Probably one of the most important formulas for students to know, remember and feel confident using is the Pythagorean theorem. I always like to introduce it in a fun, hands on way to make sure kids understand the meaning before I present a formal definition. But then, kids need lots of practice. And since mindlessly solving problems for a or b or c with no context gets tedious and boring, why not practice with these Pythagorean Theorem Word Keep Reading...
Real World Pythagorean Theorem Practice {FREE}
When I was a classroom teacher, my philosophy for my students was "memorize as little as possible." That may sound shocking if you are of the opinion that kids need to memorize all sorts of math facts and formulas to be successful, but it's what my high school calculus teacher taught us, and it's how I successfully earned a college degree in mathematics. Now, that is not to say that nothing needs to be memorized. There are a handful of things Keep Reading...
Simple Pi Day Art Project {Free Printable!}
Pi Day is my favorite day of the year to really geek out and try to encourage an excitement about math in my kids. To me, it's not just an opportunity to learn about circles or the number pi, but a chance to be curious and see how math is all around us. This year we created a fun, yet simple Pi Day art project. *Please Note: This post contains affiliate links which help support the work of this site. Read our full disclosure here.* Over the Keep Reading...
Geoboard Activity Cards {FREE Geometry Challenge}
My sister does not know what a geoboard is. I was purging my homeschool supplies when I found I had not one, but 5 geoboards. 5! Why do I have 5? So I thought I would ask younger sis if she wanted one or two for her girls. And she looked at me blankly. We went through the same school system and yet I know what a geoboard is and she doesn't. How? Did they change math in-between teaching me and her? Probably. I even showed it to her and still Keep Reading...
Hands-On Area of a Circle Activity {FREE}
Welcome to the last day of my Math+Technology Series! I've shared a variety of free math lessons for middle and high school which incorporate graphing calculators in a meaningful way. Today I'm going to share a fun Geometry investigation, which is a combination of hands-on exploring and technology. This area of a circle activity is a great way for kids to better understand the formula. Plus, it's hands-on and can be used as a springboard for Keep Reading...
Measuring Angles Activity: Simple and Fun Puzzle Set {FREE}
Even though I taught (and LOVE) Algebra, there's one thing that I will always love about Geometry: it's hands-on and visual. I do realize Algebra can be hands-on and visual too, and I tried to teach it that way. But there is something much more obviously visual and tangible about Geometry. And I think this makes it fun! So if you're looking for a fun, engaging Geometry resource for 4th grade or 5th grade, you will love this measuring angles Keep Reading...
Foldable 3D Shapes {FREE Printable Pack!}
Exploring the properties of three dimensional shapes is fun for all ages! Because kids are introduced to 3D shapes early on, you could make these together with young kids, or you could use them with high schoolers to explore more complex math. No matter how you use them, this set of foldable 3D shapes is bound to be a hit! *Please Note: This post contains affiliate links which help support the work of this site. Read our full disclosure Keep Reading...
Understanding the Angles in Triangles
I love letting kids investigate and explore and see math ideas and patterns for themselves. As an Algebra teacher, this was not always easy to do, but Geometry, on the other hand, really lends itself to being explored. Geometry is the math of lines and points and shapes: solid and three dimensional. So why in the world teach it by having kids right down a set of theorems to memorize? Today I want to share a fun and super simple example involving Keep Reading...
Learning About 3D Shapes with Atmosflare 3D Pen
I've recently been reviewing and exploring shapes with my daughter. At 7 years old, she knows the names and attributes of basic shapes, so we've been working on understanding them more deeply, and especially seeing how we can break apart and put together shapes to form new ones. As part of this exploration, we've looked at several different 3D shapes and talked about the shapes of the faces. There are lots of fun ways to teach and explore 3D Keep Reading...
Pass the Pi: A Hands On Pi Day Investigation
No matter the age of your kids, Pi Day (aka March 14th) is a fantastic opportunity to explore math concepts! There are so many things to teach and explore related to the number pi, the circumference or diameter of a circle, or some math history related to this fascinating number. I'm always on the lookout for fun Pi Day learning activities, and have already shared this simple Pi Day Sing Along to get kids of all ages in on the fun. Today I'm Keep Reading...
