Resources for Math Awareness Month

2008 Theme: Math and Voting

(Updated March 2008)

Mathematics Awareness Month began in 1986 and is held each year in April.

The 2008 theme is Math and Voting. In a presidential election year, the term "voting" brings to mind national elections. Resources for this year's Mathematics Awareness Month are designed to help explain what makes these votes matter, as well as how the voting system used affects the outcome, regardless of the context of the voting.

Resources from Math Awareness Month 2008

• Math and Voting Theme Essays
• 2008 Downloadable Math & Voting Poster
• Video Contest

Math Lessons, Activities & Projects

1. Math Fun! -- Five 'Invisible' Math Lessons
   These lessons are "invisible" because kids have so much fun they don't realize they are actually doing math.
    
2. Music Math: Create a Clapping Symphony
   Students in all grades read simple music to create a symphony of clapping (plus fraction math for grades 5-up).
    
3. Daily Numbers: A Math Skill Reinforcement Activity
   Use this daily lesson to reinforce skills taught throughout the school year.
    
4. Popcorn Math
   Use popcorn to teach a number of K-8 math concepts.
    
5. ZIP Code Math
   Students in all grade levels add or subtract to solve ZIP Code math word problems.
    
6. Math Fun (Part One)
   Looking for ways to break up a bad case of math monotony? Three lesson, adaptable for all grade levels, get kids out of their sits, having fun, and practicing math skills.
    
7. Math Fun (Part Two)
   Math class doesn't have to be stay-in-your-seat quiet. Two lessons use bulletin boards and photographs to relate math skills to everyday life.
    
8. Phone Book Math
   Did the phone company just deliver new phone books to your door? Don't throw out the old ones -- ask students to bring them to school. Those old phone books offer opportunities for lots of valuable math practice, and extensions into other curriculum areas as well!
    
9. Spelling and Math Vocabulary
   A kinesthetic approach to teaching spelling, and a word game to reinforce math concepts.
    
10. Motherhood Math: Mothers in the Workforce
    Grades 3-12 examine the increasing numbers of working mothers.
     
11. Five Games for Teaching Math Facts
    Practice! Practice! Practice! That's how most students learn their addition facts or times tables. Rote drill is a popular and proven tool for learning math facts. But it's OK to lighten up and add some fun to math-facts learning.
     
12. Around the World
    Grades 3-8 play a game in which they practice timed math activities.
     
13. Celebrate the 100th Day of School
    Try these 100 math activities.
     
14. Works4Me Math Tips
    Find dozens of practical classroom tips — written by teachers, for teachers — aimed at helping you teach math creatively and effectively.
     

Other NEA Resources

• Sports Math Scores Points with Students and Teachers
  Grab students' interest with a site that teams math with sports -- and everyone comes out a winner.
   
• Sites to See: Math Homework Help
  Students (and parents who may wish to help them with homework!) can find expert advice in just a few clicks.
   
• Bookless Math Class Adds Up
  Computers take center stage in this successful classroom.
   
• Math Date: Celebrate Pi Day on March 14
  That is 3.14 - get it?
   
• Math Date: Explore Base 10 on "Powers of 10" Day
  K-12 math activities for October 10.
   
• Math Lesson Plans
  An annotated list of links to math lesson plans on the Web.
   
• Math Lessons in Spanish
  Web site offers interactive lessons for K-8.
   
• Math Resources
  An annotated list of links to math resources available on the Web.
   
• Mathematics & Children's Literature
  An annotated list of links featuring mathematics and literature on the Web.
   
• Mathematics & Science Programs for Girls
  An annotated list of links featuring mathematics and science programs for girls on the Web.