The FAPE Site

Math Date: Celebrate Pi Day on March 14

That Is 3.14 - Get It?

Each year on March 14th, classrooms break from their usual routines to observe the festivities of "Pi Day" -- so called because the digits in the date correspond with the first three digits of pi (3.14). An added bonus -- Albert Einstein was born on March 14 (in 1879).

Here are some resources to help you get ready for the big day:

Ridiculously Enhanced Pi Page
Pi music, pi links, pi beads -- The Exploratorium in San Francisco offers everything teachers need to start their classroom celebration.
http://www.exploratorium.edu/learning_studio/pi/

A History of Pi
Pi has been around so long its discoverers may be untraceable. In the Egyptian Rhind Papyrus, which is dated about 1650 BC, there is good evidence for 4(8/9)2 = 3.16 as a value for pi. Students and teachers can read up on the history of pi at this Web site.
http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/HistTopics/ Pi_through_the_ages.html

Pi Land
There's a cologne named Pi and a Maryland vanity license plate "Pi is 3." Read up on the other fanciful notions about pi at this site. Which digit occurs most frequently in the first 10,000 digits of pi?
http://www.eveandersson.com/pi/

Einstein and Pi…Sharing an Irrationally Good Day!
For a week of mathematics and science lessons celebrating pi, visit this middle school teacher-designed site.
http://www.evsc.k12.in.us/schoolzone/schools/evans/ pidaypp_files/frame.htm

Eisenhower National Clearing House (ENC) Pi Day
Instructional resources, gathered and compiled by ENC, include connections, Web resources, and activities for grades 6-12. http://www.enc.org/features/calendar/unit/0,1819,34,00.shtm

Math Date: Explore Base 10 on "Powers of 10" Day

K-12 Math Activities for October 10

Looking for a math activity to celebrate October 10 -- the tenth day of the tenth month? Then you'll want to check out the Powers of 10 Day Activities on the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse (ENC) Web site. The ENC Online is a K-12 math and science teacher center with information and items for free and for sale.

Other Useful ENC Links

» Classroom Calendar -- Background materials and ready-to-go math and science activities.

» Digital Dozen -- Twelve Web sites selected monthly that ENC staff members select for classroom use or preparation, or as a professional learning site.

»Lessons & Activities -- Teaching units, activity books, and lab manuals categorized by math and science subject area.

Other Math and Science Resources

» Math Lesson Plans

»  Science Lesson Plans

» Mathematics & Children's Literature

Math Lesson Plans

Colombia Education Center Math Lesson Plans
The Colombia Education Center of Portland Oregon is a private educational service organization. This site has lessons divided by grade bands (K-5, 6-8, 9-12). The lessons were devised by classroom teachers and include a variety of concepts. Each lesson has a materials list, stated objective, and a section to help teachers "tie it all together."
http://www.col-ed.org/cur/math.html

Education World: Math
Find dozens of lessons for all grade levels, and get access to many more lessons submitted by trained and practicing teachers just like you.
http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/archives/math.shtml

Integrating Mathematics, Science and Language: An Instructional Program
This guide was developed to help elementary school teachers increase achievement of Hispanic primary-grade children whose first language is not English. It offers a curriculum plan, instructional strategies and activities, suggested teacher and student materials, and assessment procedures. Accompanying each complete unit in English is a Spanish version of background information for the teacher, as well as a Spanish version of the formal introductory portion of the lesson cycle.
http://www.sedl.org/scimath/pasopartners/welcome.html

The Math Forum
From Drexel University, this large collection serves elementary through college/research levels with a variety of educational materials. Good search engine and site organization.
http://mathforum.org/library/resource_types/lesson_plans/

Mathematics Lessons That Are Fun, Fun, Fun
Cynthia Lanius' site has interactive mathematics lesson plans (some in Spanish) that invite students to interact with the mathematics online. Teacher notes are included. The mathematics explanations are clear and would lend themselves to students working on problems with their parents at home. An important and helpful part of the lessons are the "thought" questions that are a part of the lessons.
http://math.rice.edu/~lanius/Lessons/index.html

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics "Illuminations" 
These resources demonstrate how the Internet can be used to help create effective standards-based mathematics lessons. The site provides activities, lessons, standards, and Web links.
http://illuminations.nctm.org/

PBS TeacherSource: Math
Use the pull-down menus in the center of the page for access to hundreds of curriculum resources for grades PreK-12.  Lessons are based upon PBS's on-air and online programming.  Most lessons incorporate the use of video, but do not require it.  You will also find access to dozens of recommended health and fitness Web sites and books.
http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/math.htm

 Updated June 2006.

Math Lessons in Spanish

Web Site Offers Interactive Lessons for K-8

Lessons from AAA Math are now available in Spanish as well as English. These interactive lessons and games provide a resource for teachers to supplement other components of their math classes.

The site features over 2500 interactive math lesson pages, all of which can be accessed without any registration or charges. Materials are also available for purchase. 

Spanish language site
http://www.aaamatematicas.com/

English language site
http://www.aaamath.com/

Related Links

Math Lesson Plans -- An annotated list of links to math lesson plans on the Web.
http://www.nea.org/webresources/mathlinks.html 

Math Resources -- An annotated list of Web sites with free materials and Web sites with free materials as well as those for purchase. Compiled by NEA.
http://www.nea.org/webresources/mathresources.html

Mathematics & Children's Literature -- An annotated list of links featuring mathematics and literature on the Web. 
http://www.nea.org/webresources/mathreadinglinks.html

Mathematics & Science Programs for Girls -- An annotated list of links featuring mathematics and science programs for girls on the Web.
http://www.nea.org/webresources/mathsciencegirlslinks.html

Math Resources

This page lists Web sites with free materials and Web sites with free materials as well as those for purchase.

Free Materials

Create a Graph
Five different graphs and charts and how to use them.
http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/default.aspx

Figure This! Mathematics Challenges for Families
The Figure This! Mathematics Challenges for Families Web site, offered by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and supported by NEA, provides interesting math challenges that middle school students can do at home with their families.
http://www.figurethis.org/

Lesson Plans | Various Web Sites
Math Lesson Plans is a list of annotated links to lesson plans on various Web sites. Compiled by NEA.
http://www.nea.org/webresources/mathlinks.html

Math | PBS Teachersource
This Web site has recommended lesson plans, activities and other resources for mathematics, by grade level and topic.
http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/math.htm

Math Date: Celebrate Pi Day on March 14
That is 3.14 - get it? Activities to use to celebrate pi.
http://www.nea.org/webresources/piday.html

Math Date: Explore Base 10 on “Powers of 10” Day
K-12 math activities to use in the classroom on October 10.
http://www.nea.org/webresources/powersof10.html

Math Forum (featuring Dr. Math)
The comprehensive Math Forum is one of the leaders in mathematics and mathematics education on the Web. Have a question about a homework problem? Ask Dr. Math. Need a lesson on data and statistics for your second graders or high schoolers? Do a search by topic and level. The search engine on this site is particularly useful for parents, teachers and students.
http://mathforum.org/ 
http://mathforum.org/dr.math/

Mathematics & Children's Literature
A list of annotated links featuring mathematics and literature on the Internet.
http://www.nea.org/webresources/mathreadinglinks.html

Mathematics & Science Programs for Girls
A list of annotated links featuring mathematics and science programs for girls on the Internet.
http://www.nea.org/webresources/mathsciencegirlslinks.html

MegaMathematics
A project of the Computer Research and Applications Group at Los Alamos National Laboratory, MegaMath lets teachers and elementary students explore important mathematical ideas, such as the Four-Color Theorem and graphs. In addition to student activities and detailed explanations of math concepts, the site examines math's connection to industry and business.
http://wwwc3.lanl.gov/mega-math/

Online Manipulatives
The National Library of Virtual Manipulatives from Utah State University presents online manipulatives (base ten blocks, algebra tiles, pattern blocks, etc.). Manipulatives are indexed by math topic and grade level.
http://matti.usu.edu/nlvm/nav/index.html

Standards-Based Math Resources
Illuminations math Web site, produced in cooperation with the MarcoPolo Education Foundation, supports teachers in their implementation of standards-based math. It offers online multimedia investigations, lesson plans keyed to standards, and links to reviewed Web sites.
http://illuminations.nctm.org/info/standards.asp

Visual Mathematics Learning
This site—featuring interactive materials for pre-algebra students—is rich in games, puzzles, and animated manipulatives that emphasize learning concepts by visualization. It is an excellent resource for parents and educators of students at the elementary and middle-school level.
www.visualmathlearning.com  

Free Materials + Materials for Purchase

AAA Math
Interactive lessons from AAA Math are available in both English and Spanish. The lesson pages provide a resource for teachers to supplement other components of their math classes. The pages can be accessed without registration or charges. Materials are also available for purchase.
http://www.aaamath.com/
http://www.aaamatematicas.com/

Accounting Internet Library
This site provides teaching resources (including downloadable crossword puzzles, Excel Masters for Accounting forms, and electronic flash cards in English and Spanish). Site has materials for purchase.
http://www.businessbookmall.com/Accounting%20Internet%20Library.htm  

Eisenhower National Clearinghouse
Funded through a contract with the U.S. Department of Education and housed at the Ohio State University, the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse (ENC) offers a one-stop shop for math teachers. ENC offers thousands of detailed descriptions of curriculum materials, Web sites, and professional development experiences for educators. Visitors can read ENC's Focus magazine online or subscribe to the print version. Materials are available for purchase.
http://www.goenc.com/

Excel Internet Library 
This site provides free materials with overview and beginning content for the Excel student. Site has materials for purchase.      
http://www.businessbookmall.com/Microsoft_Excel_Directions_For_Beginners.htm

Exemplars - K-12 Mathematics Materials
Exemplars K-12 mathematics materials are keyed to national standards and include rubrics and annotated benchmarks. Some free samples and downloads. Free online newsletter. Many materials and resources available for purchase.
http://www.exemplars.com/index.php
http://www.exemplars.com/rubrics/assessment.html

Mathematics Internet Library
This site provides free materials, including an online book, downloadable worksheets, and links to math sites and study aids. Site has materials for purchase.
http://www.businessbookmall.com/Mathematics%20Internet%20Library.htm

Statistics Internet Library
This site provides free materials (including online books, downloadable practice sheets, test-passing help, Internet study materials to learn statistics and write a research paper) and materials for purchase.
http://www.businessbookmall.com/Statistics%20Internet%20Library.htm

Updated July 2007.