Posts Tagged ‘puzzles’

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Free KenKen Math Puzzles!

May 6th, 2013

Hi!  It’s Monday, May 6, 2013 and time for Math at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

KenKen

Age Range: 7 and up (approximately, with parental supervision)

ClickScholar Amy suggested this ad-supported website that provides free KenKen math puzzles. What’s a KenKen? As Amy described it, “It’s a logic puzzle that mixes a Sudoku puzzle and arithmetic.” It was invented by a Japanese mathematics instructor, Tetsuya Miyamoto. His goal was to improve his students’ math and logic skills. As explained at the website:

“KenKen is a grid-based numerical puzzle that uses the basic math operations—addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division—while also challenging your logic and problem-solving skills. By altering the size of a KENKEN grid, from 3 x 3 up to 9 x 9, and employing different combinations of the math operations, five different difficulty levels can be generated, and a seemingly endless number of puzzles. In a way, KenKen is like a game of chess: The more you think ahead to your next move and consider all the possible outcomes, the better you’ll get—and the smarter you’ll become!”

When you get to the website you’ll see the puzzles of the day. If you’re unfamiliar with KenKen, click on “How To Play” on the menu at the top of the page. You’ll not only read an explanation of how to play, but you can follow a step-by-step tutorial. Then, test your skills with the daily puzzles.

Bookmark the site to return each day for the daily puzzles, or sign up (as a teacher) to receive the free newsletter and a set of KenKens will be emailed to you weekly. 

Note: You can also purchase a Premium Membership, that allows you to use the puzzles ad-free. Details at the website.

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Math Videos for Numberphiles!

April 8th, 2013

Hi!  It’s Monday, April 8, 2013, and time for Math at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

Numberphile

Age Range:  Varies (all require parental preview and supervision)

This ad-supported website is a collaboration by mathematicians who have recorded “videos about numbers and stuff” to share the wonder of math through interesting activities, funny stories, and challenging puzzles and concepts. The videos were all created by the same innovator who gave us “The Periodic Table of Videos” featured previously on ClickSchooling.

When you get to the site you’ll see a menu of math-themed drawings and symbols, that are clues to the video topic. (Some are more obvious than others.)  Click on any one and a new page opens where a video will launch on a math topic such as:

  • Fibonacci Patterns in Tartan Plaids
  • Safe-Cracking
  • Calculating Pi with Real Pies
  • The Math Problem in the movie, “Good Will Hunting”
  • Rubik’s Cube
  • The Dragon Curve
  • Is Zero an Even Number?
  • Encrypting Large Numbers
  • 5 Platonic Solids
  • Vampire Numbers
  • How to Order 43 Chicken McNuggets
  • Discalculia
  • Tetrahedral Dice
  • The Googol and Googolplex
  • How Big is a Billion?

Select the topics that appeal to the interest and ability level of any given student and enjoy the video presentation

IMPORTANT: Because some of the presentations are geared for older audiences, and because ads are randomly generated and appear on screen as the videos are launched, parents should preview the videos and supervise Internet activity. 

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Free Virtual Farm for Kids!

March 19th, 2013

Hi!  It’s Tuesday, March 19, 2013 and time for Science at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

Kids Farm

Age Range: All (Designed for kids in PreK and Elementary grades, but fun for everyone with parental supervision.)

Call the kids over to the computer and enjoy a free virtual trip to a farm where you will not only see photographs of many farm animals and wild animals – but you will be able to hear the sounds they make as well!

Learn about what grows on the farm (from cherries to hay) and find out all about the various equipment that is used on a farm. Meet the ranch hands at Red Bluff Ranch in Colorado, the sponsor of this low-tech, user-friendly website.

When you get to the site, click on the red letters “click here to get started.” That will take you to a screen that asks “Where do you want to go?” You have a choice of viewing:

  • Farm Animals
  • Wild Animals
  • Equipment
  • What Grows
  • People at the Ranch

And, you’ll find a free, printable coloring book of farm animals, interactive online crossword puzzles, spelling practice activities and more – all themed around ranch life.

If you click on any topic, “Farm Animals” for example, a new screen opens with a menu of animals to choose from including:

  • Horses
  • Chickens
  • Turkeys
  • Goats
  • Llamas
  • And More!

Click on any category and a new screen opens with information presented through text, photos, and sound (so turn on your speakers).

This site is easy to use, loads of fun, and designed with kids in mind.

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Fun Math Games & Printables for Kids

March 18th, 2013

Hi!  It’s Monday, March 18, 2013 and time for Math at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

Kids Math Games

Age Range: 5-13 (approximately, with parental supervision)

I stumbled upon this ad-supported website that offers a wide variety of free, online, interactive math games, printable worksheets and quizzes, video tutorials and more! This colorful site is user-friendly and engaging. Most kids will be enticed to try a game or two, or three, or more. 

When you get to the site, you’ll see a brief introduction and the featured math topics that include:

  • Numbers – Fun challenges related to numbers, patterns, fractions, decimals, etc.
  • Geometry – Learn about shapes, grids, weights, angles, rotation, and more.
  • Facts – Read interesting math facts and trivia.
  • Videos – Watch educational clips that teach addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and more.
  • Printable Worksheets – Includes addition, multiplication, fractions, etc.
  • Pictures – See math photos, images, and diagrams.
  • Printable Quizzes – Test your knowledge of division, decimals, money, basic algebra and more!

You’ll also find logic games, math riddles, board games, and math puzzles.This is a terrific resource that will enhance learning math. Bookmark it, to return often.

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Free K-12 Math Videos & Games!

March 11th, 2013

Hi!  It’s Monday, March 11, 2013 and time for Math at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

Math Pickle

Age Range: 5-18 (Grades K-12, with parental supervision)

This is one of the most innovative math sites I’ve seen. A Canadian mathematician/teacher developed this site to help classroom teachers address the multiple math skill levels of students through challenging and engaging activities and games that are demonstrated on videos. All of it can be tweaked for use in the homeschool environment.

When you get to the site, you’ll see a menu and some of the featured videos. The videos are designed for teachers to view in preparation for teaching a classroom lesson. Look for the Grade Range Menu and click on the grade levels of interest to you that include:

*K-2 – Enjoy math activities based on literature, games that teach patterns, matching games, skip counting, addition, symmetry, Fibonnaci numbers, and more.

*3-4 – Play dot-to-dot measuring puzzles, learn subtraction, discover graphs, find out about area and perimeter in the most weird and wonderful ways.

*5-6 – Practice division, do some problem solving, learn origami, discover prime numbers, practice factoring, and more.

*7-9 – Enjoy a game of “Integral Fission,” practice subtracting fractions, engage in cipher breaking, strategize, practice squaring and cubing, do puzzles to learn about bases, exponents and polygons, memorize the formula for the area of a cone, find out what Archimedes knows about the area and volume of a sphere.

*10-12 – Play games and solve puzzles that teach algebra, scientific notation, Pythagoras’ theorem, physics, trigonometry, and learn a little calculus through song.

Click on any topic and a new page opens where you can watch a demonstration video. Many of the activities also come with free downloadable worksheets and solutions as well.

You will also find curricula and puzzle books for sale on this site, but you don’t have to purchase a thing to access the incredible range of free math activity videos. Bookmark this site to return often.

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Lab Science Videos, Activities, Worsheets, & Games!

February 26th, 2013

Hi!  It’s Tuesday, February 26, 2013 and time for Science at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

Jefferson Lab Science Series

Age Range: 11 and up (approximately, with parental supervision)

ClickScholar Laura suggested this website, sponsored by The Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) in Newport News, Virginia, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The lab’s primary mission is to conduct research on the atom’s nucleus using the lab’s unique particle accelerator.

In addition to its science mission, the Lab provides programs and resources designed to help educate the public in science and technology, including a free “Science Series” of engaging lectures that are video-recorded and archived at the website for viewing. Plus, the Lab offers free learning resources including activities, worksheets, games, and more!

When you get to the site you’ll see a menu of the “Science Series” video titles including:  

  • The Origin of the Elements
  • Adventures in Infectious Diseases
  • DNA: The Strand that Connects Us All
  • Einstein for Everyone
  • Understanding Flight: A Physical Description of How Airplanes Fly
  • The Physics of Stock Car Racing
  • The Physics of Baseball
  • Comic Book Physics
  • Chemistry – It’s More Than Puffs and Bangs!
  • Radiation: What Is It and How Can It Affect Me?
  • Jellyfish: The Big Sting
  • From Acne to Suntans: Dermatology for the Teenager
  • And Many More!

Each title has a brief description and a link you can click to watch the video online.

Wait! There’s more!

When you’re through watching the lectures check out the Science Education section of this site that contains free resources including hands-on activities, worksheets, puzzles and games. Just look in the “Teacher Resources,” “Student Zone,” and “Games and Puzzles” sections to access all of the free science goodies.

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