Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

The Math Learning Center provides learning applications and resources for educators and families that support the Bridges in Mathematics PK-5 curriculum. The free math apps offer student practice in many math concepts, including measurement, fractions, and number sense. Choose the Home Learning link to access the Math at Home website. Math at Home includes math activities, games, and practice pages organized by grade levels.

tag(s): addition (129), division (98), fractions (160), geometric shapes (134), measurement (122), money (113), multiplication (122), number lines (33), numbers (120), patterns (61), place value (34), preK (270), subtraction (110)

This site shares a large variety of virtual math manipulatives that are useful for many occasions. Select from virtual dice, number lines, place value disks, and much more. It even includes play money from several locations around the world! Many of the virtual manipulatives include interactive content to adjust settings, change color, and suggestions for use. Most items also include a link to further explanation of how to teach the content along with links to printables and worksheets. This site would be a good one to leave for your substitute to use; it's high interest, no sign-in, thorough directions, and some have worksheets.
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tag(s): charts and graphs (171), decimals (85), fractions (160), measurement (122), money (113), number lines (33), number sense (69), place value (34), substitutes (25), tangrams (8)

SplashLearn is a game-based math and ELA curriculum for students in grades pre-K-5. In addition, SplashLearn offers several general knowledge games that incorporate science, social studies, and the arts. SplashLearn adapts the learning paths students play games to fit individual student responses and interactions within the elementary curriculum. Use the teacher dashboard to manage classes and add students. Other features allow educators to assign material to individual students, add required assessments, and enable home access using parents' email addresses. The site's themes and rewards motivate student learning; students earn coins to purchase virtual pets. Note: This tool is now free for teachers for the premium version and complete access to all its features (no cost).

tag(s): addition (129), alphabet (53), blended learning (37), decimals (85), division (98), equations (119), fractions (160), game based learning (205), geometric shapes (134), Learning Management Systems (20), measurement (122), multiplication (122), number sense (69), place value (34), preK (270), sight words (23), spelling (97), subtraction (110)

The PictureStem Project offers STEM teaching units for grades K-2 incorporating the engineering process and correlated to science standards. These three units - one each for grades K, 1, and 2 include modular features that contain content within different lessons throughout the school day. Each lesson within a unit provides science concepts based upon literary connections using picture books. Select any unit to view and download the entire unit including printables.

tag(s): animal homes (57), animals (294), design (79), engineering (129), geometric shapes (134), main idea (8), measurement (122), numbers (120), patterns (61), phonics (51), preK (270), reading comprehension (149), STEM (298)

For the Teachers contains an incredible number of lesson ideas, differentiation tips, instructional strategies, and much more for all teachers. Search for specific content using the keyword search or scroll down the home page to find some of the site's most popular content. There is a great deal of useful content on the site to explore, of note is the Reading Skills for Big Kids and Differentiation links. The Reading Skills for Big Kids includes skill-based lesson plans for use with the many included leveled articles. The Differentiation portion of the site provides specific ideas and tools to differentiate content, assessment, and lesson activities and materials.
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tag(s): characterization (19), charts and graphs (171), constitution (96), differentiation (84), graphic organizers (48), inferencing (7), mean (19), measurement (122), median (16), mode (13), multiplication (122), patterns (61), place value (34), plot (15), reading comprehension (149), rubrics (38), sequencing (17)

The Curious George STEM Collection contains a variety of hands-on lesson plans teaching STEM concepts through Curious George videos. Concepts taught include simple machines, measurement, sorting, and more. Each lesson begins by watching a video, then using the concepts presented in the video to participate in a variety of learning activities. In addition to the complete lesson, each activity also includes several additional resources for extending learning. Lessons align to National and Next Generation Science Standards.

tag(s): air (101), architecture (76), careers (156), charts and graphs (171), engineering (129), measurement (122), recycling (45), rockets (11), senses (20), simple machines (19), soil (16), sorting (4), STEM (298), water (104)

This collection of interactives and activities provides an excellent variety of hands-on learning opportunities for younger students. Scroll through to choose from interactives including Dynamic Paper (create math manipulatives, such as pentagonal pyramid, a set of pattern blocks, a number line, and so on; all these in the size and shape you need) and Turtle Pond (estimating length and angle). Both interactives include complete instructions, an exploration, and correlation to standards Find activities for estimating and discussion. The activities include videos, complete instructions, and correlation to standards.

tag(s): area (53), measurement (122), preK (270), statistics (121), time (91), volume (33)

MathGames offers a large variety of math activities and interactive questions for grades preK-8 all fully aligned to Common Core Standards. Choose a grade to start, or choose by skills. Other options allow you to choose by grade level standards. Registration isn't necessary to play individual games; however, enrollment as a teacher provides additional features. Input your class to receive detailed progress reports as well as leaderboards and student competitions.

tag(s): addition (129), charts and graphs (171), differentiation (84), division (98), equations (119), estimation (33), fractions (160), game based learning (205), geometric shapes (134), measurement (122), mental math (19), multiples (15), multiplication (122), patterns (61), pi (29), preK (270), ratios (47), statistics (121), subtraction (110), time (91)

Zearn Math is a complete math program that provides Common Core aligned math lessons, personalized to individual learners, and based on Eureka Math / Engage New York. Lessons focus on three critical components: deep understanding, fluency, and problem-solving. Self-paced lessons allow for mastery of concepts before unlocking lessons providing the next level. Math Chat lessons provide video instruction similar to a small group lesson. Lesson Labs include drag and drop activities followed by quiz questions. Zearn currently offers K-8 lessons. Test the student lessons and teacher resources for a whole module with NO sign up required. Create a class account and add students using an Excel sheet or manually input student names to receive custom reports on student progress.

tag(s): addition (129), classroom management (120), data (151), decimals (85), differentiation (84), division (98), fractions (160), geometric shapes (134), measurement (122), multiplication (122), numbers (120), operations (72), subtraction (110)

Prepare your students for success with Common Core Math skills at this excellent site presented by Khan Academy. 50,000 unique questions cover conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and real world applications. Use the link to "Browse Our New Common Core Map" to find interactive math problems for grades K-12. Each activity lists the number of skills and problems available for each level. View step by step solutions to each problem. Many problems even include video explanations. The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium and Illustrative Mathematics partnered with Khan Academy to ensure the rigor of materials and full alignment to the Common Core Standards. Learn more about Khan Academy reviewed here. Videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.

tag(s): addition (129), angles (52), base ten (5), coordinates (15), counting (60), data (151), division (98), equations (119), factoring (25), fractions (160), functions (52), geometric shapes (134), measurement (122), mixed numbers (8), multiplication (122), negative numbers (13), number lines (33), number sense (69), polynomials (20), prime numbers (26), probability (99), quadratics (27), rounding (8), square roots (15), statistics (121), subtraction (110), transformations (12), vectors (16), whole numbers (9)

This site offers a vast amount of resources for elementary math teachers. Activities are described within the site and also available for PDF download. The site was originally intended as a digital storage place for the creator's resources used in consulting work and evolved into a place to share math resources with other teachers. Included topics are numbers, geometry, and measurement/data. After choosing a topic, activities are divided by grade level. Be sure to look at other grade levels for activities that can be modified for your teaching situation. Also available on the site is extensive information about Math Journals (warning - their math journals are for sale on the site; however, information to make and use your own is free). Other topics include math games, centers, projects, mental math, and resources - including some for interactive whiteboards.
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tag(s): data (151), geometric shapes (134), journals (15), measurement (122), mental math (19), rhymes (22)

This site provides an interactive game designed to help students read rulers starting with whole number increments and leading up to sixteenths.

tag(s): measurement (122)

Check out this site offering FREE learning courses to students in science and math, including environmental skills and health and life skills. Students will travel the world learning about the topic in addition to more about the continents, countries, and oceans. Choose from a wide variety of different learning experiences in the subject areas for learning in a fun and engaging way. Each subject area has countless interactives ready to go! Detailed instructions are provided for each activity. You can control sound easily from the screen.

tag(s): body systems (40), continents (33), countries (73), cultures (180), fractions (160), human body (93), matter (45), measurement (122), money (113), nutrition (140), sorting (4)

All Aboard.... the Dinosaur Train! This website takes two topics that kids love (dinosaurs and trains) and turns the experience into a wonderful lesson in language arts, science, social studies, and more. Climb aboard the train and find lesson plans, games (which ARE educational), a field guide (introducing the various dinosaurs), a print option for printable pages of dinosaurs, and a video button to view clips of this educational show. Scroll to the bottom of the page for links for parents and teachers (with lesson plans, class activities, overview of the show, and more).

NOTE: the popularity of this site can make it slow to load, especially at peak times. Open it on the classroom computer before the lesson so it is in the "cache," and avoid heavy traffic times such as 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern time when schools are online across the U.S.

tag(s): counting (60), dinosaurs (43), measurement (122), paleontology (28), preK (270)

View math screencasts for grades K-7 or by topic (algebra, trigonometry, calculus, pre-calculus, or financial math). The topics for grades K-7 range from number sense to mathematical reasoning to statistics, data analysis, & probability. Follow common problems, example exam questions, and problems of the day. View video clips (some made by students)!. The videos require Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

tag(s): addition (129), counting (60), measurement (122), numbers (120), probability (99), statistics (121)

Use this interactive (and entertaining) site to excite even the youngest students about science! There is so much to explore at this site. Sid, the Science Kid, mixes science with humor so be prepared for some giggles. The site features video clips, and interactive educational games. Examples of topics include the effects of heat, health, measurement, the five senses, and many others.

tag(s): heat (14), measurement (122), preK (270), senses (20)

Printable paper rulers offers various types of rulers ranging from inches to centimeters, metric measurement, meter sticks, various amounts of tick marks, and even large print. This site requires Adobe Acrobat. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

tag(s): measurement (122)

Follow Peep, the inquisitive, newly hatched fowl, as he embarks on a series of adventures involving patterns, colors, balancing, sound, memory and more. Click the "Interactive Games" link to browse through the selections, there are currently ten. This site also includes an extensive collection of science lessons and printable coloring pages (see Educators). The Peep Explorers Guide offers teachers three "ready to go" units.

tag(s): colors (63), measurement (122), patterns (61), preK (270), sound (72)