Computer Science Unplugged
Lightest and Heaviest—Sorting Algorithms
How do computers sort data lists? Using eight unknown weights and a balance scale, groups determine the order of the weights from lightest to heaviest. A second worksheet provides the groups with other methods to order the weights. The...
Education Development Center
Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators
If the fractions don't have a common denominator, make them have one. Learners first read and analyze a conversation of pupils trying to add 2/5 and 1/2. They compare the process of adding fractions to the process of adding quantities...
5280 Math
Go with the Flow
Round and round they go ... where they stop, only scholars will know. By writing systems of equations, classes determine the number of cars a roundabout can handle given specific constraints. Systems use up to six variables and become...
Illustrative Mathematics
How Many _______ Are In. . . ?
Help your learners gain meaningful understanding of dividing fractions using fraction models. The activity includes nine problems which are sequenced to show how the fraction division algorithm evolves. Have students use graph paper or...
5280 Math
Capture the Points
Play a game of capture the points. Young scholars receive a number line with specific points graphed and must write an inequality that captures all the points. The second task of the algebra project is to write an inequality with...
Illustrative Mathematics
Reasoning about Multiplication and Division and Place Value, Part 1
Help your class make sense of quantities and their relationships. Given is the product of two numbers. It is up to your number crunchers to think about the quantitative relationship when the product is one-tenth or ten times the product...
Illustrative Mathematics
Interpreting a Division Computation
Mathematicians show their understanding of a division problem. If a student can apply long division to a pair of numbers and determine a quotient, what other factors and multiples become apparent? The example illustrates a simple...
Illustrative Mathematics
Gifts from Grandma, Variation 3
There are three money word problems in this activity, each one is set in the same context. The first asks what was the total amount grandma spent, the second how many grandchildren grandma has, and the third asks how much grandma spent...
Illustrative Mathematics
Reasoning about Multiplication and Division and Place Value, Part 2
The learner puts reasoning and estimation to work. The directions are to place a decimal in the answer to make the equation true. Pupils are to look at the two problems, one multiplication and one division, and estimate an answer. No...
Illustrative Mathematics
Building toward fluency
Here is a great learning task that focuses on the development of areas in computational fluency including strategies in mental math. Young learners are guided through a list of addition expressions that help them visually understand the...
Illustrative Mathematics
Video Game Credits
Help your learners understand how to divide fractions with this visual activity. They first answer a simple inequality before dividing the fractions. Two solution choices are given to help your mathematicians understand how to solve "how...
Illustrative Mathematics
Calculating and Rounding Numbers
Mathematicians need to know that not all numbers are rational. We approximate irrational number with rational numbers. That is why a calculator may be misleading. This task give learners an opportunity to see how rounding a number and...
Illustrative Mathematics
Traffic Jam
Help your learners understand dividing with fractions by using these methods to solve. Chose from two different number lines or linker cubes. This practices "how many groups?" style division problems which help them comprehend why...
Curated OER
Folding strips of paper
Fifth graders need concrete experiences to introduce a unit on multiplying fractions by fractions. A strip of paper is used to create a number line and represent 5/6. It is folded first in half, and then in quarters. After unfolding,...
Illustrative Mathematics
Zeroes and Factorization of a General Polynomial
These four problems will guide your class through the idea behind the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra, which states that a polynomial of degree n has exactly n roots. Use the division algorithm and the definition of a zero/root of a...
Curated OER
I.O.U.
Students explore adding and subtracting positive and negative numbers in the context of money. In this computation lesson, students use play money and IOU's to model various mathematical algorithms.
Curated OER
Minutes and Days
Elapsed time is a skill developed by the single question that is the center of this activity. Fifth graders are asked to find out the time that is 2011 minutes after the beginning of 2011. This question addresses the standard that...
Illustrative Mathematics
How Many Containers in One Cup / Cups in One Container?
The object is to model fraction division by asking “How many are in one group?” It is a difficult concept to understand, but developing the model that shows one cup to a certain amount of container or one container to a certain amount of...
Curated OER
Analyzing Word Problems Involving Multiplication
Learners sometimes have difficulty making sense of a word problem. In a guided learning activity, pupils are asked to think about how to find an answer and explain their thinking, rather than finding the answer. It allows them to...
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Getting Started With Math by Hand Concept App
This App helps students build number sense skills and gain confidence at math by hand. Review how to perform algorithms for the four basic operations (Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division). A step-by-step mode emphasizes...
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Nctm: Figure This: Monday's Child
Do you know what day of the week were you born? You can find the exact day when you try this math challenge that explores problem solving with algorithms. Find out how scientist and statisticians use algorithms in their jobs. A one page...
NumberNut
Number Nut: Basic Math: Two Digit Division
This lesson offers strategies for dividing two-digit numbers. Students are introduced to related vocabulary, long and short division, and two-digit division with remainders. Links to the interactive games allow students to practice and...
Math Is Fun
Math Is Fun: Long Division to Decimal Places
If you want to learn the traditional algorithm for long division when you divide to the decimal places, this website gives a very clear, simple step-by-step break down of the process. Students can solve six problems to practice the skill...
University of Saskatchewan (Canada)
University of Saskatchewan: Factoring Polynomials
This site from the University of Saskatchewan provides an explanation of factoring by grouping, greatest common factor, perfect squares, and difference of squares. Higher degree polynomials factored as well. Some examples provided along...