Interactive Math Sites

The bold homepage of Number Nut
tells you that this site means business! Yes, it has some great tutorials if you need them, but unlike some other sites, it doesn't force your child to complete tutorials before offering up the action. For each given math skill (subtraction, ratios, fractions, etc.) you'll find two to four games.

If you do choose to use the tutorials, you'll find the language to be accurate, yet simple. For example, from the landing page for Ratios:

Ratios are values that compare one number to another. Other terms that describe ratios are scale and odds. Basically a ratio compares two values or amounts. The two numbers are usually separated by a colon ":". Examples of ratios are 1:4 or 3:5. If you were writing it out you would say "One to four" or "Three to five."

What does that expression mean? When you say "One to four" you really mean to compare the value of one to the value of four. If you were talking about cars, the speed of one would be equal to four times the speed of another. If you were talking the size of planets, one planet would be four times larger than the other. Here are some examples.

The ratio of the mass of Saturn to the mass of Earth is 95 to one (95:1). That means the mass of Saturn is about 95 times larger than the mass of Earth.

The ratio of heights of Mount Everest to Mount Rainier is 29,028 to 14,410 (29028:14410) That ratio could be simplified to about 2:1. That means the height of Mt. Everest is about twice that of Mt. Rainier.

Arcademic Skill Builders features arcade-like games that help students practice their math and language arts skills. Students can choose to play against computer opponents, or race their friends in public, multi-player games.

If your child is a video game fan, then this is the first site on the list to visit. In addition to the math skills, you'll also find some language arts and even social studies skills games.

Once your child figures out that each game requires a few clicks to get started (winding through a small set of choices about Play options), he'll be ready to play on his own for hours.

Railroad Repair is just one of several math games which can be found at Cyberchase, the PBS Kids (aka public television) web site. At first glance these games may seem meant for the younger set, but give them all a look; you'd be surprised at the advanced learning concepts covered.

In this particular game, students must use their knowledge of adding decimals to replace missing track pieces so that the train can continue to run. My students were able to get this game immediately without referring to any instructions, and it helped them to practice a fairly mundane skill in a fun way.

Hooda Math is a fabulous collection of math games, featuring both drill games (such as a PacMan-like multiplication game) and logic games (such as an interactive version of the classic "Farmer Crossing the River" problem). It also features superb "concept" games such as Bloxorz which defy explanation, yet students will find addicting.

All in all, Hooda provides a safe, multi-leveled environment which means that students of all ages and abilities will find something of challenge at this site.

From the awesome website I Know That.com comes Leon's Math Dojo. Your child is given a series of math problems, with multiple choice answers appearing on four heavy sacks. If your child clicks on the correct answer, Leon the Lizard (a karate master) kicks, chops, or punches that bag. If your child chooses the wrong answer, Leon still hits the bag, but now the bag hits back!

At the end of a set time period a score is tallied, giving bonus points for both speed and accuracy. Be sure at this point, however, to click the "replay" feature. That allows your child to watch Leon attack the answers in high speed, which is an impressive show of mathematical martial arts.

Like all games listed here, the operations (add, subtract, divide, multiple) and the skill level can be chosen to match your child's abilities, allowing both your second grader and your fifth grader to enjoy the same activity.

Thinking Blocks is an impressive, well-designed instructional site based upon the problem-building strategies of the Singapore Math Program (whether intentionally or not, who's to say?). What I do know is that the step-by-step, prompted examples allow most students, with just a little bit of direction from a teacher, parent, or coach, to understand word problems with greater ease and clarity. If your child digs this approach, and is learning from it, then I would recommend that you investigate other Singapore Math resources. It's a proven program based upon making math as concrete as possible. In the meantime, this site is an awesome place to start. Be sure to view the tutorial to get the most out of it!

While the three books that appear in the right margin are terrific suggestions for your professional library, I can't recommend a book more highly than Amazing Math Projects You Can Build Yourself. This is a must-have for making mathematical concepts concrete, comprehensible, and fun!

From the publisher:

Make a geodesic dome big enough to sit in. Solve the world's hardest two-piece puzzle. Pass a straight line though a curved slot. From prime numbers to paraboloids, activities in Amazing Math Projects You Can Build Yourself introduce you to the beauty and wonder of math through hands-on activities.

Amazing Math Projects You Can Build Yourself includes projects about number patterns, lines, curves, and shapes. Some activities show you a new way to look at math that you have learned in school; others give you a glimpse of things to come; and finally, some are simply fun. Each activity includes intriguing facts, vocabulary builders, and connections to other topics. A companion website includes video instructions for many projects in the book and provides additional activities. Who would have thought that math could be so much fun?

Shown to the right is a sample page from the book. Visit the site for a better look, or to print this page. Every title from Nomad Press features a free preview page (usually a project!) like this.

Looking for more great books like this for your classroom? Nomad Press publishes an impressive variety of titles for teachers, ranging from Romans and Food Science to Explorers and Biomes to Garbage and the Civil War!

Check out my post on Nomad Press.

Times Table Grid takes the tried and true (yet somewhat boring) notion of the times tables grid and adds a tech twist.

First, students choose the fact they would like to review (sixes, eights, whatever). The grid then tests them on just the multiples for that number. The screen shot to the right is from the instructional sequence, and illustrates how the student will use the traditional times table to find the facts requested.

This site is great for that child who has mastered the lowers sets (twos, threes, fives) but struggles with the higher numbers.

Math Trainer is a simple, no-frills fact drill application.

If you look at the screen shot, you'll see that I missed a problem. That's why the times table grid shows a pink spot (I'm not doing well on that fact). The single yellow spot marks the first fact that I've mastered (I correctly solved 4x4 five times). The purples which cover the remainder of the board are facts that I've completed well so far, but haven't yet finished to perfection (5 out of 5).

So by the end of this exercise, your child will be asked to solve for every product in your chosen range five times. That's good practice!

What I like most about this one (perhaps because I'm lazy) is that you don't need to press enter after entering each answer. Once you type a number, it's submitted! That's good practice too, as it teaches your child accuracy.

Coffee Shop is just one of several math games which can be found at Cool Math. Like many sites here, it requires that you take a look at all the possibilities to see what best matches your students' abilities and your teaching needs

In this the Coffee Shop simulation, students must use their knowledge of controlling variables to run a successful business. They use a base amount of money to purchase supplies (4 variables there), and adjust their recipe (at least 4 variables) based upon past sales and the predicted weather for the following day (2 variables). As you can see in the screenshot, my coffee recipe needed more cream! Some old lady (who looks a lot like my second grade teacher) isn't too happy and is pouring it out.

Like coffee itself, this game is addicting! It's a great simulation involving real-world variables in a highly entertaining way. Be sure to check out the other games at this site!

Quick Flash is the high tech version of our old flash cards.

But why waste time reviewing flash cards for those easier facts that are already memorized? Quick Flash lets you choose the fact group you need to practice. It marks incorrects (see pink in the picture) and corrects (see aqua in the picture), and a thermometer-type timer (the bar on the left) times each individual fact rather than the whole group. That way, if you time out on a particular problem (say, 8 x 12), then you know that's one you still need to practice.

Like Math Trainer above, you do not need to press enter after each answer is submitted.

Keith Schoch is a 6th grade teacher in Bedminster, New Jersey. During his 20+ years in teaching he earned a Masters in Instruction and Curriculum, served on the New Jersey Department of Education ESPA Mathematics Item Review Committee, piloted tests for Educational Testing Service, assessed candidates for The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, and was named a Governor's Teacher of the Year.

In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Keith specializes in professional development for organizations such as the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), the New Jersey Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (NJASCD), the New York State Reading Association (NYSRA), The New England League of Middle Schools (NELMS), and the American Camping Association (ACA). He also shares his expertise with colleagues through three highly acclaimed blogs: Teaching that Sticks, Teach with Picture Books, and How to Teach a Novel.

During the summer, Keith serves on the leadership staff of LakeView Day Camp in East Brunswick, NJ.