FNO Press
From Now On: Building Good New Ideas
An article, from the online journal From Now On, that discusses a wide range of issues related to originality of thought--the kind of thinking that leads to new ideas, innovation, and creative problem solving. Covers a variety of...
Other
Techniques for Creative Thinking
If you are stuck on ways to teach creativity in your classroom, you will find many various techniques on this site. Everything from mind mapping to fuzzy thinking is listed here. Each technique has a link to its description.
Other
Sim Professional Development and Enterprise Learning: 3 Reasons Why Systems Thinking Is Important for Innovation
In a world where interconnectedness and complexity hold sway, systems thinking offers a disciplined approach to make sense of the world and find innovative solutions to problems. How can a disciplined systems thinking approach lead...
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: Daisies in Vases
Students will solve a word problem with various outcomes by creating a meaningful representation of the problem by using objects, pictures, or equations. An explanation is provided.
Other
Christopher Columbus Awards
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...
Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference
The picture book One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference, written by Kate Smith Milway, takes place in Africa. Here in a Ghanan village, young Kojo cannot afford to go to school after the death of his father. His resourceful...
Creative Science Centre
Creative Science Centre: Bobbin Holder for Reels of Wire
This very simple device has been made to try and stop 'bird's nest' tangles that can occur when using reels of fine wire.
Creative Science Centre
Creative Science Centre: Home Made Tripod
A simple home-made tripod is described that can be used for a variety of uses including lighting and for antennas. It can be made from pine, plywood and small brass hinges finished off with a coat or two of varnish.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: 20 Tickets
Students are given a word problem with multiple solutions. They are challenged to solve the problem using manipulatives, to draw a picture to represent their work, and possibly record their responses using equations. Examples of...
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: Boys and Girls, Variation 2
Learners are asked to solve a word problem with both addends unknown. They will write an equation and draw a picture to use to explain their answer.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: Boys and Girls, Variation 1
This word problem focuses on the Put Together/Take Apart contexts for addition and subtraction. Learners may use objects, pictures, or equations to represent their solutions. Examples and explanations are provided.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: Many Ways to Do Addition 1
Students will learn that there are multiple ways to solve math problems, such as drawing a picture, using counters, using fingers, using a number line, and memorizing facts. The teacher writes a simple addition problem on the whiteboard...
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: 2.md, Nbt Jamir's Penny Jar
In this lesson plan students solve word problems involving money and use the symbols correctly.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: 2.md Susan's Choice
In this lesson plan students count the money and use symbols correctly to solve the word problem.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: 2.md Visiting the Arcade
In this lesson plan students solve word problems involving money and use symbols correctly.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: 7.ns Sharing Prize Money
In this lesson, 7th graders solve real world problems using the four operations.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: 7.ee Sports Equipment Set
For this lesson, 7th graders write and solve an inequality to solve the problem.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: G Srt Bank Shot
This task asks students to use similarity to solve a pool table problem. Students must use the fact from physics that when an object bounces off of a wall, the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection. Aligns with G-SRT.B.5.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: 6.rp, 7.rp.3 Climbing the Steps of El Castillo
A performance task in which students solve a problem involving a proportional relationship. The problem is: The temple at the top of the pyramid is approximately 24 meters above the ground, and there are 91 steps leading up to the...
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: G Gpe Equal Area Triangles on the Same Base Ii
This task has students apply their knowledge of parallel lines to solve a geometric problem on areas of triangles. The task is open-ended in that students can choose their method of completing the task. Aligns with G-GPE.B.5.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: 7.rp Sale!
Seventh graders are using proportional reasoning to solve real world problems in this lesson.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: 7.rp Dueling Candidates
Seventh graders use proportional reasoning to solve word problems regarding an election.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: Running to School
This is the easiest problem in a series of three tasks involving fraction multiplication that can be solved with pictures or number lines. Aligns with 5.NF.B.6.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: S Id, F if Laptop Battery Charge
This task uses a situation that is familiar to students to solve a problem they probably have all encountered before: How long will it take until an electronic device has a fully charged battery? Given data, students perform a variety of...