Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Do you see the gorilla? Use the basketball mind stretcher to find out! This site offers some traditional and not so traditional mind stretchers. The general topic areas include How Your Brain Works, Attention, Memory, Pattern Recognition and Planning, Visual Workouts, Visual Illusions, Language and Logic, and others. Some of the activities are quick (less than a minute) while others require more time. The activities could be used in many subject areas; there are language activities, math, general logic, and even some for physical education.

Be aware: each mind stretcher activity includes a blog. Some of the blog comments may not be appropriate, so be sure to READ any blogs that you plan to share. You may want to make these activities a group challenge, rather than individual exploration. Many are interactive and require Flash or Java. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

tag(s): brain (56), logic (161), puzzles (149), stress (7)

This site offers some fabulous (and addicting) mind stretchers. There are both visual and verbal puzzles. There is also a puzzle archive featuring a variety of puzzles for various grade levels. Some of the puzzles are interactive and you complete them online, while others are printable.

tag(s): logic (161), puzzles (149)

The next time a research project comes along, send students to this site to help them get organized. Think Tank is designed to assist in the development of topics and subtopics for reports and projects. After defining their subject or perusing a list of suggestions, students are asked to narrow the scope of their project by choosing from a collection of subtopics. Results may be printed.

tag(s): air (101), science fairs (20)

This site claims to improve memory with its interactive games. The highly interactive games include one that's similar to the game Memory. Others include remembering a series of numbers, one in which you click on bulbs that light up after the lights turn off, and one that has you click on parts of faces to improve sequential memory. Most of the games have several levels so these activities can easily be differentiated for your students. The site provides specific ideas for ways teachers can use the activities.

There are some minor advertisements included at this website. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

tag(s): game based learning (205)

Although we don't usually highlight a site that is simply a list, this list is worth mentioning. There are literally hundreds of math activities at this site (all Java applets). The activities are divided up into the following categories: Arithmetic, Math Games & Puzzles, Logic, Fractals & Chaos, Fallacies, Calculus, Combinatorial Games, Algebra, Visual Illusions, Computer Math Magic, Combinatorics, Geometry, Eye Opener Series, Social Science, Mathematical Droodles, and Analog Devices. Each category has numerous interactive activities included. The site is frequently updated. There are some small advertisements at the site. This site is simple to use and offers a wealth of options for many grade levels. The activities are not time-consuming and offer simple explanations with the applets.

tag(s): angles (52), logic (161), money (113), puzzles (149)

This website presents math activities in a clever format. Although this math link is mainly PDF files that are printable, many of the activities could be projected on a screen or interactive whiteboard while students work independently at their seats. This website offers "ready to print," motivating practice pages in vibrant color. Activities are also available in Spanish. Topics include addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, algebra, coding, puzzles, fractions, factors, and many more. This site requires Adobe Acrobat. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

tag(s): addition (129), division (98), factors (29), fractions (160), multiplication (122), puzzles (149), subtraction (110), vision (44)

Brain Games offers a collection of over thirty interactive logic games, puzzles, music games, and more. Some specific topics include code breaking, coins, arithmetic, music notes, word scramble, and many others. There is even a card game version similar to "24." All of the activities require Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

tag(s): logic (161), puzzles (149), sudoku (10)

This simple, "hands-on" website offers PDF files of numerous paper models of Polyhedra. The files are ready to print and share with your students. The various geometric solids include platonic solids, Archimedean solids, Kepler-Poinsot Polyhedra, and numerous others. The files are available in PDF format and require Adobe. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox.

tag(s): paper folding (3), visual thinking (8)

This website offers motivational and interactive class activities to learn more about 3D shapes. It also shows how to calculate surface area and volume, as well as other mathematical properties about the 3D shapes. Specific topics include surface area and volume, platonic solids, Euler's Theorem, and several others. The Test Your Skills link provides an interactive quiz complete with photos, illustrations, and animations. The About This Interactive link provides standards, goals, lesson ideas, and more.

tag(s): area (53), volume (33)

This large collection of math activities was organized by a math specialist (former 5th grade teacher). The activities are organized into categories based upon the topic beginning with numbers and moving up in levels to statistics and probability. In addition to selecting games by math concept, use the grade level links to choose games appropriate for first through sixth grade. Many, but not all, activities include correlations to Common Core Math Standards. Make sure you scroll down to the bottom of the home page to find a series of video explanations of math topics. Teachers, also check out the link for teachers that includes number lines, hundreds charts, pattern block activities, and much more.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): addition (129), counting (60), division (98), measurement (122), multiplication (122), patterns (61), probability (99), statistics (121), subtraction (110), symmetry (26), tangrams (8)

This website includes four interactive web activities that were organized by a math specialist (and former 5th grade teacher). The specific topics include spinners, dice, and dice tallying.

tag(s): probability (99)

This phenomenal collection of interactive statistics activities was organized by a math specialist (a former 5th grade teacher). There are about seven activities provided. Specific topics of interest include a few graph maker activities, pie charts, mean and median, and spinners.

tag(s): charts and graphs (171), mean (19), median (16), statistics (121)

This fantastic collection of links was organized by a math specialist (a former 5th grade teacher). The site provides over forty interactive math activities that all relate to geometry. Some of the specific topics include pattern blocks, square tiles, pentominoes, geoboards, symmetry, tangrams, triangles, angle measures, polyhedra, cartesian grids, tessellations, point of view, and numerous other topics. What a wonderful resource to use with elementary or middle school math students.

tag(s): angles (52), symmetry (26), tangrams (8)

The collection of over fifty interactive math activities was organized by a math specialist (former 5th grade teacher). Some topics are for primary grades (such as the count aloud and sequence activities). Other topics are more complex (such as factorization and equations). Specific topics include base 10, counting, sequence, ordinals, odd and even numbers, place value, addition, equations, subtraction, integers, number line, Venn diagrams, algebra, factorization, cuisennaire rods, and others. What a fabulous resource for any elementary math class.

tag(s): counting (60), equations (119), factors (29), integers (21), numbers (120), place value (34), preK (270)

Although this website appears to offer a simple list of lesson plans, it is a "diamond in the rough." All of the lesson plans relate to the same standard, Students will expand number sense to include integers and perform operations with whole numbers, simple fractions, and decimals. Specific lesson plans include, "How Much is a Million," "Multiplication Strategy Review," "Partial Quotient," "Mixed Number/Improper Fraction Review," "Playground Measurement," and "Fraction Track." All lesson plans are extremely detailed and provide standards, material lists, step-by-step instructions, interactive elements, links, printable pages, and more. Some of the links require JAVA. Get it from the Teachers First Toolbox page. All grade levels from K through Calculus available.

tag(s): fractions (160), measurement (122), mixed numbers (8), multiplication (122), numbers (120)

This website is truly a rare find - combining math and reading skills. Although the main page is aesthetically plain, the activities are very challenging. Most are set-up as word problems that require reading, comprehension, math skills, and more. The "outline math problems" provide students with 3-5 choices. You simply click on the blank and the choices for the answers are provided. There are activities for primary grades (such as basic addition practice) as well as advanced activities for secondary grades (such as geometry concepts). Many of the activities require JAVA. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

tag(s): angles (52), logic (161), multiples (15)

This site offers a monthly math brain teaser problem to test your math/statistical knowledge. Solutions to the questions are hidden behind a clickable bar so you can share the question on a projector without revealing the answer. Previous math teasers and solutions can be found in the archives.

tag(s): brain (56), statistics (121)

Students dream about becoming an inventor. This site shows that even the smallest item in life, such as the paper clip, was once invented by 'someone.' You can promote creativity and encourage 'thinking outside the box' through this site. Play the 'Which Came First' game at this site to see if you can guess which invention came first, especially in conjunction with a social studies class on the inventors and industrial revolution. (Warning: It's harder than you think!) Or you may opt to play the 'Invention Connection' game, a challenging activity that builds higher level thinking through attribute listing and looking for common characteristics of diverse inventions. For pure information and inspiration, click on the five featured inventors to find video footage and other information about their lives and inventions.

tag(s): inventors and inventions (80)

Memory puzzles, comic stories, action alphabet and math flashcards are just a few features at this site. Art, music, reading, math, puzzles and more are accessed through easy dropdown links. The difficulty ranges from simple primary skills to more challenging puzzles. Use these great interactives to teach music composition, practice with numbers, letters, and colors, do paper cut-outs like Henri Matisse, or practice math and reading skills. ESL or elementary spelling teachers will like the simple "crossword" vocabulary interactive.

tag(s): alphabet (53), animation (64), counting (60), numbers (120), spelling (98)

This all-inclusive math website contains activities for all grades (K-12). The website also features countless lesson plans, math problems, math games, and a math dictionary. There are links for students, teachers, and parents. This resource provides excellent introduction lesson plans and highly creative games and activities. Be warned - this website does have some advertisements, but the content is wonderful. If you are looking for a way to review, re-teach, or introduce a math concept, take a few minutes to visit this website.

tag(s): addition (129), decimals (85), logic (161), puzzles (149)