Finding the natural overlap between Constructivist teaching and mathematics can often times be a challenge for teachers that are departmentalized and are responsible for teaching just one subject. The nature of math encourages educators to often times focus on the skills and can make it hard to blend the skills together to show how they overlap in real life. The following links might help in creating more authentic learning opportunities where students can use the skills of math in real life applications.
Yummy Math – Focus to supply math teachers with relevant, motivating, and timely mathematics to bring to their classrooms.
Real World Math – Lessons that use Google Earth and collaboration to present math topics, such as rates or scientific notation in unique ways.
Project-based Learning Math Projects – information about PBL and Math including links to PBL resources and lesson ideas.
Scholastic Authentic Math Unit Plans – Ideas to bring the real world into the classroom and create opportunities for students to interact with each other and integrate math into authentic learning situations.
Authentic Activities for Connecting Mathematics to the Real World – presented at NCTM Regional Conference, Richmond, VA, October 12, 2007 by Leah P. McCoy
These are just a few websites teachers might find helpful when planning inquiry, project or problem-based lessons. If you have additional sites please share them by leaving a comment.
Brooke Higgins is an instructional specialist for the eMINTS National Center and writes for her own blog, Higgins Help.