Educational math game – Lure of the Labyrinth
Much has been written recently about the use of educational games in classrooms. Recent research is showing positive results in achievement when students engage in good educational games.
Lure of the Labyrinth is a FREE pre-Algebra game created by game designers at MIT’s Education Arcade, the Art Design Company Fablevision, and the Maryland Department of Education.
There are wonderful resources for teachers, as well as ideas for using the game or the “puzzles” in the classroom environment.
Definitely worth a ‘play’!
April 2009 – CyberChase
Have you heard of Cyberchase? It is an award-winning PBS series for 8-12 year olds, produced by Thirteen/WNET New York in association with Title Entertainment Inc. It is a math series, with three heroes solving mysteries by using math.
There are 80 one-half hour programs available from the program’s seven seasons. All of the series episodes and teacher/parent support documents can be viewed online at: http://www.pbskidsgo.org/cyberchase
Math Focal Points Grade 8 – The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) recommends that students in grade 8 analyze linear function in various ways. Here are resources from the Nationsl Science Digital Library and Ohio University with tutorials, games, lessons and online simulations on this topic.
March 2009 – Pi Day
Two of many lessons:
Pi Line – Lesson Plan – students will measure the diameter and circumference of various circular objects, plot the measurements on a graph, and relate the slope of the line to ?, the ratio of circumference to diameter.
Apple Pi – Lesson Plan – Using estimation and measurement skills, students will determine the ratio of circumference to diameter and explore the meaning of ?. Students will discover the circumference and area formulas based on their investigations.
Math Forum – a list of many different types of Pi Day Activities
From the Math Forum – Making a Pi Necklace – As a 7th grade math teacher, this teacher likes to make mathematics as visual as possible. For Pi Day, her students make Pi necklaces.
Teach Pi.org one-stop Pi Day shop for teachers and number lovers. This organization believes that promoting an enthusiasm for learning, through celebration and creativity, will lead only to a richer classroom environment and a deeper appreciation of mathematics.
Plan a Pi Day Party for March 14 – If one day of the year screams Party! in math class, that day is March 14. Each year on 3/14, teachers in classrooms across the globe take a break from the normal routine to plan a special celebration in honor of pi, or the number 3.14…
Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi – According to the Teachers Network, this is a fun unit that ties in literature and mathematics. Using technology and the books Sir Cumference and the First Round Table and Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi, students will explore the concepts of circumference and pi.
PI Day.org – Teachers share the most successful Pi Day Acitivites on this blog.
February 2009 – TeachersCount: Learn a thing or two
TeachersTopic is a periodical feature about a subject of interest to the teaching community written by a prominent expert in the field. Marsha Ratzel, a middle school science and math teacher, answers questions about Technology Integration and Assessment in her classroom: http://teacherscount.org/topic/topic.shtml
Read the article and then check out her ‘Mathematics for my Students’ blog:
January 2009 – Math Tools
The MathTools website is a community library of technology tools, lessons, activities, and support materials for teaching and learning mathematics.
Last Updated (Monday, 01 February 2010 16:35)