·  Every Day Math takes advantage of students' rich store of mathematical understanding, information, and creativity. The spiraling curriculum teaches concepts at least 5 times in two years--which allows children the opportunity to grasp concepts when they are developmentally ready.

·  Students "do" math, learning the "how" and "why," not just rote memorization of facts and formulas.

·  Students are given a pre-test of new skills for each unit, allowing for differentiation of instruction including acceleration and remediation. Each unit closes with a post-test to show the growth of the student. These assessments are aligned with the spiraling curriculum and state mathematics standards.

·  Students are INVOLVED in "real life" math activities:

/ Numeration and Counting: saying, reading, and writing numbers; place value; whole numbers; fractions; and decimals
/ Operations and Relations: facts and operation families (fact families 12+3=15, 3+12=15, 15-3=12, 15-12=3)
/ Problem Solving and Number Models: mental and written math, along with number puzzles, brain teasers, and real-life math problems
/ Measures and Reference Frames: measures of length, width, area, weight, capacity, temperature, time/clocks, calendars, timelines, thermometers, and ordinal numbers
/ Exploring Data: collecting and ordering data in tables, charts, and graphs, along with exploring uncertainty, fairness, and making predictions
/ Geometry: exploring two-and three-dimensional shapes, lines, points, vertices, etc.
/ Rules and Patterns: functions, relations, attributes, patterns, and sequences
/ Algebra: generalizing patterns, exploring variables, and solving equations

Games for Drill and Practice

Frequent practice is necessary to attain strong mental arithmetic skills and reflexes. Although drill focused narrowly on rote practice with operations has its place, Everyday Mathematics also encourages practice through games.

Drill and games should not be viewed as competitors for class time, nor should games be thought of as time-killers or rewards. In fact, games satisfy many, if not most, standard drill objectives - and with many built-in options. Drill tends to become tedious and, therefore, gradually loses its effectiveness. Games relieve the tedium because children enjoy them. Indeed, children often wish to continue to play games during their free time, lunch, and even recess.

Drill exercises aim primarily at building fact and operations skills. Practice through games shares these objectives, but, at the same time, games often reinforce other skills including calculator skills, money exchange and shopping skills, logic, geometric intuition, and intuition about probability and chance (because many games involve numbers that are generated randomly.)

Using games to practice number skills also greatly reduces the need for work sheets. Because the numbers in most games are generated randomly, the games can be played over and over without repeating the same problems. Many of the Everyday Mathematics games come with variations that allow players to progress from easy to more challenging versions. Games practice, therefore, offers an almost unlimited source of problem material.

Addition Top-It

Basic Game

Materials: A set of number cards with four cards each of the numbers 0-10, a penny (for higher level problems, include the 11-20 cards as well).

Number of Players: 2 or 3

Directions: A player shuffles the cards and places the deck number-side down on the playing surface. Each player turns over two cards and calls out their sum. The player with the highest sum wins the round and takes all the cards.

In the case of a tie, each player turns over two more cards and calls out their sum. The player with the highest sum then takes all the cards from both plays.

Play ends when not enough cards are left for each player to have another turn. The player with the most cards wins.

Option: Children toss a penny to determine whether the player with the most or the fewest cards wins.

Game Variations

1. Use a set of double-nine dominoes instead of a set of number cards to generate addition problems. Place the dominoes facedown on the playing surface. Each player turns over a domino and calls out the sum of the dots on the two halves. The winner of a round takes all the dominoes then in play.

2. To practice addition with three addends, use three cards.

Name that Number

Basic Game

Materials: 4 cards each of numbers 0-10 and 1 card each of numbers 11-20

Number of Players: 3 or 4

Directions: A player shuffles the deck and places five cards face-up on the playing surface. This player leaves the rest of the deck facedown and then turns over and lays down the top card from the deck. The number on this card is the number to be named.

In turn, players try to (re)name the number on the set-apart top card by adding or subtracting the numbers on two of the five face-up cards.

A successful player takes both the two face-up cards and the number-named top card. A successful player also replaces those three cards by drawing from the top of the facedown deck.

Unsuccessful players lose their turns. But they turn over and lay down the top card from the facedown deck, and the number on this card becomes the new number to be named.

Play continues until all facedown cards have been turned over. The player who has taken the most cards at the end wins.

Example: Mae's Turn:

The number to be named is 6. It may be named with 4+2, 8-2, or 10-4.

Mae selects 4+2. She takes the 4, 2, and 6 cards. She replaces the 4 and 2 cards with the top two cards from the facedown deck and then turns over and lays down the next card to replace the 6.

Mike's Turn:

The new number to be named is 16. Mike can't find two cards with which to name 16, so he loses his turn. He also turns over the next card from the facedown deck and places it on top of 16, and the number on this card becomes the new number to be named.

Play continues as before.

Game Variations

If children are finding the game difficult, increase the number of face-up cards.

Use any combinations of two or more numbers and all operations. For example, Mike could have named 16 as follows:

10+7-1

10+12-7+1

8+12-10+7-1

Children can experiment by using different numbers of face-up cards.

Two-Fisted Pennies Game

Materials: 10 pennies for each player

Number of Players: 2 or more

Directions: Players count out 10 pennies, and then split them between their two hands. (Help children identify their left and right hands.)

Call on several children to share their amounts. For example: "My left hand has 1 and my right hand has 9; left hand 3 and right hand 7; left hand 4 and right hand 6; left hand 5 and right hand 5." Record the various splits for any given number on the chalkboard.

Partners continue to play using different total numbers of pennies - for example, 9, 12, 20.

Option: Partners take turns grabbing one part of a pile of 20 pennies. The other partner takes the remainder of the pile. Both players count their pennies, secretly. The partner making the grab uses the count to say how many pennies must be in the partner's hand. ("I have 12, so you must have 8." The eventual result is many addition names for 20.

Change the number of pennies in the pile to practice addition names for other numbers.

Beat the Calculator

Materials: a calculator; a penny or a random-number generator (optional); 1 Fact Power Table (optional)

Number of Players: 3

Directions: One player is the "Caller," a second player is the "Calculator," and the third is the "Brain."

The "Caller" selects a fact problem by dropping a penny on Game Master 7 or by using a random-number generator to create an addition-fact problem. The "Calculator" then solves the problem with a calculator while the "Brain" solves it without a calculator. The "Caller" decides who got the answer first.

Players trade roles every 10 turns or so.

I. Beginning Math Activities:

  1. BBC Education's Number Time Games
  2. Simple Add and Subtract
  3. Test the Toad ( + and - problems with numbers 1-10
  4. Little Animals Activity Center ( interactive number games for addition and subtraction)
  5. Number Recognition/Sequencing
  6. Dart Board Level 1 (recognize numbers 1-9)
  7. Find the Number (Recognition activity for numbers 1-10)
  8. Mend the Number Square ( Place missing numbers on 1-100 grid)
  9. Find One More (matching game)
  10. Snakes and Ladders (1 player or 2 player activity.. works like chutes and ladders)
  11. Watch Addem (Number Movies)
  12. Number Songs
  13. FunBrain Activities
  14. Number Recognition/Sequencing
  15. Bunny Count ( count and match numbers and characters)
  16. One False Move (sequence numbers from lowest to highest)
  17. Guess the Number (guess number with high low clues)
  18. Math Brain Activities (25 Board Games to teach skills)
  19. Learning Planet Activities
  20. Number Recognition/Counting/Sequencing
  21. Count Your Chickens ( counting activity)
  22. 1 2 3 Order (what comes next... up to 10)
  23. Number Train ( make a train and count the cars)
  24. AAA Math Activities (click on grade school level)
  25. Base 10 Count (group ones into ten... see what number is made)
  26. Primary Math Games Index
  27. I Know That
  28. Teach R Kids
  29. KidPort Math Activities by Grade:
  30. Kindergarten
  31. First
  32. Second
  33. Third
  34. Count Us In Games
  35. Buzzing with Shapes
  36. Parent Help Sites
  37. At Home with Math
  38. I Know That
  39. Figure This
  40. Britannica Math Learning Activities

II. Facts / Whole Numbers/ Number Line

  1. Addition and SubtractionActivities
  2. Addition Fact Challenge
  3. Elementary Math Games Addition
  4. 3 Digit Addition Activity
  5. Subtraction Fact Challenge
  6. Elementary Math Games Subtraction
  7. 3 Digit Subtraction Activity
  8. Dart Board Game (BBC simple addition.. click on control panel to change levels)
  9. Little Animals Activity Center ( interactive number games for addition and subtraction)
  10. Add It Up ( add up number tiles to get target number)
  11. Primary Math Games Index
  12. Addition or Subtraction or Multiplication or Division
  13. Spacey Math by Planet Learning ( fact [ +, -, *, / ] drill)
  14. Interactive Multiplication Games (14 different games to help with multiplication facts)
  15. Flash Fun (practice on own)
  16. Quick Flash (computer quizzes you on level chosen)
  17. Multiflyer
  18. MegaMaths Tables by BBC Education Co. (learn times tables facts with games)
  19. Pick a Number Game (practice facts with that number)
  20. Grid Game
  21. MegaMaze Game
  22. Math Mayhem by LearningPlanet ( +, -, *, / timed practice)
  23. Math Mastery CyberChallenge (+, -, *, / timed practice)
  24. Mad Math Minute ( +, - *, / online quizzes)
  25. Multiplication Matho (race for time as you practice your facts)
  26. Basic Multiplication Fact Challenge
  27. Basic Division Fact Challenge
  28. Break the Code (basic fact recall)
  29. Elementary Math Games Multiplication
  30. Multiplication Game (by Kids Hub)
  31. A+ Math Games ( basic operation activities)
  32. Coloring Book Math ( color online doing math problems)
  33. Math 4 Kids
  34. Math Activities at Syvum (Helps build basic skills)
  35. A+ Math Flashcards( math flashcards and math games for basic operations)
  36. Printable Math Drill Sheets
  37. Math Worksheet Creator (Super Kids)
  38. Printable Math Fact Drill Sheets (Donna Young)
  39. Math Slice
  40. I Know That
  41. MathO
  42. Broken Calculator
  43. Arithmetic Four
  44. Funbrain Activities with + - * / and whole numbers
  45. Cookie Dough ( read and write numbers on a check)
  46. Math Baseball ( fact [ +, -, *, / ] drill)
  47. Math Baseball for 2 people ( fact [ +, -, *, / ] drill)
  48. Math Car Racing ( fun way for fact +, -, * / drills)
  49. Power Football (DECIMAL fact [ +, -, *, / ] drill)
  50. Tic-Tac-Toe Squares ( practice with + - * / squares, cubes )
  51. Change Maker ( work with $1 or $100, pick coins / bills for change)
  52. Watch Addem (Number Movies)

III. Factors/Multiples/Primes/Powers/Triangular Numbers

  1. Product Game (ILLUMINATIONS NCTM) [ game of skill with factors and multiples]
  2. Factor Game (ILLUMINATIONS NCTM) [ game of skill with factors]
  3. Grid Game by BCC Maths File (find factors, multiples, primes, triangulr numbers, and/or powers on a grid)
  4. Multiple Matrix

IV. Fractions

  1. What is a Fraction?
  2. Who Wants Pizza (a fun way to learn about fractions)
  3. WebMath: Get a Fraction (get a visual picture)
  4. Mystery Picture with Fraction Word Problems (by Dositey)
  5. Flitting with Fractions
  6. Equivalent Fractions
  7. Fraction Frenzie Activity by LearningPlanet ( match equivalent fractions before time runs out)
  8. Fraction Game Tool (Illuminations NCTM)[ move game pieces to other side of board)
  9. Fresh Baked Fractions Activity by Funbrain( find fraction that is not equivalent to the rest)
  10. Soccer ShootoutActivity by Funbrain( addition and subtraction of fractions)
  11. Fraction/Decimal Relationships
  12. Salon Snap Activity by BBC Maths Files ( match fractions to decimals and %)
  13. Double Fun Match Activity (Click on Fraction/Decimal) by Funbrain (Match Fractions to Decimal Equivalent)
  14. Fraction Decimal Conversion ( JAVA games matching fractions to equivalent decimals)
  15. Fractions
  16. All About Fractions by AAA Math (Explanation, interactive practice and challenge games about fractions)
  17. Visual Fractions
  18. I Know That: Fractions Workshop
  19. I Know That: Fishy Fractions

V. Geometry/Area/Perimeter

  1. General Geometrical Terms
  2. Geometry Flashcards by APlusMath ( match picture to name)
  3. Geometric Terms (JAVA games with common geometric terms)
  4. Online Activities for Geometrical Terms (from Thinkquest.. Nuts about Geometry)
  5. All About Geometry by AAA Math ( Explanation, interactive practice and challenge games about geometry)
  6. Interactive Geometry by SchoolWorks
  7. Polygons/ Shapes
  8. Shape Database by Ambleweb
  9. Illuminations.. Exploring Geometric Shapes Grades 3-5 (by NCTM). Exploring Geometric Shapes Grades 3-5 (by NCTM)
  10. Mega Shapes by BBC Education Co.( information about all types of shapes.. short online quiz at end of each review)
  11. Shape Book
  12. Online Pattern Blocks
  13. Designer Fractions Activity
  14. Angles
  15. Angles (WiseUp from BBC)
  16. What's My Angle (protractor activities by Ambleweb)
  17. Angle Activities by Ambleweb
  18. Measuring Angles by KidPort
  19. Introduction to Angles ( JAVA games with common terms related to angles)
  20. Interactive Geometry by SchoolWorks
  21. Area/ Perimeter
  22. Math Playground: Area and Perimeter
  23. Area and Perimeter Problems to solve
  24. Shape SurveyorActivity by Funbrain( solve simple area/perimeter problems)
  25. Mrs Glosser's lessons on Area and Perimeter of Polygons (lessons and activity)
  26. Perimeter of Polygon (Lesson with activity)
  27. Area of Rectangles and Squares (Lesson with activity)
  28. Area of Parallelogram (Lesson with activity)
  29. Area of Triangle (Lesson with activity)
  30. Area of Trapezoid (Lesson with activity)
  31. Symmetry/ Rotations/ Reflections/ Transformations
  32. Bathroom Tiles by BBC Maths File ( move bathroom tiles by rotating, reflecting, and translating the patterns) Challenging!!
  33. About Space Activities (from the Annenberg Teacher Project)
  34. I Took a Trip on a Train
  35. Plot Plans and Silhouette
  36. Shadows
  37. About Shape Activities (from the Annenberg Teacher Project)
  38. Quilts
  39. Taxicab Treasure Hunt
  40. Tangrams
  41. Tangrams by KidsCom
  42. Tangrams
  43. Tangrams (Online Tangram activities)
  44. Tessellations
  45. What are Tessellations by Cool Math
  46. What is a Tessellation?
  47. Totally Tessellated
  48. Tessellation Tool
  49. Challenge of the 7 Cups Activity (Geometry of the Ancients) Challenging!!

VI. Graphing/Data Collections/Coordinate Points