Progress in Mathematics (2006)

Number Line Frog Hop (Addition and Subtraction)

Live a frog's life as you hop along a number line in search of flies. Learn how addition and subtraction can be represented as movement along a number line. Fred the frog may even help you get better at adding and subtracting two-digit numbers in your head by decomposing them into tens and ones. 5 Minute Preview

Subtracting Whole Numbers and Decimals (Base-10 Blocks)

Use base-10 blocks to model a starting number. Then subtract blocks from this number by dragging them into a subtraction bin. Blocks of equal value can be exchanged from one section of the mat to the other to help understand regrouping and borrowing. Four sets of blocks are available to model different place values. 5 Minute Preview

Target Sum Card Game (Multi-digit Addition)

Play an addition card game! The goal is to create a sum that is as close as possible to the target sum. Students will deepen their understanding of place value as they get better at playing the game. Many game options allow students to vary the game for more practice. The game can be played with one or two players. 5 Minute Preview

Chocomatic (Multiplication, Arrays, and Area)

Use the Chocomatic to design candy bars made out of chocolate squares. Use multiplication to find the number of squares in each chocolate bar. Build collections of chocolate bars that all have the same number of squares. Solve multiplication problems by joining two smaller chocolate bars into a large bar. 5 Minute Preview

Critter Count (Modeling Multiplication)

Use groups of critters on leaves to model multiplication as repeated addition. Change the expression to change the number of groups or the number of critters per group. Display the critters either on leaves or as a rectangular array. 5 Minute Preview

No Alien Left Behind (Division with Remainders)

The alien school children from the planet Zigmo travel to distant planets on a field trip. The goal is to select a bus size so that all buses are full and no aliens are left behind. This is a nice illustration of division with remainders. 5 Minute Preview

Factor Trees (Factoring Numbers)

The Factor Trees Gizmo has two modes. In Factor mode, you can create factor trees to factor composite numbers into primes. In Build mode, you can build numbers by multiplying primes together. Can you build all composite numbers up to 50? Any whole composite number up to 999 can be factored or built with the Gizmo. 5 Minute Preview

Fraction Artist 1 (Area Models of Fractions)

Develop understanding of fractions by making modern paintings. Find different ways to divide a canvas into equal-sized sections. Make paintings to represent simple fractions and to find fractions that are equivalent to one-half. 5 Minute Preview

Fraction Garden (Comparing Fractions)

Plant flowers in two gardens to help develop fraction sense. The two gardens act as number lines, from 0 to 1. Use the flowers in the gardens to compare fractions and to explore equivalent fractions. Chalk marks can be drawn to divide the garden into equal sections. 5 Minute Preview

Modeling Fractions (Area Models)

Model and compare fractions using area models. Set the denominators with the arrow buttons, and then set the numerators with the arrow buttons or by clicking in the models. Compare fractions visually, on a number line, or numerically using the least common denominator. 5 Minute Preview

Adding Fractions (Fraction Tiles)

Add fractions with the help of the Fractionator, a fraction-tile-making machine in the Gizmo. Model sums by placing the tiles on side-by-side number lines. Explore the usefulness of common denominators in adding. Express sums as improper fractions or mixed numbers. 5 Minute Preview

Fraction Artist 2 (Area Models of Fractions)

Extend understanding of fractions by making modern paintings in the style of Piet Mondrian. Create and analyze paintings with different-sized sections. Compare the sizes of unit fractions. Find creative ways to color one-half of a painting. This can be a nice introduction to adding fractions with unlike denominators. 5 Minute Preview

Fractions with Unlike Denominators

Find the sum or difference of two fractions with unlike denominators using graphic models. Find the least common denominator graphically. 5 Minute Preview

Dividing Fractions

Divide fractions using area models. Adjust the numerators and denominators of the divisor and dividend and see how the area model and calculation change. 5 Minute Preview

Modeling Fractions (Area Models)

Model and compare fractions using area models. Set the denominators with the arrow buttons, and then set the numerators with the arrow buttons or by clicking in the models. Compare fractions visually, on a number line, or numerically using the least common denominator. 5 Minute Preview

Elevator Operator (Line Graphs)

Operate an elevator in an old apartment building. Pick up and drop off residents where they want to go. A line graph shows where the elevator traveled over time. Operate the elevator either by using the standard up and down controls, or by building a graph to program where you want it to go. 5 Minute Preview

Pythagorean Theorem with a Geoboard

Build right triangles in an interactive geoboard and build squares on the sides of the triangles to discover the Pythagorean Theorem. 5 Minute Preview

Graphing Skills

Create a graph (bar graph, line graph, pie chart, or scatter plot) based on a given data set. Title the graph, label the axes, and choose a scale. Adjust the graph to fit the data, and then check your accuracy. The Gizmo can also be used to create a data table based on a given graph. 5 Minute Preview

Mean, Median, and Mode

Build a data set and find the mean, median, and mode. Explore the mean, median, and mode illustrated as frogs on a seesaw, frogs on a scale, and as frogs stacked under a bar of variable height. 5 Minute Preview

Mean, Median, and Mode

Build a data set and find the mean, median, and mode. Explore the mean, median, and mode illustrated as frogs on a seesaw, frogs on a scale, and as frogs stacked under a bar of variable height. 5 Minute Preview

Reaction Time 2 (Graphs and Statistics)

Test your reaction time by catching a falling ruler or clicking a target. Create a data set of experiment results, and calculate the range, mode, median, and mean of your data. Data can be displayed on a list, table, bar graph or dot plot. The Reaction Time 2 Student Exploration focuses on mean. 5 Minute Preview

Spin the Big Wheel! (Probability)

Step right up! Spin the big wheel! Each spin can result in no prize, a small prize, or a big prize. The wheel can be spun by 1, 10, or 100 players. Results are recorded on a frequency table or a circle graph. You can also design your own wheel and a sign that describes the probabilities for your wheel. 5 Minute Preview

Adding Whole Numbers and Decimals (Base-10 Blocks)

Use base-10 blocks to model two numbers. Then combine the blocks to model the sum. Blocks of equal value can be exchanged from one area of the mat to the other to help understand carrying when adding. Four sets of blocks are available to model different place values. 5 Minute Preview

Subtracting Whole Numbers and Decimals (Base-10 Blocks)

Use base-10 blocks to model a starting number. Then subtract blocks from this number by dragging them into a subtraction bin. Blocks of equal value can be exchanged from one section of the mat to the other to help understand regrouping and borrowing. Four sets of blocks are available to model different place values. 5 Minute Preview

Multiplying Decimals (Area Model)

Model the product of two decimals by finding the area of a rectangle. Estimate the area of the rectangle first. Then break the rectangle into several pieces and find the area of each piece (partial product). Add these areas together to find the whole area (product). 5 Minute Preview

Quilting Bee (Symmetry)

Participate in an old-fashioned quilting bee and create a colorful, symmetrical quilt. Quilts can be created with a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal line of symmetry. Quilts can be folded to look for reflections, or rotated to test for rotational symmetry. 5 Minute Preview

Rock Art (Transformations)

Create your own rock art with ancient symbols. Each symbol can be translated, rotated, and reflected. After exploring each type of transformation, see if you can use them to match ancient rock paintings. 5 Minute Preview

Elapsed Time

Calculate the difference between the times given by two analog clocks. Rotate the hands of the clocks to change the time and see how the calculation changes. 5 Minute Preview

Area of Parallelograms

Examine and manipulate a parallelogram and find its area. Explore the relationship between the area of a parallelogram and the area of a rectangle using an animation. 5 Minute Preview

Balancing Blocks (Volume)

This Gizmo provides you with two challenges. First, use blocks to build a figure with a given volume. Then, try to balance the blocks on a platform that sits on the tip of a cone. The dimensions of the platform can be adjusted, and blocks can be added or deleted by clicking on the model. 5 Minute Preview

Chocomatic (Multiplication, Arrays, and Area)

Use the Chocomatic to design candy bars made out of chocolate squares. Use multiplication to find the number of squares in each chocolate bar. Build collections of chocolate bars that all have the same number of squares. Solve multiplication problems by joining two smaller chocolate bars into a large bar. 5 Minute Preview

Surface and Lateral Areas of Prisms and Cylinders

Vary the dimensions of a prism or cylinder and investigate how the surface area changes. Use the dynamic net of the solid to compute the lateral area and the surface area of the solid. 5 Minute Preview

Beam to Moon (Ratios and Proportions)

Apply ratios and proportions to find the weight of a person on the moon (or on another planet). Weigh an object on Earth and on the moon and weigh the person on Earth. Then set up and solve the proportion of the Earth weights to the moon weights. 5 Minute Preview

Fraction, Decimal, Percent (Area and Grid Models)

Model and compare fractions, decimals, and percents using area models. Each area model can have 10 or 100 sections and can be set to display a fraction, decimal, or percent. Click inside the area models to shade them. Compare the numbers visually or on a number line. 5 Minute Preview

Percents and Proportions

Find a part from the percent and whole, a percent from the part and whole, or a whole from the part and percent using a graphic model. 5 Minute Preview

Toy Factory (Set Models of Fractions)

Create a set of stuffed animals: monkeys, giraffes, and rabbits. Toys can be painted red, green, or blue. Describe the makeup of the set (animals or colors) with fractions. Arrange the toys into groups to simplify the fractions. 5 Minute Preview

Adding and Subtracting Integers with Chips

Use chips to model addition and subtraction of positives and negatives. Explore the effect of zero pairs. See how to use zero pairs to help special cases of addition and subtraction. 5 Minute Preview

Integers, Opposites, and Absolute Values

Compare and order integers using draggable points on a number line. Also explore opposites and absolute values on the number line. 5 Minute Preview

Modeling One-Step Equations

Solve a linear equation using a tile model. Use feedback to diagnose incorrect steps. 5 Minute Preview

Modeling and Solving Two-Step Equations

Solve a two-step equation using a cup-and-counter model. Use step-by-step feedback to diagnose and correct incorrect steps. 5 Minute Preview