The president of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics argues that many mathematics textbooks feature unrealistic problems that do not teach problem solving or mathematical thinking. Realistic activities and games which will teach children to think are described, as are methods for teaching essential mathematics skills. (PP)

An attempt to make problem solving a real part of the mathematics program in a second-grade classroom is described. It is felt that teachers can aid children in establishing attitudes of willingness to take risks and tackle unfamiliar tasks by focusing early on problem solving as a process. (MP)

Efforts directed to emphasizing problem solving and using the immediate environment to create problem situations are described. Teachers are urged to incorporate problem-solving activities in their instruction. (MP)

Mathematical problems associated with computing the proper apportionment of Representatives to the United States Congress are reviewed. (MP)

Results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress related to student ability to use information from graphs and charts is discussed. (MP) Aspect of National Assessment (NAEP) dealt with in this document: Results (Interpretation).

Several types of problems designed to provide opportunities for mathematically able students to do original and analytic thinking at grades 3 and 4 while reinforcing numeration and computation skills are presented. (MP)

Explains that primitive living structures furnish real-world problems that are solvable using mathematics and computer-modeling techniques. (KHR)

Described is a team assignment where groups of students work on stoichiometry problems that apply to the real world. Teams of students act as chemical companies that have orders to fill for a customer. Included are the details of the customer order, student participation, and the evaluation procedure. (KR)

Presents an instructional strategy for teaching how to solve word problems and understand the operations involved. Describes the acquisition method of the part-whole relationships of problem situations. Provides some samples of the instructional strategy used and classroom test results. Lists nine references. (YP)

Discusses making tessellations by using a polyomino. Illustrates the various ways for various shapes of polyomino. Provides several diagrams and instructional guides. (YP)

Describes the Elementary Mathematics Research Model, which furnishes a vehicle for problem solving through real data collection and analysis. (MKR)

Presents mathematics activities that give students in grades three through six practice in writing and problem solving by using the setting of a zoo or animal park. Includes reproducible student worksheets. (MKR)

Presents mathematical models to determine whether seven-game baseball playoff series are significantly fairer than five-game series. Compares the results obtained from the models to actual playoff results. (MDH)

Describes an experiment to determine which of four objects, hollow cylinders, solid cylinders, hollow balls, and solid balls, will reach the bottom of an inclined plane first when released simultaneously. Provides solutions to the problem and supplementary exercises. (MDH)

An open-ended data-analysis activity, prompted by a Royal Mail advertisement, explores the claim that the real cost of first class postage has fallen below the inflation rate. The activity provides realistic exercises in both arithmetic and statistical indices, and in logical interpretation of, and deduction from, the data. (JJK)