Links of the Month
These links are from the January/February, 2007 issue of The Oregon Mathematics Teacher. For internet links from previous issues, see the Bookmark Archives.
Teaching children to be better test takers and problem solvers is a goal we all strive for. I have just discovered an interactive website sponsored by Houghton Mifflin that provides an interesting look at how to read through a word problem, a step at a time, and how to use a picture or other tools to solve it. This one is well worth the time it takes to explore it.
Test Quest and Brain Teasers: Houghton Mifflin sponsors pages of Brain Teasers and Test Quest for grades 1 through 6. Well written, they provide many topics for exploration. Test Quest, an interactive look at methods of reading and solving word problems, is a tool that teaches children how to read a problem, how to select a method for solving it, etc. Note that to use the page, clicking on the yellow arrow at the lower right of the activity takes you to the next step of the problem. Be sure to explore the interactive features of the page.
http://www.eduplace.com/kids/mhm/
Powerlines: Here is a great logic puzzle. Numbers in the lines must add to a certain number. The configuration of the puzzle and the total change from one set to the next. The challenge is to complete all 3 different levels of play, each of which has a number of puzzles. This site has great visuals and is easy to use.
http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/Powerlines/powerlines1.html
Annenberg: Here are wonderful materials from the Annenberg website. They post a comprehensive selection of materials that include mathematics, science, language arts, social studies, etc. Their online workshop resources and interactive materials are fantastic. Be sure to explore this website.
http://www.learner.org/interactives/
Archytech: This website contains Java applets that can be used as tools to enhance the education of students. For example, selecting the Base 10 Blocks you will find material specifically designed for teachers and describes a complete lesson plan on how to teach base 10 place value as well as basic arithmetic operations using this online version. Other topics include Time, Money, Fractions with Pattern Blocks, Population Growth, etc.
Disaster Math: FEMA FOR KIDS sponsors this website that includes information about Hurricanes, Earthquakes, Tornados, Wildfires, Winter Storms and Floods. These are word problems that require students to get information from reading the material and then working some math to answer questions. Very interesting!
http://www.fema.gov/kids/dizmath.htm
Ambleweb Function Machine: Enter numbers, explore the output, and find the function that is represented. This is a great way to introduce kids to the idea of a function and how it works. The site is well designed and easy to use. The website is sponsored by Ambleside Church of England Primary School and was created by its year 4 children! There are also suggestions for teaching and classroom activities. You will also want to see its Numeracy Hour page which lists all the programs available for mathematics.
http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/functionmachines.html
http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/numeracy.htm
Kids’ Zone: This site, sponsored by NCES, National Center for Education Statistics, contains interactive instruction in creating bar, line, area, pie, and xy graphs. There is a tutorial that has complete information about how to use the site, which kind of graph is appropriate for the information you have, and other related information.
http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/default.aspx
http://www.eduplace.com/kids/mhm/
MATHGYM Arcade: Interesting versions of well known games that can be played online. They challenge students to find math patterns and strategy. Included are Mastermind, 3-5-7 Matches, Towers of Hanoi, etc.
http://www.mathgym.com.au/htdocs/logarc.htm
Enchanted Mind: I explored the Creative Java Puzzles by looking at the Pentominos. This is an excellent adaptation of the puzzle for online exploration, requiring logic and spatial visualization. Other puzzles on this page are the Knight’s Tour, Tangrams, etc. Exploring further on this site finds Mensa Word puzzles and many other interesting features. Students will really like this one.
http://www.enchantedmind.com/html/puzzles/interactive_puzzles/creative_java_puzzles.html
