Make Math Fun

Math can be fun. (I'm serious. It can be.) In this session, I'm going to show you 5 different resources that you can easily add to your classroom. Each of the resources can be added to your existing math course without deviating too far from your existing math curriculum. The routines that I'll show you are great for engagement, collaboration, problem solving, and fostering math talk with your students...and they're fun!
Session Resources:
  • Would You Rather
    http://www.wouldyourathermath.com
    Show students a picture and them. decide which option they would rather go with. They have to use their mathematical ideas as they express their reasoning.

  • Solve Me: Mystery Grid
    https://solveme.edc.org/mysterygrid
    This math puzzle is similar to Sudoku. I love this one because it starts out very easy (low floor) and progresses to much more challenging tasks (high ceiling). Students love this one!

  • Solve Me: Who am I?
    https://solveme.edc.org/whoami
    Students are given a series of clues and they have to figure out the number being described. This activity can help students make sense of problems because they have to read the information carefully and think about what it means.

  • Esti-Mysteries
    https://stevewyborney.com/2019/09/51-esti-mysteries/
    One of my favorites! Show students a picture, have them make a prediction, and then reveal clues to help them refine their initial prediction.

  • Mashup Math
    https://mashupmath.com/freemathpuzzles
    You've probably seen these types of puzzles on social media. I like them because students have to learn that starting at the top on math problems doesn't always work. I also like these problems because there are multiple ways to get the answer.

Other Resources:
Videos:
Kevin Smith
Associate Professor
​Dakota State University
@KevinSmithSD