Bridges Blog Archive for Grade 5

Since the release of the free Geoboard App, I've used it to represent a variety of visual models. But I especially love its power when it comes to multiplying fractions. While a regular geoboard can be divided into parts to show a fraction, the app takes the visual model a step further with the ability to paint in the part of the fraction that you actually have.

Looking for ways to explore relationships between circumference, radius, diameter and area? Check out The Circle Tool from NCTM Illuminations. You’ll notice three buttons that run along the top of the game window: Intro, Investigation and Problems. With the Intro button selected, you’ll notice an icon of a video camera.

An assortment of new and updated Bridges Supplements are available to support grades 3-5. The free pdfs include:

Bridges Supplements - Grade 3

A5 Fractions - Updated
D7 Masses & Volumes - New
E3 Line Plots - New

Don't miss the series of math videos produced by the folks at Math Antics. They write,

For your amusement...Abbot and Costello compute 28 divided by 7. Consider asking students to analyze what happened. What's wrong with the strategies?

Over the past year, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics released five free mobile apps. I spent a few hours investigating Pick-a-Path with a fourth grader who found it mesmerizing; we used it as an opportunity to practice mental math.

Middle school math teacher Andrew Stadel uses visuals and technology during daily warm-ups to help students practice estimation. On his website, Estimation 180, he shares this work with other educators and students. Students see a problem posed on a photo or brief video and enter their estimates, confidence levels, and reasoning.