MAV logo THE MATHEMATICAL
ASSOCIATION OF VICTORIA

Web Reviews from The Common Denominator

2004 the International Year of Rice

In December 2002, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2004 the International Year of Rice. The International Year of Rice promotes improved production and access to this vital food crop, which feeds more than half the world’s population while providing income for millions of rice producers. A sustainable increase in rice production will reduce hunger and poverty and contribute to environmental conservation and a better life for present and future generations for whom Rice is Life.

The following sites are just a few of the many sources of information available for students to research every aspect of rice production, its uses and users – statistics, weather, market forecasts, prices, etc. This topic offers a rich and interesting opportunity for teachers and students across all areas of the curriculum. Including mathematics.

UN Food and Agriculture Organisation
http://www.fao.org/rice2004/index_en.htm

International Plant Genetic Resources Institute Future Harvest Centre
http://ipgri-pa.grinfo.net/index.php?itemid=343

International Rice Research Institute
http://www.irri.org/

Geography Teachers’ Association of S.A.
http://www.gtasa.asn.au/resources/internat_year/rice/rice_links.htm

Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia
http://www.rga.org.au/rice/iyr2004.asp

Tierramerica: Environment and Development
http://www.tierramerica.net/2003/1104/iconectate.shtml

The Asia Rice Foundation
http://www.asiarice.org/index.html

RiceWeb
http://www.riceweb.org/index.htm

SunRice
http://www.sunrice.com.au/rice/index.asp

NSW Board of Studies – Rice Profile
http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/multimedia/rice/riceprofile.html

Cooperative research Centre for Sustainable Rice Production
http://www.ricecrc.org/

Oryza Australia Rice Market Reports
http://oryza.com/asia/australia/index.shtml

Archimedes' Laboratory

http://www.archimedes-lab.org/

Puzzling and Mental Activities

A great site if you love doing brain teasers and wrestling with geometry problems. It contains puzzles to make; puzzles to solve; tricks to perform, tools & automata and links to many more activities. The following sections of the site will give you an idea of the broad range of activities and resources available across a wide range of levels.

Puzzles & tests – try the Disentanglement Puzzle
Optical illusions – visit the Illusion Gallery
Teachers’ resources – use the Puzzles of the Month
Curiosities – investigate Edible Geometry
Art & Language – discover the presence of the Golden Number and of the Fibonacci Series in every- day life and art.

This is a low-tech site, using standard tables and some java script, keeping it accessible to all. It is colourful and instructive. Tempt your students to investigate geometry in a new and fun way.

Athens 2004

http://www.athens2004.com/athens2004/

Click on Youth 2004 for a range of links:

  • Excellence
  • Athens welcomes the World
  • Travelling through time
  • Playground
  • Interesting facts
  • Related topics and activities:
    • Staging of the ancient Olympic Games
    • Explore Ancient Olympia with Despina!
  • Library with links to Educational material
  • Club 2K4

Links to many sites for Olympic activities, facts, etc.
http://surfaquarium.com/NEWSLETTER/olympics2004.htm

Olympic results and other material
http://www.ex.ac.uk/cimt/data/olympics/olymindx.htm

MAV Links to Olympic info
http://www.mav.vic.edu.au/intsites/olympic.htm

Olympics across the curriculum
http://www.teachers.8m.com/u_olympics.htm

The Australian Bureau of Statistics

http://www.abs.gov.au/

The Australian Bureau of Statistics is Australia's official statistical organisation. They assist and encourage informed decision-making, research and discussion within governments and the community, by providing a high quality, objective and responsive national statistical service.

Within the web site there is a wealth of materials and ideas for schools and students.

Only a few of the potential areas have been examined in this review.

Australia NowClicking the Australia Now icon will take you to a range of statistical information on a variety topics including: Geography and Climate, Government, Defence, Population, Income and Welfare, Housing, Crime and Justice, Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, Mining, Energy, Manufacturing, Construction, Tourism, from the Year book. A variety of information and data can be found in these areas, for example: by using the population clock, it was discovered that

On 9 April 2001 at 10:46:25 (Canberra time), the resident population of Australia is projected to be:19,325,155.

By clicking the themes button from the home page, a vast range of educational material can be located, under the Education Services link, and some of these include:

  • Australia Now Curriculum Activities. This area contains a series of lesson plans based around information contained in the Australia Now web pages, classified by Key Learning Areas and Australia Now themes. Each lesson plan describes the learning outcomes as set out in the National Curriculum profile and provides details for both teacher planning and student activity.
  • Teacher Tools and Classroom Activities contains a variety of information and specialist products which have been designed to support classroom activities, or meet specific curriculum requirements, including spreadsheet activities for students.
  • Census CD ROM for Schools (A Tale of Two Worlds) has been specifically designed as an interactive resource to educate students about the Census. A Tale of Two Worlds will help students to develop an understanding of the processes involved in conducting a Census and the associated benefits which accrue to communities. This CD ROM has already been sent to all schools, but there is information in this section about accessing more copies.
  • Indigenous Statistics Education is an interactive classroom activity containing the most recent population information about Indigenous Australians.

Australian Year of the Built Environment

2004 has been proclaimed as the Year of the Built Environment in Australia.

The built environment means buildings, places and structures in which we live, work and play. It is about the environment that has been created, modified, constructed, developed, arranged or maintained by humans – that’s domestic and public buildings, infrastructure, landscaping and other man-made features of our communities.

Biographies of Women Mathematicians

http://www.agnesscott.edu/lriddle/women/women.htm

This interesting web page looks at biographies of women in mathematics as well as the numerous achievements that these women have made. There are over 100 different women listed from all different times in history from as far back as 340 AD to the present day.

Did you know?

Sophie Germain has been honored in several ways since her death in 1831. The street Rue Sophie Germain in Paris has been named in her honor and a statue of her now stands in the courtyard of the Ecole Sophie Germain, also in Paris. The house at 13 rue de Savoie in which she died has been designated as a historical landmark.

The web site is well organised and easy to search. The main sections of the site include:

  • Names in alphabetical order
  • Names in chronological order
  • Other resources
  • The first Ph.Ds in mathematics by women before 1930
  • Prizes, awards and honours for women mathematicians

City of Melbourne logoThe City of Melbourne

http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/

Visit the City of Melbourne Website under the section About Melbourne, Research and Statistics, to find a wealth of statistical information on a range of topics such as:

  • Capital City Index
  • Environmental indicators of metropolitan Melbourne
  • Melbourne city suburbs - economic and population profile

Information is downloadable in the form of a pdf of multiple pages, and there is a summary of the pdfs available on the web site. Information available would be suitable for both upper primary and secondary students and their teachers who are looking for statistics about the City of Melbourne.

Colouring book Maths

http://www.surfnetkids.com/games/colorsums.htm

As part of the ‘Surfing the Net with Kids web site there is an activity called colouring book maths. Suitable for primary students, the activity requires students to complete calculations and select the appropriate answer to colour in electronically. There are multiple different pages to colour on line and these can be printed off.

Competition GuyidelinesCompetition Guidelines

Looking for a great web site to link Maths, Science and Technology for the middle school?

Check out this site: http://www.pitsco.com/Competitions/comprules.htm

There's nothing like a little competition to motivate students, and when you have a classroom full of motivated students, everyone wins. Check out the guidelines for 32 hands-on construction activities. Print the guidelines in simple text form or download the full-color, printable document. You are free to print, copy, and even modify them, to suit your purpose.

Topics include:

  • Architectural modelling
  • Bridges
  • Hot Air Balloons
  • Kites (build a tetrahedron kite!)
  • Mouse trap vehicles
  • Paper Aeroplanes, racers & robots

Each set of guidelines includes:

  • Objective
  • Construction
  • Competition
  • Variations.

Each topic has further links to interesting web sites, which then have more links - a great resource for design-and-make activities.

Thanks to cathy@virtualteacher.com.au for this interesting web site.

Create Your Own Interactive Games

http://www.oswego.org/staff/cchamber/techno/games.htm

This site has two sections:

Design Your Own Games – Make great interactive games to suit the individual needs of
your students. Each section has full directions and a ‘teacher set-up’ page where you can
enter your requirements into a pre-set format with the headings: Matching, Terms, Graphic
Match, Drag Match, Drag Term and Quiz Time. You can save the game on the link and edit it
at any time.

Pre-Made Games - A wonderful variety of pre-made interactive games with titles such as
Ghost Blasters, Fraction Flags, Splat Squares, Spooky Sequences, and lots more. These
games cover a multitude of skills such as estimation, number patterns, counting on and
counting back, coordinates, angles, all four operations, problem solving and lots more.
This is a great site for practising skills with automatic feedback and positive reinforcement –
an ideal addition to group activities.

Daisy MathsDaisy Maths

http://www.daisymaths.com.au

Kraft DaisyMaths is a program designed to help young Australians enjoy learning maths. It is specially made to be FREE, informative, and fun for Australian kids.

Kraft DaisyMaths was originally designed by an Australian professor of maths, Professor Myles Harding, to help his young daughter (Daisy) understand the basic concepts of mathematics. Hence it was initially targeted at pre-schoolers and early years students, and now the materials are constantly expanding to make the program suitable for all primary school students. There are currently 12 different levels in the program looking at all facets of primary mathematics.

Kraft Daisy Maths can be viewed online or downloaded for FREE and it is a dynamic program with sound educational ideas behind it. It is particularly useful for parents who wish to help their children at home with mathematics.

Lesson PlannerDiscoverySchool.Com

http://school.discovery.com/

DiscoverySchool.com (associated with the Discovery Channel) is a jam packed web site with information, ideas and activities for teachers, parents and students.

  • Teachers can find tools, activities and lesson plans.
  • Students can access study tools, games and learning adventures.
  • Parents can look at education advice as well as reviews and study ideas.

I visited the part of the site that contained tools:

http://school.discovery.com/teachingtools/teachingtools.html

PuzzlemakerHere I generated some puzzles as well as found some useful pre-created worksheets.

Quiz CenterThis site is an excellent resource and is applicable for any year level, as many of the worsheets etc, are divided into sections which are basically early, middle and senior years. All subject areas are examined on the web site including mathematics.

Electronic Reference Shelf

http://www.library.mcgill.ca/refshelf/measure.htm

This web site is invaluable with huge selection of measurement, conversion tables, and calculators including:

  • Old English Measures
  • Math tables – fraction to decimal conversions
  • Weather calculator
  • Scientific calculator

Explore Math

http://www.exploremath.com

Explore Math.com is an excellent web site for senior students and for those looking for enrichment. Some very challenging as well as entertaining activities that could be presented in a range of formats can be found on this easy to navigate site. A whole host of ideas could also be drawn from the interaction with this site.

Highly interactive math activities for students and educators!

Activities by category:

  • Points in the plane
  • Lines/Linear equations
  • Quadratics/polynomials
  • Systems
  • Inequalities
  • Conic sections
  • Exponentials/logarithms
  • Trigonometry
  • Complex Numbers
  • Absolute value
  • Reflections
  • Probability
  • Full Listing

Lesson plans are also available as well as a variety of interesting information.

This site is definitely worth a visit and to find more feel free to play!

Figure This! Math Challenges for Families

http://www.figurethis.org/index.html

A colourful, interactive site that provides a variety of challenges and brainteasers suitable for use in the classroom and as a link with families and mathematics in the real world.

Teachers could use materials on this site as homework; a weekly challenge for newletters or extension activities that can have students and their families involved in mathematics learning.

The site has many useful links such as:

  • Teacher Corner - provides materials that can be down-loaded and sent home to parents
  • Family Corner - explains to parents the importance of supporting their children in their mathematics learning with many great ideas to build on.
  • The Challenge Index - an extensive list of interesting topics to choose from. Each challenge has:
    • Notes linking concept to real world applications
    • Hints for getting started - strategy suggestions
    • Answers
    • 'Try these' - further questions using the same concept
    • 'Think about this' - more applications
    • 'Did you know?' - more information
    • Resources - books and web links related to the topics

This sequence allows students to extend their thinking and to work through an investigation choosing their own path.

  • The Math Index - lists the mathematics concepts and links them to the appropriate challenges.

A great site for extending your students' thinking and linking classroom mathematics to the real world. It allows parents to become involved in their children's mathematics learning.

Note: As this is an American site, measurement and money activities need to be converted to suit Australian classrooms. Still a useful resource.

Fr. Chris’ Math Lab at the Cape Lessons

http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/8972/lessons/lessons.html

This web site hosts a range of Java applets for a variety of problem solving type activities. You will need to spend some time looking at these activities as they are quite in depth and instructions do need to be read to get the most out of the applet. Many of the activities do lead to further sites and ideas.

Some of the lesson-based activities include:

  • Making Angles
  • Billiards
  • Oil Pumping Station Puzzle
  • Quadralateral Lab
  • Fibonacci & Ratios (p. 261)
  • Making Interactive 3D objects
  • Goldren Rectangle in Art

There are also some puzzles-based activities including:

  • Visual Puzzles
  • Vanishing Area Puzzle
  • Lewis Carroll Logic Puzzles
  • Missing Dollar Puzzle
  • Thwaites Conjecture

This site is aimed at upper secondary students and beyond, and it would be an interesting resource for teachers.

The Furman University: Mathematical Quotations Server

http://math.furman.edu/~mwoodard/mquot.html

Poisson, Siméon (1781-1840)

Life is good for only two things, discovering mathematics and teaching mathematics.

Mathematics Magazine, v. 64, no. 1, Feb. 1991.

This web site contains a collection of mathematical quotations all in the one place, from a variety of sources.

In the page there are a few ways to access the information:

  • You may conduct a keyword search through the quotation database.
  • You can download the whole collection at once. (It's about 243k...83 printed pages)
  • Or you can access the quotations page by page, which are organised in alphabetical order by the author's last name.

It is an interesting site with quotes from many famous and favourite mathematicians. Well worth a visit to spark interest.

Graphmatica?

The place to visit is: www.graphmatica.com/

Graphmatica is a powerful, easy-to-use, equation plotter with numerical and calculus features. It allows you to graph Cartesian functions, relations, and inequalities, plus polar, parametric, and ordinary differential equations. It has the capacity to display up to 25 graphs on the screen at once. It also gives you the ability to copy to the clipboard (bitmap and WMF), as well as having features such as Button Bar, on-line help and demo files. It is a great tool for students and teachers particularly at the senior level.

The Graphmatica site contains detailed information about how to download and install the program systems (and it is also currently available in French, Spanish and Portuguese!). Instructions are simple enough for beginners, and there is also detailed information presented about the. There are also different versions of the program suitable for a variety of different more technical aspects of the program.

InterMath - Investigations   - ------

http://www.intermath-uga.gatech.edu/topics/homepg.htm

The mathematics content and concepts of InterMath reflect curriculum that would enhance a teacher's understanding of middle school mathematics. The InterMath curriculum is meant to engage teachers and is intended to deepen teachers' understanding of mathematical concepts related to the middle school curriculum. Thus, we recommend that you try to solve the investigations yourself, and then try to modify and create classroom explorations that are more suitable for your own curriculum and students' needs.

Topics

  • Algebra: patterns; functions & equations; graphing
  • Number Concepts: fractions & decimals; integers; ratios, proportion & percent
  • Geometry: circles; quadrilaterals; triangles; polygons; 3D objects
  • Data Analysis: statistics; probability

The Recommended Investigations have been chosen with the following in mind:

  • Multiple cases can be investigated using technology.
  • Pre-Algebra students rely on technology to investigate the situation.
  • The investigation promotes generalisability or can be used as a springboard for further exploration.
  • Multiple methods can be used to explore the situation.
  • Multiple solutions are possible.
  • The investigation, based on middle school mathematics, is easy to start exploring.

Be sure to browse through the Additional Investigations. There are some really great problems there too!

Interactive Mathematical Dictionary

The Interactive Mathematics Dictionary is a dictionary for middle school students, teachers, parents, and anyone else interested in learning more about mathematical topics in the middle school curriculum. Terms typically have a definition, picture, links to websites, and investigation(s).

International Year of Fresh Water 2003

http://www.unesco.org/water/iyfw2/index.shtml

Jump in! Wet your feet! Make a splash. Together we can make a difference.

"The year offers a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness about water issues and to motivate people of all ages to get involved. Schools, the private sector, youth and community associations-each has something to contribute," says Alberto Tejada-Guibert, the UNESCO Coordinator for IYFW.

This is an appropriate site for use in Victorian schools with drought and water usage at the forefront across the state. The site provides basic ideas for use in the classroom, supported by access to video materials, facts and figures, etc. This UNESCO site provides ideas about water conservation and usage at many levels, providing links to:

How to get involved?

  • first steps
  • in your everyday life
  • in your community
  • at school

Education corner

  • by theme

Facts and figures

  • water use
  • water and health
  • ecosystems
  • droughts and floods

Remember 'World Water Day', 22 March, 2003

Looking for resources? The following web sites have a wide range of great resources across all curriculum areas for all levels.

Thames Water
Water Counts
http://www.waterinschools.com/index.html?watercounts/index0.html&1

Central Queensland University
Water, Maths & Conservation
http://infocom.cqu.edu.au/Community_and_External_Affairs/Workshops/Water_Family_Fun_Day/

Water Wise links
http://waterwise.fortune-cookie.com/links.asp

UK National Curriculum Educational Resources and Materials
Water Cycle
http://www.water-cycle.info/

South East Water
For Kids & Teachers
http://www.southeastwater.com.au/education_main.asp?area=education

Water Corporation
Schools - Fun Ways to be Waterwise
http://www.watercorporation.com.au/education/index.cfm

Melbourne Water
Waterworks Library
http://www.melbournewater.com.au/ww/wwl/index.cfm

EcoRecycle Victoria
Waste Wise Program
http://www.ecorecycle.vic.gov.au/

Melbourne Water
Conserve Water
http://conservewater.melbournewater.com.au/

Melbourne Water
Living with Drought
http://drought.melbournewater.com.au/

EPA Victoria
Water
http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/

Waterwatch
WaterNet
http://www.vic.waterwatch.org.au/links/

Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology
Living with Drought
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/drought/livedrought.shtml

The MacTutor History of Mathematics archive

http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/history/

Contains information:

  • An overview of the history of mathematics
  • Egyptian numerals
  • A history of numbers including Zero
  • Mathematicians who were born/died on a particular day
  • Shapes and curves

MathAid

http://www.mathaid.com/

This is a highly interactive Java-based website for e-learning mathematics. The courses include theoretical concepts, hands-on examples featuring animated graphics and formulas, problem-solving lessons, and customizable real time tests. Topics covered include Algebra II, College Algebra, Trigonometry, and Pre-Calculus.

The site contains download materials that you can examine before you commit to the purchase of a product.

MathPower.com

http://www.mathpower.com/

MathPower is a bright and colourful web site, which provides links for students and teachers to information about learning styles, study skills tips, and ways to reduce math anxiety.

The site gives the student access to tutorials, assignments, math videos, and a forum for discussion of a variety of math topics. Maths concepts are explained step-by-step in areas like solving unequal equations, algebra word problems and factoring polynomials. Homework assignments are available, as are study and test-taking tips. There are video snippets that explain some basic concepts such as additions and subtraction of signed numbers.

The web site is suitable for students from Year 8 upwards and would also be an interesting resource for a wide range of maths teachers.

Maths and Chess

Why Chess?

http://www.quadcitychess.com/benefits_of_chess.html#educate

Chess is a game for all ages that develops memory, improves concentration, develops logical thinking, promotes imagination and creativity, teaches independence, inspires self-motivation – the list goes on. This site answers the questions raised by educators, parents and students about the benefits of using chess in schools.

http://teachers.net/lessons/posts/2846.html

This lesson allows the novice and experienced chess player to easily teach children how to play chess through games focused on each individual chess piece. The focus is on mathematical thinking, critical thinking and problem solving.

http://www.math.usf.edu/mug/chessy.htm

You can always defend chess-playing because it provides training in logic, combinatorial ability, and intuition. Chess is therefore a bridge between recreation and business.

http://www.successchess.com/SCSKnights/Academics.html

Chess has long been recognised throughout the world as a builder of strong intellects, but only recently has the United States begun to recognise chess' ability to improve the cognitive abilities, rational thinking and reasoning of even the least promising children. Chess brings out latent abilities that have not been reached by traditional educational means. It promotes logical thinking, instils a sense of self-confidence, and self-worth, and improves communication and pattern recognition skills. It teaches the values of hard work, concentration, objectivity, and commitment.

http://www.velucchi.it/mathchess/knight.htm

A great collection of Chess and Mathematics resources including the ultimate Knight’s Tour page of links.

NOVA: Science in the News

http://www.science.org.au/nova/

The NOVA web site is not all science. It now dedicates a section to Mathematics as well as the other areas of Biology, Environment, Health, Physical Sciences and Technology.

NOVASome of the topics included in the Mathematics section are:

  • Mathematics in science
  • When numbers just don't add up
  • Measurement in sport - the long and the short of it
  • Calculating the threat of tsunami
  • Can we count on your vote?
  • Good prospects ahead for data mining
  • Calendars - keeping track of time
  • Stock markets - putting your money where your math is

Each NOVA topic consists of:

  • key text in non-technical language
  • glossary of scientific terms
  • student activities
  • useful web sites with annotations
  • further reading

NOVA is an extensive site, with up date information on current issues. Well worth a look.

NRICH Online Maths Club

http://nrich.maths.org/

NRICH (mathematics enrichment) has thousands of members from 100 countries and many more regular users.

Everything is free. School students, teachers and those professionally involved in education are welcome to join. On the first of each month (except August and January) the site provides new magazines for school students of all ages with an emphasis on mathematical activity. NRICH publishes children's solutions to mathematical challenges and also provides an answering service and many special interest discussion groups.

There are many activities and ideas to access on the site, including games and information.

Here is a sample activity called: Makeover which is animated on the site.

This is a game for one player. Exchange the positions of the two sets of counters in the least possible number of moves. A counter may be moved by sliding it to an adjacent empty square or by jumping over an adjacent counter of either colour into an empty square. It is possible to do this in forty six moves, but if you can succeed in fifty moves you are doing well.

This site is extremely extensive and would be of interest to teachers of all year levels.

This site is well worth a visit!

The Online Teachers' Resource Network

http://www.otrnet.com.au/

The Online Teachers' Resource Network web site (OTRNet) aims to provide mathematics resources that support curriculum improvement and provide a richer learning experience for students. The list of commercial products are predominantly available through the Online Teachers' Resource Network however there are sample pages and files that can be downloaded from the site. There are also links to other useful sites including lesson resources and graphics calculators.

Teachers have prepared the materials available through OTRNet and the site is based out of Western Australia.

Reach for the Stars

http://www.aamt.edu.au/reachforthestars/

Register now! Great P - 7 activities.

Take this rare opportunity to be part of a free national numeracy activity!

"Reach for the Stars" has been developed by The Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers in consultation with teachers and systems. It is supported by the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training.

Download the file reach-co.pdf which contains:

  • suggestions about ways your school might choose to organise their Reach for the Stars project
  • a printable checklist of tasks for school coordinators
  • a printable one-page information sheet for teachers
  • a printable data summary sheet which could be used to summarise class and/or school data
  • printable versions of the suggested activities and worksheets:
    • Lower Primary 1
    • Lower Primary 2
    • Middle Primary 1
    • Middle Primary 2
    • Upper Primary 1
    • Upper Primary 2
    • Upper Primary 3

Resources, Lesson Plans and Activities

(For Kindergartens and Lower Primary)

http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/listkindersu.html

This is a web site full of Internet links in the area of kindergartens and early years. Although based on American material, there are excellent ideas, resources and programs suitable for the Australian curriculum.

The site splits its resources into the following areas:

  • Internet resources
  • Language, arts, literacy
  • Web pages / mailing lists
  • Themes
  • Centre ideas /resources

Although there are a huge amount of links to Math and nuymeracy based materials, there are also extensive links to many of the different KLA’s. Also sprinkled through the list are some lovely little activities and simulations like ‘how to tie shoe laces’, which makes this site well worth a look.

S.O.S. Mathematics

http://www.sosmath.com

A site that offers a free resource of more than 2500 pages of maths review materials for:

  • Algebra Complex Variables
  • Trigonometry Matrix Algebra
  • Calculus Tables
  • Differential Equations

Each topic is presented in a series of steps from the simplest to the more complex with short and easy-to-understand explanations. The questions are listed, click on solution to find a step-by-step explanation followed by links to other examples and similar problems.

There are many interesting and informative links to other maths sites throughout.

Great for students to use at school and at home.

Tangrams

These sites offer a wide range of activities on using tangrams to teach area, smaller units of length, fractions, symmetry, names of polygons, and much more.

Tantalising Tangrams

Year 3 lessons/activities that could easily be adapted for other levels.
http://www.teachnetlab.org/ps101/chornik/tangramindex.htm

Tantalising Tangrams

  • Watch the Tangram Movie!
  • What IS a Tangram?
  • Make your own set of Tangrams from scratch!
  • Try putting these together online! Fun!!
  • Tangram Puzzles: Print out the page and try to make them! There are six sets of puzzles!
  • Make a Tanscape!!!

http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/palmasola/psgtan.htm

What’s in a Shape?

  • Constructing tangrams
  • How do tangrams work?
  • How are the shapes related?

http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?BenchmarkID=2&DocID=135

Constructing your own set of Tangrams
http://mathforum.org/trscavo/tangrams/construct.html

Interactive Tangram
http://www.tangram.i-p.com

International Tangrams Society
http://www.support@stargraphics.com/tangrams.htm

Tangram Puzzles, Pentominoes and lots more
http://www.ex.ac.uk/cimt/puzzles/puzzindx.htm

Exploring Geometry with Tangrams
Great site for Year 7 with many activities that are suitable for upper primary and others that are adaptable for other levels.
http://www.create.cett.msstate.edu/create/classroom/lplan_view.asp?articleID=129

TURNBULL SERVER

School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences University of St Andrews

http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/

The TURNBULL World Wide Web server, is named after the mathematician Herbert Westren Turnbull (1885-1961) who was the Regius Professor of Mathematics at the University of St Andrews from 1921 to 1950. The TURNBULL server is run by the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland.

TURNBULL is the home of the award-winning MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive, which is an integrated collection of over 1000 biographies and historical articles of a mathematical nature, alongside interactive birthplace maps and the famous curve applet. In this archive you will find the following topic areas:

  • Biographies Index
  • History Topics Index
  • Famous curves index
  • Mathematicians of the day

As well as a sub-menu of areas of interest and the two areas currently running on the site are:

  • recent articles on Indian mathematics
  • recent articles on mathematical education

An excellent search facility is also available and there is a highlight of the recently added features. For example the changes to the archive in January 2001 include 10 NEW History topics, 3 NEW biographies and 4 EXTENDED biographies.

This site recommended by Richard Whitaker from the Bureau of Meteorology (New South Wales), is both an excellent read and a superb resource for anyone with an interest in Mathematics.

The Turtle School of Dance

http://www.erving.com/turtle/index.htm

For all those fans of the turtle, this web site looks at using MicroWorlds and AppleWorks Spreadsheets to Explore Geometry Concepts.

Although an American based project - The Turtle School of Dance demonstrates how the creative use of MicroWorlds software can help teachers create exceptional lessons that can be used in the area of geometry.

The Turtle School of Dance unit uses the Logo computer language found in MicroWorlds to challenge students to develop a deep understanding of fundamental geometry concepts. Students are challenged to choreograph a series of dances for their computer "turtle" to demonstrate a solid understanding of the geometry of regular polygons. The unit is quite challenging, but it is done with a sense of humour and playfulness that the students really enjoy.

Students answering the challenge of the Turtle School of Dance are required to use the Logo computer language to make their turtle do such famous routines as the Triangle Trot, the Square Dance, the Pentagon Polka and the Hexagon Hustle. Complex computer programs are developed that command the computer turtle to move about the stage drawing the required geometric shape. Every step the turtle makes is controlled by the Logo program that the student creates using a series of basic commands. In the process, students learn about degrees of a circle, turns, complimentary and supplementary angles, estimating distance, recursion, sequencing and a deep understanding of fundamental geometry concepts.

The web site is well organised, and leads the dancer through various training routines and into the choreography. This web site would provide interesting inspiration and a unique context for any MicroWorlds user.

The Victorian Board of Studies has changed its name to:

The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA)

And the new web site is: http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/

The web site is the one stop place for all of the information on:

  • The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE)
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET)
  • The Curriculum and Standards Framework (CSF)
  • Achievement Improvement Monitor (AIM)
  • Prep to Year 10 information

On the web site you will also find information:

  • about the VCAA and for contacting them
  • recent distributions
  • media releases
  • FAQs
  • Official forms
  • The latest VCE bulletins
  • Publications

There are sections for teachers, parents and the community as well as students. VCE students and teachers will find the section called ‘Exams on the Web’ very useful, as all of the2000 VCE papers for mathematics as well as all of the different subjects are available as pdfs.

This web site is an invaluable resource for any teacher, particularly at the VCE level.

Cliveden, 61 Blyth Street, Brunswick, Victoria 3056      Email: office@mav.vic.edu.au       Phone: 03 9380 2399      Fax: 03 9389 0399