345 mind-stretchers results | sort by:
Toys from trash - Arvind Gupta
Grades
K to 10In the Classroom
Share this site on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Use the simple directions and pictures for students to make their own manipulatives. After creating and observing, students can share their observations and the math and science processes can be uncovered. Use these to uncover misconceptions and dispel myths that undermine understanding of processes. Group students to choose one manipulative and present the concept to the class. Challenge cooperative learning groups to create their own "Toy From Trash." Have the groups create videos to share their "toys" and instructions. Share the video clips using a site such as Teachers.TV reviewed here.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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The Problem site
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): problem solving (245)
In the Classroom
Share this eclectic site on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Use these activities for problem solving drills and interest in words or numbers. Use this site for review. List the link on your class website for students to practice both in and out of the classroom. This is a great find for gifted students!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Tower of Hanoi - NCTM Illuminations
Grades
6 to 12In the Classroom
Use this activity for independent challenges at the beginning of your math class. List this site on your class blog or website for students to try at home. Ask your advanced students to generate a "how to" explanation for the challenge.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Diffen - Diffen
Grades
2 to 12tag(s): vocabulary (247)
In the Classroom
The options are endless. Search the differences between two types of soils, mitosis and meiosis, presidents or those running for office, of geometric figures, artists or musicians, places to visit. As a way to build higher order thinking skills, this site is ideal, since comparison of attributes requires analysis.Try creating some lists of your own as a class after using the ready-made ones here. This activity would be easy to do on an interactive whiteboard, with students hand writing the characteristics and dragging them into Similarities and Differences columns before entering them into Diffen. This site could be used in nearly every subject area. Share this site on your class blog or website, for students to access both in and out of the classroom. This is definitely one to save in your favorites.
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Thanksgiving Day Vocabulary - Myvocabulary.com
Grades
3 to 8tag(s): thanksgiving (25), vocabulary (247)
In the Classroom
Share the puzzles on your interactive whiteboard or projector or make them available as links on your teacher public page. Have students (or groups) create their own illustrated dictionaries of terms using a tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here. As you add more vocabulary lists during the year, have them select their favorite 6-10 terms from each list to add to their "book."Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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KENKEN - Nextoy, LLC
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): addition (125), division (98), logic (154), multiplication (121), puzzles (154), subtraction (106), sudoku (9), vision (41)
In the Classroom
Introduce this site on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Then have students explore the puzzles on their own. Use this site to differentiate for various students. Be certain to save this site in your favorites and check back often. List this link on your class website so students can "play" both in and out of the classroom. Have older students attempt to create their own KENKEN puzzles. It's not as easy as you think.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Easter Activities For Kids - DLTK
Grades
K to 5In the Classroom
Take advantage of these free resources about Easter!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Easter Egg-tivities - Chateau Meddybemps
Grades
K to 3In the Classroom
Share this colorful site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Have students work with a partner during art class (or even in the regular classroom) and explore the various activities available at this site.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Mathematics in Movies - Oliver Knill
Grades
6 to 12In the Classroom
Use the links "Begin of Lectures in College teaching" and "The end of lectures in college teaching" to identify effective and ineffective teaching elements at all levels. Use these clips for anticipatory set or activators at the start of a lesson or introduction of a concept. Share the video clips on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Discuss the concepts as a class or have students work in cooperative learning groups. See if students can identify any other movie or television show that has used math concepts. If time permits, have students create their own mini-dramas that include discussion of math concepts within the story.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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St. Patrick's Day Theme Unit - edhelper.com
Grades
K to 8tag(s): critical thinking (152), holidays (246), st patricks day (11)
In the Classroom
Use an interactive whiteboard or projector and challenge your students with this St. Patrick's Day fun! Or, if you have computer stations in your classroom you could have students rotate through some of the activities.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Sharp Brains - Sharpbrains
Grades
6 to 12Be 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.
In the Classroom
Start your class (any subject area) with a mind stretcher or include this as part of a psychology or biology lesson on how the brain works. Share the puzzle or challenge on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Challenge your students to create their own logic activities and create a class "Logic" wiki.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Puzzlers Paradise - Shelly Hazard
Grades
2 to 10In the Classroom
Save this site in your favorites. Use a logic puzzle as a class opener to "warm up" brains. Display the puzzle on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Print out the logic puzzles for students to complete for additional enrichment. Use this site with your gifted students. Provide a link to this site on your class website for students to use at home. Challenge your students to create some puzzlers of their own and share them on a class wiki.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Think Tank - ALTEC at the University of Kansas
Grades
4 to 8tag(s): Research (79), science fairs (19)
In the Classroom
Share this site with your students before a new research project is assigned. Have students explore the site on individual computers while you model how to navigate the site on a projector or interactive whiteboard. Use this site to help students narrow down their research topic.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Interactive Mathematics Miscellany and Puzzles - Alexander Bogomolny
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): angles (48), logic (154), money (110), puzzles (154)
In the Classroom
Use these applets on an interactive whiteboard or projector as an anticipatory set for a math lesson. Have students work independently on the logic and puzzle activities. These activities are ideal for gifted students (for advancement and/or enrichment) or extra practice for struggling students. Provide this link on your class website, so students can explore at home or as a review.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Mike's Math Club - Milken Family Foundation
Grades
K to 7tag(s): addition (125), division (98), factors (28), fractions (167), multiplication (121), puzzles (154), subtraction (106), vision (41)
In the Classroom
Project the activity on an interactive whiteboard or projector while students work independently (or in pairs) at their seats. There is also a Teachers Corner with many lesson ideas - check it out!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Sheppard Software - Brain Games - Sheppard Software
Grades
2 to 8In the Classroom
Introduce the website (or a specific activity) on an interactive whiteboard and then have students work in pairs to "try their hands" at the many activities. This website is perfect for gifted students looking for an extra challenge. This is a great link to provide to parents in a class newsletter or on your class website.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Paper Models of Polyhedra - Gijs Korthals Altes
Grades
6 to 10tag(s): paper folding (3), visual thinking (6)
In the Classroom
Why not print a pattern onto cardstock or other thick paper. Then project the image (that you printed for your students) onto a projection screen or interactive whiteboard, while students work independently at their seats. Before you pass out the paper copies, have them view the projected image and predict what it will be. These shapes can also serve as creative study aids for all subject areas, especially for students who need engaging ways to review. Have students write key terms and questions on the "faces" before assembling the figures, then "roll" them as a study game, testing each other to define or explain terms.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Geometry - 3D Shapes - Annenberg Media
Grades
5 to 9In the Classroom
Get your interactive whiteboards (or projectors) ready for this intriguing website. The website introduction page activates students' schema by explaining how we live in a three-dimensional world. Have your students add to the website's list of 3D shapes in their classroom. Complete the web activities as a class (on a projection screen), or have your students team up and research the website in pairs. At the conclusion of the activity, have your students divide into two teams to complete the interactive quiz. Project the questions on the screen, and have the teams discuss the math problem and determine the best answers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Johnnie's Math Page - Johnnie Wilson
Grades
K to 8This site includes advertising.
tag(s): addition (125), counting (61), division (98), measurement (118), multiplication (121), patterns (70), probability (100), statistics (115), subtraction (106), symmetry (31), tangrams (8)
In the Classroom
What a fantastic website to include in your classroom web page and newsletter. All of these activities are perfect for an interactive whiteboard or projector. Share a link to games and activities for students to play during math centers. This is an excellent resource for gifted students. The activities could also be used for enrichment, additional practice, and re-teaching skills. Use these activities for students to share as part of their digital portfolio by asking students to share their reflections and tips on learning new concepts. Seesaw is an excellent tool for creating and sharing online portfolios.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Probability - Johnnie's Math Page
Grades
4 to 8tag(s): probability (100)
In the Classroom
This is a "ready to go" learning center. Use the interactive spinners and dice for student-created games or teacher-created review games in any subject. Or better yet, have students work independently on laptops or in the computer lab.Be sure to include this website in your next class newsletter, your class website, and blog.
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