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Oxford Owl Maths: math ebooks, activities

July 24, 2013Kelly TenkelyLeave a Comment4826 views

What it is: Oxford Owl is the awesome site I wrote about yesterday. They have a fantastic collection of free ebooks and accompanying activities for kids. The site is making an appearance in today’s post because they ALSO have Oxford Owl Math for ages 3-7. There isn’t quite the breadth of resources here that you will find on the main Oxford Owl site, but they do have some great suggestions for math activities, both online and offline, and there are some online math e-books. The 3-5 section currently has the most e-books, online math games, activity sheets that can be printed out, and offline games to play.

How to integrate Oxford Owl Maths into the classroom: Oxford Owl Maths has some wonderful math themed interactive ebooks that include practice with position words, counting, shapes, time, and adding/subtracting. The ebooks make for a great introduction or review in the kindergarten and first grade classrooms. The telling time ebook and activities are even appropriate for second grade students. In the kids treasure box, students can collect online trophies for the games and puzzles they complete, find recipes to make in the kitchen, and download offline activities.

Oxford Owl would be a nice center activity that even the youngest students could explore independently or with a partner. It could also be used for whole class stories with an interactive whiteboard or projector.

This is a good site to introduce parents to for at home reading, play and math practice. If you have a classroom website, Oxford Owl is a great one to link to!

Tips: If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the Oxford Owl Literacy site.

Tell us how you are using (or plan to use) Oxford Owl Maths in your classroom!

Living Math Book List: Fiction for (almost) every math concept

January 3, 2012January 3, 2012Kelly Tenkely1 Comment4632 views

Happy New Year!! You may have noticed…I took a tech break for the holidays! There may not have been an abundance of posts and sharing happening, but I was still collecting away and have more resources than ever to share in 2012. Thank you all for making my 2011 such a wonderful year to be a part of!

What it is: You know what I love? Reading and books. Particularly fiction. Living Math Book List is a fantastic site that introduces books (mostly fiction) for every math concept (okay, almost every math concept!). The site is SO easy to use, just click on the “Search categories” tab and choose the math topic your students are working on. A list of books with links to Amazon is at the ready. The site is being updated regularly so new books pop into the different categories on occasion. Isn’t it great to stumble on a new jem-of-a-book that you can use in your classroom? I love teaching through story, and Living Math Book List makes it easy to bring stories into your math class. Including books in math gives students who struggle with math concepts a new vantage point and understanding. It makes math meaningful by showing students why they learn the math concepts they do and how math really is all around us. You have to love that! Topics include: addition, angles, area, calendars, capacity, combinations, comparisons, counting, skip counting, data collection, division, doubling numbers, equal sets, equations, estimation, even/odd, fractions, graphing, making predictions, matching, measurement, metrics, money, multiplication, negative numbers, opposites, ordinal numbers, patterns, percentages, perimeter, place value, positional words, probability, problem solving, proportions, ratio, reading a schedule, regrouping, rounding, sequences, shapes, sizes, sorting, subtraction, symmetry, time, and weight. So yeah, something for everyone!

How to integrate Living Math Book List into the classroom: As I said, I am a big fan of reading and books. Any time you can tie learning back to story is a win in my book. Use the books you find on Living Math Book List to introduce new concepts, to enrich students interaction with a concept, as a launching point for writing their own math-related fiction, or just to expose students to a new way of thinking about the math they are learning. The books make a great classroom read-aloud or can be used as a math center during a unit.

At Anastasis Academy, we made sure to have plenty of these types of math books available to students during silent reading. They really enjoy reading them with a partner and pointing out the math concepts they recognize along the way.

Tips: Embed the link to Living Math Book List on your class website or blog, this will make it easy for you, and your students, to find math-related books any time.

Please leave a comment and share how you are using Living Book List in your classroom!

Learning Box Base 10 Blocks: Virtual math manipulative

September 7, 2011Kelly Tenkely8 Comments8755 views

What it is: Today while I was doing a quick Google search for a place I could buy a set of base 10 blocks, I came across this AWESOME digital version by accident. What a happy accident! Learning Box has a virtual version of base 10 blocks that builds in a fun practice game. Students are given a target number and drag base 10 blocks onto the paper to represent that number. As students add blocks, a counter at the bottom of the page shows how many blocks are currently on the paper. This is a great way for students to digitally practice place value, counting by hundreds, tens and ones.

The outcome of my shopping trip for base 10 blocks: the digital version is MUCH cheaper (read:free) than the physical version (not free). While I understand the value of the physical blocks, the digital version is a fantastic alternative for classrooms without the budget for each student to have a set or for students to continue practice at home.

How to integrate Learning Box Base 10 into the classroom: The Learning Box Base 10 blocks are a great example of a virtual manipulative. They help students visually represent numbers and place value. I like the way the slider and cups on the bottom of the page help track student progress as they drag blocks to the paper. When students get the target number, they don’t start with a blank slate, instead a new target number is given and students have to figure out which blocks to add or subtract. You can adjust the level of difficulty and place values practiced by clicking on the 1, 10, and 100 circle to the left of the paper.

Learning Box Base 10 would make a great center activity in the one or two computer classroom. Students can use the digital manipulatives with the built in game or to help them represent real-world problems.

Start a whole-class game with the Learning Box Base 10 blocks using a projector-connected computer or interactive whiteboard. Students can take turns at the board solving the problem and “phone a friend” if they need some additional support.

Tips: This Learning Box activity is flash based…I’m hoping that someone comes out with an app of manipulatives for the iPad (hint, hint).

Please leave a comment and share how you are using Learning Box Base 10 Blocks in your classroom!

Math-A-Thon

May 24, 2010Kelly Tenkely2 Comments3364 views

What it is: Math-A-Thon is an excellent math site with a good cause. “Math-A-Thon is a volunteer-based fundraising program for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The program includes a free math curriculum supplement for grades K-8 that students complete after obtaining sponsorships from family and friends.” Students work on math and comprehension skills, age appropriate math problems while building empathy and character. By practicing math, students can raise money and awareness for St. Jude patients who are battling cancer and various other childhood diseases. In addition to the free curriculum and math fun books, Math-A-Thon has entertaining online math games and math character profiles. The Numerators are a math superhero team that is made up of Minus, Symmetry, Octagon and Fraction. The characters have math super powers that will help students as they solve problems in their Funbook and work at defeating evil robots. Each character has a fantastic character description (these remind me of the characters on Grammaropolis). Games on Math-A-Thon include Add Like Mad, Subtraction Action, and Bubble Bugs. Bubble Bugs is an enchanting game where students catch bugs inside bubbles, they practice counting, mouse control, and fine motor skills.

How to integrate Math-A-Thon into the classroom: Math-A-Thon is a website that will help get your students fired up and excited about math and helping others. The games are available for play whether or not you sign up for the full Math-A-Thon challenge. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade can work together to help other kids by working on their math skills. Challenge your class or whole school to raise money for other kids using math as the vehicle. Add Like Mad and Subtraction Action would be fun games for a math center on classroom computers or as a whole class game using an interactive whiteboard. To play either game with the whole class, divide your students into two (or more) teams. Team 1 lines up at the IWB, the first person in the line completes the first problem and then passes play to the next student in line relay style. Teams try to clear the tiles in the least amount of time. After Team 1 has a final time, Team 2 tries to beat it. My students love this kind of friendly competition.

Use the Numerators team characters to learn about math concepts and vocabulary. There are four members of the current team, encourage your students to add to the superhero team with additional math team members. Students can create character profiles and back stories about their math operation superhero. Students could create individual baseball trading cards of their math superhero team member.

Tips: Download a free Funbook sample, these are high quality math workbooks that will have your students problem solving and having fun with math.

Please leave a comment and share how you are using Math-A-Thon in your classroom.

iboard: Visual Numbers

December 14, 2009Kelly TenkelyLeave a Comment1491 views

What it is: Visual Numbers is another great sample application from iboard for interactive whiteboards. Visual Numbers lets students add numbers (1-20) to the workspace above. You can show or hide counters to represent each number. This is a fantastic visual for students learning how to count, add, subtract, or multiply.

How to integrate iboard: Visual Numbers into the classroom: Visual Numbers will help your students to visualize number concepts. Ask students to add all the numbers on the workspace without the spots, then reveal the spots for students to check their answers. Put several numbers in the workspace and ask students to order numbers from smallest to largest. Reveal the spots so that students can check their answers and visualize which numbers are smallest and which are largest. Teach beginning multiplication skills by putting groups of numbers on the board (for example three groups of eight). Students can visualize what 3 groups of 8 looks like by revealing the spots. Visual Numbers is wonderful for the interactive whiteboard or as a math center on classroom computers.

Tips: iboard has a variety of activities for the interactive whiteboard that can be purchased. Visual Numbers is one of their freebie samples.

Leave a comment and share how you are using iboard: Visual Numbers in your classroom.

iboard: Interactive Number Square

December 14, 2009December 14, 2009Kelly Tenkely2 Comments2928 views

What it is: Interactive Number Square is another great sample application from iboard for interactive whiteboards. This number grid is versatile allowing you to hide numbers, change the color of squares, change the start number of the grid, add more or less columns and rows, and choose a step number.

How to integrate iboard: Interactive Number Square into the classroom: Interactive Number Square is a wonderful tool for teaching various number concepts. Hide some numbers and ask students to determine which numbers are missing based on those left on the board. Ask them if the numbers are in a pattern, go up in steps of 1, 2, 5, etc. Create a number pattern and hide the answers. Encourage students to keep the pattern going as long as they can and then invite students to check their answers on the Number Square. The Number Square can be used for everything from counting, to learning multiples, to skip counting, to adding, to introducing algebraic concepts and understanding number relationships. Students can interact with the Number Square on an interactive whiteboard or on classroom computers as a math center.

Tips: iboard has a variety of activities for the interactive whiteboard that can be purchased. Interactive Number Square one of their freebie samples.

Leave a comment and share how you are using iboard: Interactive Number Square in your classroom.

iboard: Counting Fish

December 14, 2009Kelly Tenkely2 Comments3657 views

What it is: Counting Fish is a fun sample interactive whiteboard activity from iboard. Students can count fish added to the ocean, add, group, subtract, and compare sets. Click on “Totals” to find out how many of each fish have been added to the ocean.

How to integrate iboard: Counting Fish into the classroom: Counting Fish is a great little web application that can be used in the primary math class. Use with the interactive whiteboard asking questions such as: “Can you count the creatures as I put them into the ocean?” “There are two lobsters already, how many will there be if we add four more?,” etc. Counting Fish can be used to help students visualize complex problems or word problems. Set up Counting Fish on classroom computers as a math center where students can practice adding, subtracting, grouping, and counting. Create question cards to accompany the center that students can answer with a partner when they visit the center.

Tips: iboard has a variety of activities for the interactive whiteboard that can be purchased. Counting Fish is one of their freebie samples.

Leave a comment and share how you are using iboard: Counting Fish in your classroom.

iPlay Math Games

September 12, 2009Kelly Tenkely6 Comments3318 views

What it is: iPlay Math Games is an outstanding collection of printable math games for grades k-12. Math games can be searched by grade level or skill. These math games are printable pdf files and can be played with common items (dice, cards, and other manipulatives). iPlay Math Games helps students build math skills such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, percents, algebra, long division, measurement, graphing and exponents, problem solving, puzzles and games, geometry, probability, reasoning, logic, numeration, patterns, and counting.

How to integrate iPlay Math Games into the classroom: iPlay Math Games is an excellent collection of printable math games that can be downloaded and printed out for the classroom. Use these games as math center activities, and to reinforce math skills being learned. These games are a great way for students to practice math skills sans worksheet.

Tips: iPlay Math Games has not always been a free resource, take advantage of the new free status!

Leave a comment and tell us how you are using iPlay Math Games in your classroom.

Learning Clip

April 7, 2009Kelly Tenkely1 Comment2657 views

What it is: Learning Clip is a site that I reviewed in Nov. 2008 that I took another look at today and was even MORE impressed than I remembered being the first time I saw it. Learning Clip is a collection of interactive whiteboard resources for primary math. Resources and activities include topics such as: using and applying math, understanding numbers, number facts, calculating, understanding shape, measuring, and handling data. Each activity is interactive and encourages students involvement and discovery in math. Each activity comes with a brief description of the activity, a pdf of notes that accompany the activity, the age appropriateness, and a corresponding worksheet that can be printed out. Each topic has several sub-topics and each sub-topic has several interactive activities. When an activity is loaded, a video clip explaining the math concept will play. Each activity includes a game or interactive activity space for students to practice what they are learning.

How to integrate Learning Clip into the classroom: Learning Clip is an outstanding resource for interactive math activities! The video clips help students understand the math concept that can be practiced in an interactive environment. This site is perfect for use with an interactive whiteboard and whole class or small group instruction. Students can take turns interacting with the content to strengthen understanding of math concepts. Learning clip could also be successfully used in a computer lab or on classroom computers for individual student learning and practice. One thing that Learning Clip has added since I visited last is the ability to choose what currency you would like students to practice with in the Money activities. This site was created in the UK so this feature makes it very user friendly for us Yanks. 🙂 The activities are all wonderful!

Tips: Registration is required but it is free. If you create a username and password, consider creating one that is class friendly. This way if you do decide to use the activities in the lab setting, students will be able to logon and access activities easily.

Leave a comment and tell us how you are using Learning Clip in your classroom.

Number Gym

March 4, 2009Kelly Tenkely1 Comment3910 views

Number Gym is math software that can be purchased for the math classroom. However, they have a number of free online activities (examples of their software) that are perfect in the math classroom. I want to review each of these freebie mini-math games:

Exploring Fractions

What it is: Exploring Fractions is an interactive way for students to learn about fractions. Students see the fractions represented graphically and numerically. As students change the numerator and denominator of the fraction, they see the graphic change accordingly.

How to integrate Exploring Fractions into the classroom: Exploring Fractions is a great interactive site to teach your students about fractions. This is a wonderful website to use with an interactive whiteboard for whole class fraction instruction. Invite students up to the whiteboard to take turns adjusting the numerator and denominator of the fractions. Have students observe the graphic changes taking place and describe the changes as a class. Exploring Fractions is also very useful as a math center on the classroom computers. As students are learning about fractions, they can visit the computer as a visual manipulation center.

Tips: All parts of the Exploring Fractions website can be hidden (hide the numerator, denominator, or graphic). This is a nice feature for having students “fill in” the missing information.

Mr G’s Place Value Chart

What it is: Mr G’s Place Value Chart is a great mini-site to teach students about place values. The chart has a thousands, hundreds, tenths, and ones column. Students can drag counters up and down the chart to create numbers. Every portion of the Place Value Chart can be hidden from view depending on what you are using the chart for.

How to integrate Mr G’s Place Value Chart into the classroom: The Place Value Chart is an excellent visual manipulative to teach students about place value. Each time a student moves a counter, the number at the top of the screen adjusts accordingly. Use the Place Value Chart to teach your whole class with an interactive whiteboard. Call students one at a time to adjust the number with counters. Encourage students who are at their seats to observe how the numbers change. Hide the number at the top and have students move counters and say what the number is aloud as a class. This is also a great mini-site to set up as a math center in the one or two computer classroom. As students are working on place value, they can visit the math center for a visual manipulative.

Tips: Hide the columns that are not being used to teach with so students aren’t confused by all the ‘extras’.

Bond Builder

What it is: Bond Builder is a mini-game that gives students a ‘dot spotter’ that looks like a dice, students add the numbers on the dot spotter and drag it to the correct sum on a dial. They are timed as they drag the dot spotter cards to the correct location.

How to integrate Bond Builder into the classroom: Bond Builder is a fun basic addition or counting reinforcement game. This game could be played as a center activity in the one or two computer classroom or whole class with an interactive whiteboard. See who can get the fastest time and practice those addition facts at the same time!

Tips: There are two levels of dot spotters (really just different sets of dot spotter cards).

Table Extender

What it is: Table Extender is a multiplication game that gives students a challenging multiplication problem and asks them to drag the problem on top of the correct answer. Students are timed as they go through the various challenges.

How to integrate Table Extender into the classroom: Table Extender is a good way to get students practicing their multiplication. It makes them think quickly and attempt to beat their own fastest times. Split students into teams and take turns sending students to the interactive whiteboard to solve the problems. This mini-game would also make for good practice as a computer center in the classroom.

Tips: There are three different levels of Table Extender for students to work on.

Getting to Grips with Graphs: Trigonometry

What it is: Getting to Grips with Graphs: Trigonometry lets students explore the equation y=aSin(bx*+c*) through adjustments to a, b, and c in graphical form.

How to integrate Getting to Grips with Graphs: Trigonometry into the classroom: This mini-site is a wonderful visual representation of Sin. Students can adjust a, b, and c and watch the affect of changing numbers on a graph. Use an interactive whiteboard and call students up to change the values of a, b, and c. Encourage other students to observe and describe the changes of each value that is adjusted.

Tips: The scale of the graph can be changed to fit your classroom needs.

Leave a comment and tell us how you are using Number Gym in your classroom.