and games. These work perfect on a Smartboard.
- Find math templates (number lines, coordinate grids, clocks, thermometers, place value charts, ect ) online that can be used as a starting point for a great Smartboard lesson.
Smartboard Lessons: http://www.topmarks.co.uk/Interactive.aspx?cat=22
Harcourt ELabs: http://www.harcourtschool.com/menus/math2004/math2004_menu.html
Create a Graph - http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/
Virtual Manipulatives - http://nlvm.usu.edu/
Virtual Pattern Bocks - http://www.arcytech.org/java/patterns/patterns_j.shtml
Virtual Base ten Blocks - http://www.arcytech.org/java/b10blocks/b10blocks.html
BBC Math Games (the best) - http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/
Scholastic Online Activities - http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/learn.jsp
Scholastic Whiteboard Activities - http://www.scholastic.com/interactivewhiteboards/
Primary Math Games - http://www.primarygames.com/math.htm
Interactive Clock - http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/clock.html
Teaching Tools Created by an elementary School - http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/numeracy.htm
iMath (has a fee but very good activities): http://www.imathlearning.com/whiteboard/
Math Activities for the Elementary Classroom
Are you looking for activities to engage your students? Education.com has a wealth of fun activities for all subjects and grade levels. They are designed for parents to do with their children at home but many are perfect for the classroom because they move beyond the textbook and ENGAGE students in creative, fun learning. Click on the grade level and topic on the righthand side of the screen. The activities are not in any special order so you need to take a little time to explore what is available. Have fun exploring. I did! Note thatthere is a print icon to give you a printer friendly version of any activity. If you have a need for a fun activity focusing on a particular sol, leave a comment here. If you have a great activity, leave a comment and let us know what you are doing in your clasroom.
http://www.education.com/activity/
http://www.education.com/activity/
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Enhanced Scope and Sequence
The Enhanced Scope and Sequence lessons at the Virginia Department of Education are great. You can also find additional Enhanced Scope and Sequence activities at T/TAC Online.
The DOE has just recently posted some new lessons for Number and Number Sense. This booklet is full of great ideas.
The DOE has just recently posted some new lessons for Number and Number Sense. This booklet is full of great ideas.
MathWire: My Favorite New Site
I found this site and love sharing it with other teachers. It has so many creative activities for teaching math. You can search for activities by topic or through an alphabetical listing. Ther are math games, templates, literature connections and seasonal activities. You could probably find a lesson for almost every day of the year at this site alone.
Clck here to visit MATHWIRE.
If you subscribe tho the MathWire newsleter they will email when ever there is something new on the site. Don;t miss all the great activities for developing number sense.
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