Young children thrive in classrooms that allow them to explore and discover their environment and interests and also support them in this learning. Because children learn best when they are interested and excited, early-childhood educators should offer children play-based, integrated mathematical experiences (NRC 2009). In this article, the…

Project-based learning (PBL) is an effective approach to STEM education because it allows students to experience scientific inquiry by using their knowledge and skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to solve realistic problems. PBL consists of four components: (1) posing and comprehending a driving question; (2)…

Statistical literacy is essential in everyone's personal lives as consumers, citizens, and professionals. To make informed life and professional decisions, students are required to read, understand, and interpret vast amounts of information, much of which is quantitative. To develop statistical literacy so students are able to make sense of…

Mrs. Fisher's class was learning about arithmetic functions by pretending to operate real-world "function machines" (Reeves 2006). Functions are a unifying mathematics topic, and a great deal of emphasis is placed on understanding them in prekindergarten through grade 12 (Kilpatrick and Izsák 2008). In its Algebra Content Standard, the…

In the technology-rich twenty-first century, students are required to actively construct their knowledge and collaboratively engage in problem solving by using such skills as adaptability, communication, self-management, and systematic thinking. In accordance with this necessity, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education…

Endorses the projects approach to learning as helping students acquire contextual, personal knowledge rather than learning only isolated bits of content information. Describes the five-step process for doing projects which includes productive thinking or generating ideas, the planning or organizing of ideas, decision making, communication or…

Describes a school-wide project using popcorn to gain number sense by learning more about a million. Used the books "How Much Is a Million?" and "If You Made a Million" to introduce the project. (MKR)

Describes the data collection and interpretation project of primary grade students involving predicting, graphing, estimating, measuring, number problem construction, problem solving, and probability. (MKR)

Presents a long-term project that directs students' focus toward real world uses of mathematics and instills in them the excitement of engaging in mathematical work. Describes how a third grade class created a book about mathematics that contains mathematical games and puzzles, original story problems, and mathematical riddles. (ASK)

Describes a unit where children first master the basic concepts inherent in restaurant transactions, then organize and run a classroom restaurant. Discusses project accomplishments and extensions and ways to modify the model to fit the needs and strengths of children in any classroom. (JRH)

Presents a classroom project in which children use bottles and sand to explore mathematics. (Author)

Presents criteria for designing craft activities that foster meaningful use of mathematical thinking and problem solving. (MKR)

Describes the use of writing assignments for preservice teachers to help them reflect on the teaching and learning process in their internship classrooms. (MKR)

Describes the use of Margaret Wise Brown's "The Important Book" to involve students in writing about defining qualities and attributes of geometric shapes. (MKR)