Numeracy Resources

Estimation 180 is an incredibly rich resource that offers photographs that we can use in meaningfully developing students' number sense. In this blog post, the author uses 4 of the images (and the students' estimates about those images) to quickly and meaningfully introduce (or review) graphing and writing inequalities.

From the posting: "In this lesson, students model a bungee jump using a Barbie® doll and rubber bands. The distance to which the doll will fall is directly proportional to the number of rubber bands, so this context is used to examine linear functions." Appropriate for CCRS Level D, Level E. [Note: Resource only accessible for NCTM members.]

Desmos is an online graphing calculator. Many teachers have created activities for their classes using the calculator. Activities on the site are created by teachers and Desmos staff and will vary. You can also create your own activities.

These are 15-second videos that show a real-life event. Students are encouraged to graph the event. The video reveals the suggested graph at the end. The site allows you to sort by type of graph and offers a printable graphing handout. Appropriate for CCRS Level C, Level D, Level E.

Brief blog post by Dan Meyer that addresses teaching students not just the procedure for how to graph linear inequalities, but providing the opportunity for them to consider why the conventional representation (graph) is an efficient way to go.

A quick reading about a quick strategy a teacher uses to make "like terms" meaningful to her students.

A printable matching activity for matching graphs to equations.

Instructions and printables for a "combine like terms" UNO game.

A gallery of visual patterns can be used with students exploring algebra. Fawn Nguyen, the teacher behind the site, also documents her students' discussion of the patterns at mathtalks.net. You can also read about how ABE teachers are using the patterns.

A good activity from Robert Kaplinsky to compare when one coupon might be better than another. Can be done with or without inequalities. Can also be extended to graph the inequalities.