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| Online mathematics "manipulatives" Computers can provide motivating activities for students that help lead them to deeper level understanding of mathematics as described by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Principles and Standards for School Mathmatics. There are two good places to look online for these kinds of hands-on activities to use with your students:   1. NCTM Illuminations website--Great online mathematical investigations that exemplify the NCTM Principles and Standards for School Mathematics. * Fraction Track Learning to master equivalent fractions is the key to developing student understanding of fractions, that most problematic of elementary school mathematics topics. Link here to an online game from the NCTM's Illuminations site that helps develop student understanding of equivalent fractions through playing the game "Fraction Tracks." o A paper/pencil version of the same game from a Canadian site. o A paper/pencil version of the same game from a New Zealand site.
* Paper Poolo A lesson plan that I wrote when I did Fraction track with some 4th grade students at a local school. I used a math inquiry lesson plan format that I learned from Rebecca Ambrose when she taught a lesson at Pacific University several years ago. I like the way this lesson plan format minimizes the "procedures" section of the lesson to better focus on possible student misconceptions and the steps teachers can take to help address those misconceptions. Here's a terrific mathematical investigation from the Connected Math series. Explore different sized "pool" tables to find out if you can predict how many "hits" the ball will make and in what corner it will "exit" the table. Also from the NCTM Illuminations site--terrific lesson resources and handouts for this activity so you can do it with your students whether you have computer access or not.  2. National Library of Virtual Manipulatives (NLVM)--hosted at Utah State University. The NLVM is organized by grade level and NCTM Standard. I have not yet used one of these with my classes or with K-12 students, but the activities appear to be high quality. |
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Last Updated 5/2008 Copyright Dr. Mike Charles © Pacific University, all educational uses encouraged. Direct comments or questions to charlesm@pacificu.edu |