331 mind-stretchers results | sort by:
return to subject listingFuel the Brain
Grades
K to 5tag(s): fractions (159), money (119), numbers (119), preK (253), puzzles (143)
In the Classroom
The interactives are perfect to use on interactive whiteboards or projectors. Use activities as an introduction to new units such as making change, counting on the number line, or recognizing numbers shown with base 10 blocks. Save this on your desktop on all of your classroom computers. List this link on your classroom website or blog. This is excellent enrichment and/or advancement for gifted students. It could also be used for extra practice for struggling students. This site is definitely one to save and revisit often.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Word Games - FPS Networks Inc.
Grades
2 to 12Navigate carefully as this site has many advertisements! But the great interactives make it worth the hassle.
In the Classroom
Introduce this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector then have students explore this site independently or in small groups. Make a shortcut to this site on classroom computers and use it as a center. Provide a link to these activities on your class website.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Math Fun Facts - Harvey Mudd College
Grades
7 to 12tag(s): brain (52)
In the Classroom
Use this type of fact as a class warm-up exercise or bell ringer activity to have students get actively engaged in learning from the moment they enter your classroom. Or, use it as a Fun Friday Math Fact activity. Assign students into small groups or partners to "solve" a math fact. Additionally, many of these facts could be turned into mini-math research project. Have students investigate this site independently and share their findings with the class by creating an interactive online poster using Genial.ly, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Whole Number Cruncher - Shodor
Grades
3 to 8In the Classroom
Introduce the activity on your interactive whiteboard or projector, then provide students with the exploration questions to complete on their own or with a partner. Provide a link on your classroom website or blog for practice at home. Make a shortcut to this site on classroom computers and use it as a center. Have students create their own function machines to be solved by classmates.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Tables and Chairs - Shodor
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): equations (119), logic (162), patterns (63), problem solving (225)
In the Classroom
Introduce the site on your interactive whiteboard or projector by beginning with the learner section of the site. Discuss the different arrangements of tables and chairs and how seating capacity changes based on table arrangements. Allow students to complete the exploration questions on their own or with a partner. Provide a link on your classroom website or blog for students to use at home. Challenge able students to create pattern challenges of their own for classmates to try on an interactive whiteboard using shapes and colors.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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More or Less Estimator - Shodor
Grades
3 to 8tag(s): estimation (35), measurement (125)
In the Classroom
Introduce the activity on the interactive whiteboard or projector and model for students how to use estimation instead of actually counting the figures. Use the site as a springboard to discuss when estimation is appropriate and when measurement is needed. Use the site to begin discussions on what level of estimation is needed in different circumstances (close, really close and almost perfect).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Math Solutions - Math Solutions
Grades
K to 12tag(s): problem solving (225)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans; also search for plans in grades higher and lower that can be modified to meet your students' needs. Display student work included with the lesson plans on your interactive whiteboard or projector as conversation starters in your classroom - allow students to discuss other students' work to increase understanding of concepts.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ice Ice Maybe - Manga High
Grades
2 to 6tag(s): estimation (35), logic (162), problem solving (225)
In the Classroom
Save as a shortcut on classroom computers to use as a center. Encourage students to problem solve to get the penguins further along the ice and achieve higher levels. Share this link on your class website so students can practice logic and estimation while at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Fire: Estimating Percent - Shodor
Grades
6 to 8tag(s): estimation (35), fractions (159), percent (58), probability (96), test prep (66)
In the Classroom
Print out the exploration worksheet for students to complete, then discuss using your interactive whiteboard or projector. Using the interactive whiteboard, discuss why the probability of burn doesn't always equal the actual burn amount. Create a link on your classroom website, wiki, or blog for students to practice at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Maths is Fun - Rod Pierce
Grades
3 to 9tag(s): logic (162), measurement (125), problem solving (225)
In the Classroom
Use the teacher's page on the interactive whiteboard or projector to demonstrate math concepts such as symmetry, tessellations, and basic algebra concepts. Assign activities and games to students and let them become the expert in one topic. Use the illustrated math dictionary provided on the site as an example and create a class math dictionary of concepts learned. Have students share their new math term on the class wiki. Not comfortable with wikis? Have no wiki worries - check out the TeachersFirst's Wiki Walk-Through. This may also be a site that you want to include on your class website for students to use both in and out of the classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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LEGO Education Activities - LEGO Education
Grades
K to 12tag(s): creativity (92), critical thinking (112), logic (162), problem solving (225)
In the Classroom
Expose your students to different levels of the learning spiral by challenging them to use problem-solving skills for increasingly difficult obstacles. Students can work in small groups to foster cooperation and teamwork as they sort, graph, follow and give directions, and discuss ideas. Of course you will need some LEGOs, so you might try raiding your own children's toy boxes, include a request in your classroom newsletter for donations, look around for LEGO kits collecting dust on classroom shelves, or put it on your school's PTA wish list. Be sure to have cooperative learning groups video their activities to share with the rest of the class using a site such as SchoolTube (reviewed here).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Lesson: Life After Trash - Teach Engineering
Grades
6 to 9tag(s): critical thinking (112), engineering (117), problem solving (225)
In the Classroom
A week or so before conducting this simulation activity, ask students to bring in recyclables and clean trash from home. This will cut down on the amount of trash you need to collect, and it will add variety to the supplies. Set up the activity by talking about trash, where it comes from and where it goes. Discuss better alternatives for trash "disposal" such as recycling and reusing. Have students think of obvious reuses for materials and then explain that there are other alternatives to obvious uses. Introduce the activity and basic rules and safety to the students. Arrange them in groups of three or four and then allow them to "shop" the classroom "landfill" to create new things out of old trash. Follow up with discussion of group products, uses, and real life applications of this idea such as recycled art.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Jigsaw Sudoku - Rachel Lee
Grades
1 to 6tag(s): logic (162), problem solving (225), puzzles (143)
In the Classroom
Display on your interactive whiteboard or projector to use as a center for logic and problem solving. Keep a class chart and challenge students to increase their speed and increase level of difficulty.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Brain Den
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): brain (52), logic (162), optical illusions (10), puzzles (143)
In the Classroom
Enrich gifted students' learning by having them explore the puzzles and teasers on this site. Try having students solve the geometry puzzles or algebra puzzles and then ask them to present their solution to classmates using a multimedia presentation. Challenge students to create a video and share using a site such as SchoolTube, reviewed here. Students could also try to create their own puzzles. Share the puzzles on an online, interactive poster using Lucidpress, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Squigly's Playhouse - Barb Willner
Grades
K to 5This site includes advertising.
tag(s): crafts (50), holidays (159), seasons (36), writing (314)
In the Classroom
Have students check out the book reviews in the Writing Corner. Discuss which reviews are helpful and then have students write quality reviews to post onto the website. Complete one of the story frameworks with students. Using an interactive whiteboard or projector, have students add more detail or experiment with sentence structure and vocabulary. Students can then follow this process individually to develop revision skills.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Shape Sudoku - PrimaryGames
Grades
1 to 6In the Classroom
Model this activity on your interactive whiteboard or projector several times so students become comfortable with the concept and rules. Place students in pairs during center time, math class or computer lab to accomplish this activity together for problem solving and teamwork. Use this as an end-of-the-week, whole group incentive. Be sure to list this link on your class website for students to access both in and out of the classroom. Challenge older students to create their own shape Sudoku challenges.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Luminosity - Brain Games - Lumos Labs Inc.
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): brain (52), psychology (67)
In the Classroom
What a great way to give kids a brain break while still keeping them focused. This site can be used on an interactive whiteboard or projector with the whole class. Psychology classes may want to investigate the games and how/why they might affect memory and brain function. The website is also a great tool to use as a center or to provide a student reward. Some of the games do not require a sign in but others do. Teachers could create a class login that students could use to access the additional games.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Featured Topic: 100 Ways to Represent the Number 100 - mathwire.com
Grades
K to 5tag(s): 100thday (9), counting (60), literature (217), money (119), numbers (119), place value (34)
In the Classroom
Share the interactives on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Try some of the suggested activities and video the projects. Share the vidoes using a site such as Teachers.TV reviewed here.Comments
There are so many great ideas for 100th day on this site! I'm looking forward to teaching the "Bundle Song" to my students!Lauren, TN, Grades: 0 - 1
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New York Times Mathematics Lesson Plans - New York Times
Grades
7 to 12tag(s): charts and graphs (168), statistics (114)
In the Classroom
Use the lessons found on this page to enhance mathematics class curriculum. Have students work on activities independently on laptops in class. If computer access is limited, print out activities and have students work in groups on calculations and guide them using the interactive whiteboard or projector. This also provides the automatic connection between real life and the math strategies and concepts. Take advantage of these timely topics. Be sure to save this site in your favorites and check back often for some fresh ideas.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Armored Penguin - Armored Penguin
Grades
K to 12tag(s): holidays (159), logic (162), puzzles (143), vocabulary (234)
In the Classroom
Need a puzzle to reinforce the words in a particular unit? You may find one already created. If not, it is simple to create and save to your computer or share by URL (remember the online version is saved for two months). Use the "Quotes" page for great quotes of the day, the "Illusions" page for optical illusions, or the "Fresh Words" page to see what words can be made from a word, phrase, or collection of letters. Have cooperative learning groups create their own puzzle pages for a topic that they are researching or learning about in class and use them to challenge their classmates or another section of the course. Have students create puzzles as a cost-free, printable gift for families on special occasions such as Mother's Day.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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