Presents an activity that involves drawing pictures to collect data, conjecturing a recurrence relation, and solving the relation using geometric series and partial fractions. (MKR)

Mechanical devices offer an alternative to computers to explore mathematical concepts in different curricula areas. Described is the discograph, a series of pulleys and wheels, that can be used to teach mathematical principles in pattern drawing, locus, rotation in geared systems, gearing, rotational symmetry, regular plane figures, decimal, and…

Uses pattern blocks to model basic parts-of-a-whole fraction concepts. Suggests that students reflect these models in oral, written, pictorial, and symbolic representations. (MKR)

Explores the number problem of writing an expression for each of the unit fractions using any digit exactly four times. Includes tables of expressions for unit fractions. (MKR)

This book uses foods as catalysts for learning mathematical concepts. Each hands-on activity in this math center suggests accessible, healthful, and easy-to-prepare foods to be used in school or at home. An introduction to parents and teachers includes supplies list, gobble-up germs poster, and food guide pyramid and serving information. The…

Describes two activities for developing computational skills, discovering patterns, checking answers, and factoring quadratics and equivalent fractions. Provides worksheets for the activities. (YP)

This document is a collection of activity-based mathematics lessons for grades 5-8 from the "Ideas" department in "Arithmetic Teacher: Mathematics Education through the Middle Grades." Each lesson includes background information, objectives, directions, extensions, and student worksheets. A matrix is included which correlates…

A visual model of fractions, the tower of bars, is used to discover patterns. Examples include equalities, inequalities, sums of unit fractions, sums of differences, symmetry, and differences and products. Infinite sequences of numbers, infinite series, and concepts of limits can be introduced. (DC)

Discusses 4 numerical patterns occurring in the decimal expansions of 2 raised to a negative exponent. Includes two row patterns, one diagonal pattern, and a pattern in the sum of the digits of the expansions. Conjectures are presented for each pattern and subsequently proved. (MDH)

This document presents activities for use by middle school teachers which show how rational numbers and proportions are present in many real-world situations, including the collection and analysis of fractions, ratios, percents, and proportions, as well as rational number connections with geometry and similarity. The activities are divided into…

Discusses the collaboration between a university and local school district in the use of calculators to help students discover patterns and to estimate quotients when dividing decimals. (MKR)

The National Science Foundation funded Calculators and Mathematics Project, Los Angeles (CAMP-LA) developed curriculum materials focused solely on the use of calculators. The project was developed in three stages. The first stage studied the mathematics curriculums from different states and identified topics that are not included but should be if…

The Calculators and Mathematics Project, Los Angeles (CAMP-LA), funded by the National Science Foundation for developing use of technology in the classroom, developed curriculum materials focused solely on the use of calculators. The project was developed in three stages. The first stage studied the mathematics curriculums from different states…

The National Science Foundation funded Calculators and Mathematics Project, Los Angeles (CAMP-LA) developed curriculum materials focused solely on the use of calculators. The project was developed in three stages. The first stage studied the mathematics curriculums from different states and identified topics that are not included but should be if…

This material was produced by a task force of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics to provide independent study projects for use in grades four through six. The major goals are as follows: (1) to encourage student research, investigation, and communication of mathematics through reporting and writing; (2) to provide activities that are…