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1) Name of the learning activityGraphic2) Type of the activity3) Brief description of the activity4) Graphic (file) which gives an idea what the activity is like5) Mathematical concepts involved6) Longer narrative on the activity7) Directions to the student (file)8) LINK: If an online activity, what is the URL9) If this is an offline, or partially offline, activity, then provide the necessary materials (files)10) Graphic #2 (optional)Email AddressTimestamp
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Red Block Returns
1-person online game with multiple levelsIn this game the user guides a 3-dimentional block through a maze to get to the red square, which is the exit portal.https://drive.google.com/open?id=19ThZ-hz68tf7uBAPc5n4Ttjd6e_AmmWLThis is mainly 3D visual reasoning. It has an odd-even (parity) feel to it, because you need to develop strategies to move the block, for example, over one spot.The player can develop strategies that can be used over and over (for example, for how to move a standing block over one spot). This game also has a problem-solving aspect at the higher levels. The player must develop new ways to get past obstacles. https://drive.google.com/open?id=15plYDZzBuXU-YmRLmM72OaBMcOLZOVAPhttps://www.mathplayground.com/logic_red_block_returns.htmlhttps://drive.google.com/open?id=1orRtWJqUKL-7rPwce0NFY97esRySzyVdJR-Olsen@wiu.edu9/17/2020 17:19:04
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Last Candle
2-person game. Online version you play against the computer. Could be played with physical counters.The object of this game is very simple: You want to force your opponent to light the last candle (or pick up the last counter/object). You start with a bunch of candles. The computer will select a number of candles, and a number of candles you are allowed to light per turn. On each turn you must light at least one candle. You light a candle by clicking on it. When you are done selecting candles, click "I'm done" to let the computer have its turn.This is an easy variation of NIM.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1fVIOllS4vwOgTPwI-stOVxIpJD6JQDlBThis is mainly just a good thinking game. The concept of modular arithmetic is just below the surface. (The player need not know modular arithmetic to solve this.)Depending on the number of candles and the number that can be taken, the first player is usually, but not always, guaranteed of winning -- if they use the winning strategy. From a problem solving standpoint, the strategy is work backward. What are the generalizations?
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1xEefgM-KBmo-jlWVHFRmMw7KVDgpMwsghttps://www.theproblemsite.com/games/last-candleJR-Olsen@wiu.edu9/17/2020 17:47:46
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Spatial Rescue
1-person online game; problem solvingGuide the rockets to the stranded space monsters.
Plan a route using connecting rods.		https://drive.google.com/open?id=11uQbUEap0h4qQ5i-BgcllStIopVcUU3JSequential Reasoning, Trial and Error, Common Core Connection: MP1 - Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them. MP7 - Look for and make use of structure.Guide the rockets to the stranded space monsters using directional rods to alter the trajectory of the rocket multiple times around objects. (Click the rod and then the square to place it.) The goal is to avoid the objects within the allotted number of directional rods and or rockets. On higher levels the rules do change to blasting some objects as a strategy.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1IrsAj5345xZqpQEM1fq-FOhUj0bhmZBThttps://www.mathplayground.com/logic_spatial_rescue.htmlhttps://drive.google.com/open?id=1vTPB0wAVlQC4pzXusmhpVZQ2bGcvvCm6TA-Augustus@wiu.edu11/12/2020 10:28:32
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Figure Ground Matching Puzzles
1-person online puzzle This game displays two figures, Puzzle and Goal. The object is to rearrange the Puzzle figure (left-side) to match the Goal figure (right-side). There are four levels based upon the number of colors and game rules. (See "how to play")https://drive.google.com/open?id=1OKwuY6SMu5E4Y7siDbIgDxXyOVDIL_RWVisual ReasoningThis game displays two figures, Puzzle and Goal. The object is to rearrange the Puzzle figure (left-side) to match the Goal figure (right-side). There are four levels based upon the number of colors and game rules: Ocean has 2 different colors and only the dark pieces can be moved and when moved it uncovers light squares, Desert has 3 different colors, Mountain has 4 different colors, and Sky has 2 colors but both colors can be moved. The list of puzzles under each level ranges from easy to difficult (the difficulty of the puzzles is not always obvious.) It is best to create a lesson plan around these puzzles identifying where puzzles fall on the difficulty continuum. https://drive.google.com/open?id=1HlQAK0ZxNHn5UfYCgPMsOtnwgUo7fnIMhttp://www.clockworkgoldfish.com/figureground/smt-monahan@wiu.edu11/15/2020 13:50:21
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Slicing Three-Dimensional Figures
Hands-on activity with a worksheetStudents will be using Play-Doh and dental floss to slice 3D figures to see their cross-sections, the 2D shapes they form.https://drive.google.com/open?id=1UE6Z_qmmiTbJtIEKnjGI-uhz06SKtd_OIdentifying cross-sections of 3D figuresThe activity is used alongside the textbook at that specific school, so a teacher could use any of their own textbooks that focus on this lesson in 7th grade or use a worksheet online, like the one attached. However, this worksheet could be modified further: it could include finding the 2D shapes that are sliced opposite than what’s asked on the worksheet, which is included in the Extension worksheet. This way, you could have your students compare the 2D figures that they create vertically versus horizontally.
In order to use this idea in class, you would need to bring in the small Play-Dohs in different colors and either a plastic knife or dental floss. When you are at the point in your curriculum to teach cross-sections of 3D figures, you would introduce the activity and how all students will investigate in groups or individually. Hand out the directions sheet, the original handout, and the extension handout. Read the directions with your students and perhaps model how to complete the task with either one of the examples on the worksheet or one that is NOT included. (If you really want to, you can even have the students first make an educated guess on what they think the shape would be at the cross-section prior to modeling the activity. ) You can follow up with various online activities whether you keep the format or recreate a digital version of them from Mathworksheets4Kids.
(https://www.mathworksheets4kids.com/cross-section-3d-shapes.php)
Strengths of this activity are that it is hands-on, it allows students to create 3D shapes and slice them on their own. Many students are visual learners so it will be especially helpful for them. In terms of shortcomings, this activity may be challenging for students with certain physical disabilities, so it would be beneficial to have them paired up with another student to help them form figures.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=12Hvo_Wf_zDsa6eelmx3b0Vws1Vsojclrt1KWKFVbH5Uhttp://7thgrademathteacherextraordinaire.blogspot.com/2013/04/slicing-three-dimensional-figures-cc-7g3.htmlhttps://drive.google.com/open?id=1Ak9qT5d2rr6cI9zsnTBYQTNBvZVkUErpmm-tomczuk@wiu.edu11/16/2020 21:51:57
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Building Using Three Viewsbuilding activityOn the website, once you create an account as a demo student, you can access this activity. It is very helpful for visualizing mat plans and the three views. You can add and remove cubes to get the grid to match the picture given of what the top, front, and right side view should look like.https://drive.google.com/open?id=1plhiHb4XkK-dkzZfYblr5nxGZLewBhO3Visual reasoning so students can understand and interact with the concept.1. Go to https://www.numworx.nl/en/
a. You might have to change the language to English which is located at the top right corner
2. Hover over the Library tab and click on exercises
3. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on “Request a demo account”
4. Fill in the required information to create an account.
5. An email will be sent confirming the account created.
6. When you go to log in, you will be given two options on the left-hand side
a. Log in Secondary Education
b. Log in Higher Education
7. Choose the Log in Secondary Education
8. Enter username and password
9. Click on the SE Lower Grades
10. Scroll down until you see the Cube Buildings (exercise) and click on it.
11. Building using three views 1 and 2 are the same activity and help with the views from top, front, and side views.
This activity allows for students to move the blocks around help with spatial ability when it comes to modeling the different views. The activity has 10 different questions that each student can answer. They receive 5 points for getting the three views correct, but they can get 10 points if they complete it with the least amount of blocks possible, while still having the correct views.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1VZdozB6haQsIufh97Wow999XJneoo8nFhttps://www.numworx.nl/en/ https://drive.google.com/open?id=1HAMdF0dXfVvBtjuKg65rtwcawKvvlYuoei-konczyk@wiu.edu11/19/2020 16:41:53
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Teepee Triangle Counting Puzzle
Puzzle/Problem-SolvingStudents will be given an image of a teepee made out of many triangles. Their job is to determine how many triangles are in the teepee.https://drive.google.com/open?id=1tPgLsCsCoCVzKQjWYe6rN73Jo4nSUbH0Visual ReasoningThis puzzle activity could be used as a bell ringer to start the day or as a "fun" activity if there is some free time at the end of class.

I found this activity on Teachers Pay Teachers as a free resource.

Students may like or dislike this activity. This activity could be used as a great way to start the day for students to start their brain up. Some students may get frustrated with this activity if they are having difficulty with seeing all the triangles in the image.

After students have completed the puzzle on their own, teachers can have them turn to their partner to discuss their answer and strategy. After partner talks, the class can come together and discuss the puzzle.		https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Q02tHFL-P7kRBNfB5Zdfby1V-G9l4vErhttps://drive.google.com/open?id=1sP3qSQ3aHg_DSOdq8zV9fgvCbsPci95kma-williamsen@wiu.edu11/22/2020 13:17:00
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Wall Factory
1-person online gameA penguin is trying the cross the screen, but there's a hole in the ground. By filling the numbers in the equation you can build a wall to get him across safely. https://drive.google.com/open?id=1cD8mgh-30muV8j2l3jvVGODa85NB72wDExpressions, Variables, Order of OperationsThis activity could be used for teaching order of operations or expressions. It also uses variables. The object is to get Jiji, the penguin, to cross the screen safely. There is a hole in the ground that is to be filled with blocks. You have to fill in the unknown values to solve the equation. The equations start out as one-step, then continue to get more difficult by having to use the order of operations. This activity allow students to visualize the equation instead of just writing it. I got this game from stmath.com, a math games website for all ages. Intended for grades 5-8. https://drive.google.com/open?id=1xmz5EflV_S_ptoGtHNuOVUDNKMNOyeEuhttps://www.stmath.com/play/wall-factory?hsCtaTracking=dc9916d1-1480-4517-9a1d-82de0a1ef784%7C09aef816-e57b-46b6-8868-2b407e885871https://drive.google.com/open?id=1YdyA0pCa3HoV5MLE8X1leOHgsAZHwiWZaa-putman@wiu.edu12/4/2020 23:19:21
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Tower of Hanoi
1-person gameObject of the game is to move all the disks over to Tower 3 (with your mouse).
But you cannot place a larger disk onto a smaller disk. 		https://drive.google.com/open?id=1tr-AQeEk2-_uZ5eiPspWxDjxIlciumhOIf you want to calculate the minimum number of moves, this involves powers of 2 and recursive reasoningThis is a classic puzzle that is very old. Students can develop rules for themselves so that they always know what disk to move next and to which peg. The goal becomes moving to the third pin using the minimum number of moves. The minimum number of moves sequence (1, 3, 7, 15, 31, etc.) is very interesting. As an expression, if there are n disks, the minimum number of moves is 2^n -1. https://drive.google.com/open?id=1U_jw0g7L2Zs-kav2op0tBykMaBmOrZlWhttps://www.mathsisfun.com/games/towerofhanoi.htmlJR-Olsen@wiu.edu1/1/2021 21:46:40
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Hex Board Game
2-player game, physical or online (or against the computer)This is a great strategy game. Board is an 11x11 grid of hexagons. Each player tries to get a continuous path of markers of their color to connect opposite sides of the board. (More details below.)https://drive.google.com/open?id=1wMyP_4fbRtYBHyRu2HVz-crNQGPVUUjpLogical reasoning and planning.This is an excellent strategy game. There will always be a winner (so there is no ‘Cat’ game). The game does not take long to play. In the online game, you can even pick the level of player when playing against the computer. How to Play:
1. Each player has a color, red or blue.
2. On each turn a player places one of their counters (‘stones’/‘markers’) in an empty hexagonal cell.
3. Counters are not be moved or removed from the board (except if the swap rule is used, which is only on the first move).
4. The goal is to be the first player to form a connected path of their own stones linking the opposing sides of the board marked by their colors.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=18nyiR5rjeGNNnVWpgmDOMK3-axWb3464http://www.lutanho.net/play/hex.html https://drive.google.com/open?id=1aC8qwllukBiK7K87T7bbMU6yxpnl_ileJR-Olsen@wiu.edu1/2/2021 14:36:16
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