LESSON PLANS / Classroom Activities

Advanced Functions and Modeling: Lesson Resources by Topic ('H')
The NC School of Science and Math site provides students with "an in-depth study of modeling and applying functions."  Their belief is that "Home, work, recreation, consumer issues, public policy, and scientific investigations are just a few of the areas from which applications should originate. Appropriate technology, from manipulatives to calculators and application software, should be used regularly for instruction and assessment."
Teacher resources: www.dlt.ncssm.edu/afm/topic.htm

AP Calculus ('H')
This site is by teachers and students at Alvirne High School and includes problems of the week, multiple choice AP Calculus exam questions and solutions, and problem archives.
Teacher resources: www.seresc.k12.nh.us/www/alvirne.html

Brain Teasers ('E' 'M')
Houghton-Mifflin's site boasts, "Each week we will post new Brain Teasers at each of three grade ranges: 3-4, 5-6, and 7-8. Select one or all three and see if you can get the right answer. Check back next week when we post the solutions, along with three new puzzles."
Teacher resources: www.eduplace.com/math/brain/

Data Analysis: As Real World As It Gets ('M' 'H')
This site features "organized resources for teaching about data and statistics as supported by the NCTM Standards (NCTM, 2000). Data collection and analysis can be an avenue into the meaningful mathematics and problem-solving skills needed by students in the twenty-first century. And an answer to the student question, Why do we have to study math? can be found when teaching mathematics with a real-world statistics approach."
nsdl.enc.org/epubs/math/math3/math.aspx

Math Lessons That Are Fun ('E' 'M' 'H')
Cynthia Lanius is a mathematics teacher, currently working at Rice University in Education and Outreach. Her site offers lessons in algebra, exponential growth, the mathematics of cartography, geometry, polynomials, and many others. Creatively done.
Teacher resources: math.rice.edu/~lanius/Lessons/

Illuminations ('E' 'M' 'H') (Standards)
A top site for math lesson plans. Developed by NCTM and MarcoPolo, this site's lessons are correlated to the national standards. Easy search by grade and standard.
Teacher resources: illuminations.nctm.org/index.aspx

Illuminations ('E' 'M' 'H')(Standards)
Fabulous database of solid lessons easily searched in several convenient ways. All correlated to standards. Good tools available by grade online. By the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Teacher resources: illuminations.nctm.org/index.aspx

Interactive Mathematics Activities ('E' 'M' 'H')
Take a look at these activities/java applets that can easily be added to lesson plans. Includes memory and matching, arithmetic, algebra, logic, geometry, fractals, probability, visual illusions, calculus, and many, many more. A fascinating array of activities. By Dr. Alexander Bogomolny.
Teacher resources: www.cut-the-knot.org/Curriculum/index.shtml

This Is Mega-Mathematics! ('E' 'M')  (Standards)
A service of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, "This Is Mega-Mathematics!" offers lesson plans that address the mathematics of knots, the paradoxes of infinity, finite state machines and the mathematics of color selection in map making. All lesson plans include stories, activities, vocabulary, background information, big ideas and key concepts, evaluation, preparation and material, ideas for further study, and NCTM standards.
www.c3.lanl.gov/mega-math/ Teacher resources: www.c3.lanl.gov/mega-math/teacher.html

More Than Math ('E' 'M') (Standards)
As the site explains, More Than Math integrates the visual arts into the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade mathematics curriculum using works of art from the collection of the Asheville Art Museum as the basis for problematic mathematical tasks using NC Standard Course of Study goals and objectives. More Than Math introduces and explores concepts shared by mathematics and the visual arts such as pattern, symmetry, proportion, perspective, balance and geometric form and stresses the importance of each individual’s perspective.
Teacher resources: www.morethanmath.org/instructions.htm

Math: Teaching Ideas and Tips ('E' 'M' 'H')
From the Teachers Helping Teachers Site, a series of assorted lessons and activities.
Teacher resources: www.pacificnet.net/~mandel/Math.html

NASA Mathematics Materials for Educators ('E' 'M' 'H')
In NASA's words, "Mathematics are a fundamental part of aerospace research. This area contains educator guides and classroom on-line activities relating to Mathematics."
Teacher Resources: www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/subjects/mathematics/index.html

National Council on Economic Education: Lessons for Educators and Students ('E' 'M' 'H') (Standards) This site includes online and offline substantial lesson plans for K-12 including, ‘Learning, Earning and Investing’ (a comprehensive investor education program for grades 4-12); Preservice teacher syllabus on the Principles of Economics; Financial Fitness for Life; National Standards, and many more lesson plans, plus activities. Well worth your time to browse this page in depth. By the National Council on Economic Education.
Teacher resources: http://www.ncee.net/resources/

Optics ('E' 'M' 'H')
NASA educator's guide contains activities for grades K-12 in Science and Math. It has color and light activities using lenses, prisms, hidden messages, periscopes, and kaleidoscopes.
Teacher resources: spacelink.nasa.gov/Instructional.Materials/NASA.Educational.Products/Optics/

Project Interactivate ('E' 'M')
The many activities here provide a way that students can test hypotheses, manipulate graphs, etc. The idea is to allow students to complete activities hands-on that would otherwise be impossible without the power of the computer. Activities are completed in the browser and are organized by concepts applicable to grades 3-5, though we think higher grades can clearly benefit as well. Concepts include: Number and Operation, Geometry and Measurement, Function and Algebra, and Statistics and Probability. Teacher resources for each activity are detailed and found by clicking the WHAT, HOW WHY on the activity's page. Well done and a growing site. By the Shodor Foundation.
Teacher Resources: www.shodor.org/interactivate/elementary/index.html

Sciences Explorer: Math ('H')
Very good collection of resources. "The Sciences Explorer presents quality interactive material on the topics of biology, physics, chemistry, and math. Activities such as 3-D tours, crossword puzzles, conversion tables, and calculator programs are fun and smart!" From the Thinkquest competition.
library.thinkquest.org/11771/english/hi/math/