WJC Technology

I’d like to introduce you to a wonderful Math facts practice web site http://www.carrotsticks.com – an online multiplayer game for 1st -5^th graders (although my 6th graders beg to play!). Teachers can register a class and get the for-fee version for free. Kids get to create their own avatar and then practice addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts to earn carrots on their time matches with other students. No personal info is shared and students can’t chat, so it’s completely safe.  This is also an ‘assistive’ web site – as students answer math facts, the program adjusts to their speed and accuracy, so it finds each student’s personal math level. Each problem category is divided into 25 levels so there is plenty of math to practice. And the best part is that kids LOVE to practice their math facts. They don’t even realize how much they are learning. There is no ability to gather student scores here – it is strictly math drill, but kids will be happy to share their level and how many carrots they have with you if you ask nicely.

http://hotmath.com/hotmath_help/games/kp/kp_hotmath_sound.swf

These interactive, visual fractions tools are ideal for teacher-facilitated, whole-class instruction in fractions, “Number Talks” and for parents supporting their students at home. Each math tool is supported by Common Core State Standards alignment, key vocabulary, and IEP goals.

http://www.conceptuamath.com/fractions.html

Investing for Kids
http://efinancedirectory.com/article_directory/Investing_for_Kids.html

What are Exchange Traded Funds? What is the difference between a spread and a bid? What do banks do with the money that you deposit and what does the FDIC have to do with it? How is coin and paper money really made? What is the difference between CDs and bonds? Features on this Web site include kid-friendly tips on avoiding identity theft, the basics of investing, how to create a budget, and how the stock market works.

The Smithsonian for Students
http://smithsonianeducation.org/students

If the movie Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian whetted your appetite to learn more about the Smithsonian Museum collection, then this site will get you even more excited about the museum’s 142 million objects, including everything from fossils to tapestries. On this site you will find profiles of our nation’s presidents, a “Walking on the Moon” Apollo 11 mission page, and some of the Smithsonian’s collections as well as tips for starting your own collection. The Secrets of the Smithsonian features behind-the-scenes secrets such as the history of the Hope Diamond and even spiders in space!

The Berenstain Bears
http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/berenstainbears

This Web site features all of the Berenstain Bears books. Students can browse through short descriptions of all of them, find out more information on how to purchase them, and check out a section on new releases. In the activities section, you’ll find an interactive coloring game, a “Money Matters” presentation, coloring sheets, and more.

Classics for Kids
http://www.classicsforkids.com

Do you know students who are interested in composing their own music? Who want to know more about the different instrument families? Who need to get those musical periods down once and for all? If so, then this Web site is for them. Students can search composers by musical period, by country, or browse for a particular composer on a timeline. One link allows visitors to listen to entire movements of famous pieces by Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Mendelssohn, and more. A musical dictionary might come in handy for those cryptic musical terms. There also are games to play, including Compose Your Own Music and Rockin’ Rhythm Master.

Willard Wigan Micro Sculptures
http://www.willard-wigan.com/default.aspx

Read about this artist who creates sculptures of such small proportions that you need a microscope to see them. Each piece typically sits within the eye of a needle or on a pinhead. As a creative outlet to deal with dyslexia at school, Willard started making minute pieces of art from the age of 5. This site features a gallery of his work, including replicas of the Statue of Liberty, Tutankhamen, and Marilyn Monroe.

http://www.geogebra.org/

GeoGebra is dynamic mathematics software for all levels of education that joins arithmetic, geometry, algebra and calculus. It offers multiple representations of objects in its graphics, algebra, and spreadsheet views that are all dynamically linked. The idea behind GeoGebra is to connect geometric, algebraic, and numeric representations in an interactive way. You can do constructions with points, vectors, lines, conic sections as well as functions and change them dynamically afterwards. Furthermore, GeoGebra allows you to directly enter and manipulate equations and coordinates. Thus you can easily plot functions, work with sliders to investigate parameters, find symbolic derivatives, and use powerful commands like Root or Sequence.

Lots of games that reinforce math concepts:

http://www.kto8.com/kto8_browse_games.php

Welcome to Multiplication.com, a site that contains the techniques, tips, and secrets used by master teachers.

Play Tangrams Online.
Kids can practice their geometry savvy with this classic seven-piece Chinese puzzle. Choose a picture to complete, then move pieces with the mouse. Rotate and flip shapes with a simple click. Students can choose different colors for each piece or leave them monochromatic. If they get stuck, this game has a Show Hint option that will keep your students motivated to continue.

Access A Visual Dictionary of More than 500 Math Terms.
Browse definitions by using the colorful alphabet letters provided, or use the Search box on the sidebar. The definitions are easy to understand and there are links for further reading. Easy as Pi!

Let Students Fly Through Outer Space!
At Coolmath4kids.com, your students will feel what it’s like to fly past the stars as they play Space Flight. They’ll use geometry as they investigate Super Spiro and Cursor. And they’ll practice trigonometry as they play Splash and make their own waves.