SamizdatMath

This is a set of puzzles where students work independently to estimate how many cubes it will take to cover a digit or a written number, then cover it with rods of different lengths, and re-organize them on a grid to show how many orange and white rods it is equivalent to. The student then reads the number as tens and ones and writes it down. This is a fun activity for kindergarten and first graders, because it helps students to develop estimation skills, and then carry them over to other number

This is an activity that analyzes the legitimacy of the "electoral college" system of voting in the United States, and whether it really is based on "one person, one vote." It uses census data from 2010 to show that when it comes to influence on presidential elections, states with smaller populations have a disproportional effect on the outcomes. The activity begins by explaining the workings of the electoral college system, describing how each state gets one elector for each house member, plus

This is a set of 2 activity sheets that use a minimum amount of text so that students can engage in solving word problems without the obstacle of decoding dull sentences. The problems are tricky not because of the wording, but because a) there is "interleaving," which means that depending on the problem, the student may have to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication or division. In addition, some of the division problems have remainders that have to be interpreted. There are 4 problems p

This is a collection of 12 different division reasoning problems that require your students to understanding through written explanations. No, it doesn't mean your students are going to explain the long division algorithm by writing about the steps they took to solve the problem. First of all, who cares? Second of all, it doesn't really show a mastery of the concept of division; it only shows they have memorized the steps in an algorithm that is totally unnecessary to memorize in an age of calcu

This is a 4 page assessment for fifth graders, although sixth and seventh graders will find it challenging, as will advanced 4th graders. As stated, it is balanced between concepts, skills and problem solving (as opposed to "regular" tests which focus on skills like creating equivalent fractions, "reducing" fractions and adding/subtracting fractions.) Here are the features of this exam: 1) It uses a variety of models, including an area model using pattern blocks, and the linear model on a numb

Did I ever tell you that I design amazing assessments? Everybody says so: they are the best assessments you've ever seen. The other assessments you've seen? They're a disaster. Sad. This is a percent assessment that is unlike any that you have ever done. First, it requires your students to use scissors! Second, there are very few "clean" numbers (that is, exact numbers) because, well, life is NEVER exact! Third, it assesses on concepts and skill AND problem solving, so your students have to in

From the same place that brought you Fractions: You're Teaching Them Wrong, this is another resource to up your teaching to the highest reaches of the universe.... You're a novice teacher, you're an experienced teacher. You think you've been teaching concepts, but you're not sure. You know why? BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT A CONCEPT IS! This is the definitive 60 page fully detailed explanation that explains everything EVERYTHING you need to know about teaching mathematical concepts. EVERYTHING

Okay, you think this is just one big joke: "Want a Hurtz Donut?" "Sure!" "Ouch!" Promise: hand your students a calculator and this assessment and you'll find out all sorts of things about what your students DON'T know about a concept they learned in 3rd grade: Division! This is a fun and non-threatening away to assess what your students actually know about division without having them do some dumb algorithm which they'll never use for the rest of their lives (except for some assessment cre

Your kids need a reason to convert fractions to decimals? Or decimals to fractions? Here's a fun activity to get your kids psyched to do this: on one side of the page there are mixed numbers (whole numbers and fractions) that have to be converted to decimals so that the amount can be entered on the gas pump. There are "easy" examples with common terminating fractions, as well as "harder" examples where the decimal has to be calculated to the nearest 10,000th in order to be rounded off to the nea

This is an activity that I created for my teacher to do during a weeklong overnight trip, but I thought it would be great to use in the classroom as well. There are 20 different clue cards that ask students to look at a set of 7 geometric shapes and pick out two that can be combined to make a third shape that has specific properties. The students sketch the solution on an answer sheet, and name the shape they created. This activity covers acute, obtuse and right triangles, as well as equilatera

This is an attempt to straighten out an important misconception while teaching young children how to sequence the digits from 0 through 9. Wait, did I miss something? As a matter of fact, I didn’t, and that’s because it is everyone else who is missing something: the basic numbers are not 1 through 10; they are, in fact, 0 through 9. The number 10 is not related to the numbers 0 through 9, because these are the “single digit numbers” and 10, if you’ve looked at it closely, is a 2 digit number.

Are you using those cruddy "mad minutes" or some computer based assessment program in order to assess whether your students have gained automaticity with their addition facts? If you are, then I guarantee that not only are you doing it wrong, but even worse, you're probably getting incorrect information about what your students know or don't know. The first thing you're doing wrong is that you're testing all the facts the same, for speed and accuracy. That is just plain wrong: not all addition

Let's do the math: there are 10, count 'em, 10 different investigations here, all wrapped up in one neat package. They are themed around the applications of percents. Each one highlights a different feature of percents that your students should know about in order to be good consumers and astute citizens of this democracy. Here is what you'll get: • It's a Deal: Many stores offer "buy one, get the second half off." This activity looks at what the percentage off in each case, and asks students

This has been very successful for me both as an assessment and an activity that students can do at centers or at home. There are 10 different story problems, and a board with 10 spots to place them: each one states the operation you would use to solve it. Your students cut out the cards, they read the problems and then tape or glue the correct problem with the operation or operations that would be used to solve it. Most are single step problems, but some require two steps. A fun thing to do in c

I can guarantee that you will teach and assess multiplication facts more efficiently after implementing the recommendations made in this packet. You're probably teaching and assessing the same way you learned when you were a kid: flash cards, mad minutes, repeat until learned. However, the way we teach and assess multiplication facts denies the fact that neuroscience has found that memorizing and recalling multiplication facts is done in the region of the brain associated with language. This

For your enjoyment & edification. Solutions coming soon.....

Here's something for you to try out in this newest of years: a 4 clue number puzzle which utilizes multiples, consecutive numbers, yadda, yadda. Cut n' Serve! Updated for 2019 (because the solution is 2019.....) Another fine product brought to you by SamizdatMath!

These 3 puzzles should keep your students baffled for a long time! Each one has the same idea: arrange the pentominoes on the grid so that they are “locked” together. These puzzles develop all kinds of geometric thinking, including slides, rotations and flips. The puzzle pieces should be printed on different colored card stock, so that students know which pieces go with different puzzles (although since the grids are different sizes, they shouldn’t be readily confused.) If students are “stu

Aspiring architects have the chance to draw building plans from 3-dimensional sculptures, which can be created using Snap Cubes, Unifix or Multi-Link Cubes. There are 12 different challenges which require students to look at buildings and then create front, side and aerial views. Complete with instructional tips and solutions, this is perfect for students who need work visualizing in 3 dimensions, or those who need a geometry challenge. Perfect for homework and especially learning centers.

Okay, okay, I know what you’re thinking: what’s the big idea? Isn’t this just like your other Halloween Pattern Puzzle, and really, does the world really need another one of those? And why did you switch graphics halfway through? Herewith: this is a more “crafty” kind of puzzle, in that you can have the kids cut out and put the correct stamps on the puzzle, then you can personalize it with a photo of the student in the middle, or maybe a drawing he/she made, or maybe you can put your own photo