From Peter Winkler: A typical mathematical puzzle sounds tricky but solvable—if not by you, then perhaps by the genius down the hall. But sometimes the task at hand is so obviously impossible that you are moved to ask whether you understood the problem correctly, and other times, the task seems so trivial that you are sure you must have missed something. Here, I have compiled seven puzzles which have often been greeted by words similar to “Wait a minute—I must not have heard that correctly.”
This website offers a collection of thought-provoking articles and discussions on education, particularly focusing on math. It provides a platform for educators and readers to engage with insightful content, including reflections on teaching practices, discussions about educational technology, and analyses of current trends in math education, all presented by Dan Meyer.
At this point, everyone knows that Khan Academy offers a wealth of educational resources, but their pre guide and toolkit for preparing for AP Calculus is especially robust. Explore all 9 units of study here, or hop on over to other guides like those for Algebra Basics, Geometry, Prob/Stats, or beyond.
While reading disabilities like dyslexia receive significant attention, math disabilities often go unnoticed, leading to a lack of diagnosis and support for affected students. The article emphasizes the importance of early identification, specialized instruction, and teacher training to address math disabilities and improve math education for all students.
Math teachers can use this website as a valuable resource to access a wide range of challenging math problems from the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). You can utilize these problems to provide your students with additional practice, encourage problem-solving skills, and foster a deeper understanding of advanced mathematical concepts.
In case you were not aware, Wired magazine's website features a TON of full length articles on a variety of math-related topics. Click the picture to the left to read about everything from how a teenager solved a stubborn prime number "look alike" riddle to how your brain uses calculus to control fast movements (whatever that means!)
Like many other math websites for teachers, Mathigon.org offers online resources such as lesson plans, games, textbooks, and activities; however, it goes a step further in providing a unique polypad tool. Check it out today and start playing around with geometric shapes, angles, fractions, and more in a whole new way!
Underground Mathematics is an educational website and project aimed at promoting and enhancing the teaching and learning of advanced mathematics. It was developed by the University of Cambridge's Faculty of Mathematics and is designed to provide free and high-quality resources for mathematics educators and students, particularly those in advanced high school and early university-level mathematics courses.
At Illuminations.nctm.org, teachers can dive into a treasure trove of engaging math resources and lesson plans designed to spark students' curiosity and make math come alive. From interactive activities that turn abstract concepts into hands-on discoveries to standards-aligned lesson plans, it's the perfect portal for educators to ignite a passion for mathematics in their classrooms.
This recent article by Andrew Boryga discusses innovative strategies for math teachers to enhance their classroom practices, including addressing math anxiety, promoting critical thinking, and creating a mistake-friendly environment. It emphasizes the importance of fostering positive mathematical identities, rethinking testing methods, embracing mistakes as learning opportunities, incorporating humanities-style discussions into math lessons, and more.
The "NRICH" website, hosted by the University of Cambridge, provides valuable resources for math teachers at the secondary level. While many of the activities and problems are geared towards students from ages 11-14, there are numerous materials suitable for older students as well... (and let's not forget that elementary school-level problems/challenges can be really good for warm-ups and brain breaks)!
3Blue1Brown, by Grant Sanderson, is some combination of math and entertainment, depending on your disposition. The goal is for explanations to be driven by animations and for difficult problems to be made simple with changes in perspective. For more information, other projects, FAQs, and inquiries see the website here.
Artist Yuki Kawae creates entrancing rake designs inside Zen gardens of his own design. Most of Kuwae's videos are silent with no instruction or application; however, his work could have a number of interesting applications in the field of Geometry. shares a great deal of his work through silent instructional videos. Additionally, his website provides resources for anyone who would like to build a garden of their own.
While a field trip to visit MOMath in New York may not be feasible, the museum's website has some interesting features that students and teachers may find interesting. Also, the online student sessions feature lessons for students in Pre-K all the way through 12th grade.
Playing this video of random math questions on a variety of game shows may keep your kids engaged during a brain break or while transitioning between activities. If you check out the creator's channel, there are also a variety of math-related instructional videos to choose from.
Taken from the back cover: "She Does Math! presents the career histories of 38 women and math problems written by them. Each history describes how much math the author took in high school and college, how she chose her field of study, and how she ended up in her current job." Click on the "Look inside!" feature for a preview of actual book pages.
This YouTube video (and the others on the channel) are not the most polished and flashy, but they present some interesting concepts, such as applying equation-solving skills using logarithms to determine the time of death. There is a lie-detection video as well, which is equally as interesting.
There are undoubtedly a plethora or great mathematics podcasts out there, but this one tackles some very interesting concepts with commentary from several unique voices. Check it out and ponder the following: Does 1+1 always equal 2? How many holes does a straw have? Are mathematical creativity and musical creativity the same thing?
For some students, even the mere thought of math strikes fear in their hearts... and we probably all have a "math story" about a time when we felt confused, inadequate, lost, or just plain dumb. While some of these methods of instilling confidence in math students might be common sense to seasoned teachers, they serve as a good reminder of how we can build courage and boldness in those who need a helping hand.
The goal of the Numberphile YouTube channel and website is to make mathematics engaging and accessible to a wide audience by exploring fascinating and quirky topics related to numbers, mathematical patterns, and concepts. Through entertaining videos and articles, Numberphile aims to foster a greater appreciation for mathematics and its applications in everyday life.
The goal of phet.colorado.edu is to provide high-quality interactive simulations for science and math education, facilitating a deeper understanding of complex concepts through hands-on exploration. By offering research-based resources, it aims to enhance students' learning experiences and support educators in their teaching endeavors.
3 Times When Small Mathematical Errors had a Huge Impact:
While the links below will simply take you to Wikipedia articles, they all share an interesting theme of small mathematical errors resulting in major problems, even loss of life. Let it be known and math really does matter!
The Vasa was a Swedish warship that sank on its maiden voyage in 1628. The ship capsized and sank shortly after setting sail due to a design flaw caused by a mathematical error. The ship's builders had miscalculated the stability, making it top-heavy and prone to tipping over in the slightest wind.
The Mars Climate Orbiter was a NASA spacecraft designed to study the Martian climate and atmosphere. Unfortunately, during its entry into Mars' orbit, a mathematical error occurred in the spacecraft's software. The spacecraft was lost, resulting in a $327.6 million mission failure. The error was later found to be caused by a mix-up between metric and imperial units in the software code.
Heavy metal meets mathematics in Tool's song "Lateralus." The song is known for its complex musical structure, following the Fibonacci sequence in its time signature progression, and featuring lyrics with syllabic patterns aligned to the same sequence. This use of the Fibonacci sequence and the Golden Ratio adds a unique mathematical significance to the song. There are a number of websites that delve deeper into this phenomenon; this site is just one example. Listen to the heavy-hitting track here.
This post isn't meant to serve as an endorsement or encouragement to show these films to students but is merely to serve as a possible source of inspiration. They might spark conversation starters, serve to humanize mathematicians, provide real-world applications, create new role models for students, etc. Enjoy!
Teachers can utilize the website Bedtime Math to introduce truly unique real-world applications of math concepts to their students. Try incorporating some of these weird and engaging math problems and puzzles into your lessons and encourage students to see the relevance and practicality of math beyond the classroom. (The website looks a bit elementary, but there is definitely some wird and wild content that could be scaled up for upper school students. Check out this bizarre question/problem about "Tiger-Torn Jeans.")
Youcubed is a website focused on transforming math education through research-based resources and activities. Founded by Dr. Jo Boaler, the platform aims to promote a growth mindset in mathematics, inspiring learners to embrace the creativity and beauty of the subject while making it more accessible and enjoyable for all. Click on the "Tasks" tab for lots of great, free content.
4 Cool Mathematicians to Follow on Twitter:
Alex Bellos
James Tanton
Matt Parker
Steven Strogatz
"Math = Love" is a blog run by Christian math teacher, Sarah Carter. The blog primarily focuses on sharing educational resources, teaching strategies, and math-related content, aimed at helping other educators create engaging and effective math learning experiences for their students. There's lots of cool resources here, so take a few minutes to explore!