Mathematically proficient students start by explaining to themselves the meaning of a problem and looking for entry points to its solution. They analyze givens, constraints, relationships, and goals. They make conjectures about the form and meaning of the solution and plan a solution pathway rather than simply jumping into a solution attempt. They consider analogous problems, and try special cases and simpler forms of the original problem in order to gain insight into its solution. They monitor and evaluate their progress and change course if necessary. Older students might, depending on the context of the problem, transform algebraic expressions or change the viewing window on their graphing calculator to get the information they need. Mathematically proficient students can explain correspondences between equations, verbal descriptions, tables, and graphs or draw diagrams of important features and relationships, graph data, and search for regularity or trends. Younger students might rely on using concrete objects or pictures to help conceptualize and solve a problem. Mathematically proficient students check their answers to problems using a different method, and they continually ask themselves, “Does this make sense?” They can understand the approaches of others to solving complex problems and identify correspondences between different approaches.

Creature Caverns Teacher Guide

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Click to download this Teacher Guide for Creature Caverns, a flexible, sandbox-style game that challenges students to analyze patterns in tables and graphs. Adaptable for grades 4-7, students create a...

Curse Reverse Teacher Guide

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Click to download this Teacher Guide for Curse Reverse, a game that builds algebraic expression and patterns skills.  Adaptable for grades 3-7, the game invites students to navigate imaginary sites, u...

Computer Coding Lesson Plan: Creative Coding

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In this lesson plan, adaptable for grades 3-12, students explore BrainPOP resources to learn about topics related to computer coding. Then they’ll show what they know about the topic by completing one...

Digital Citizenship Creative Coding Lesson Plan

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Students show what they know by coding a project....

Newscast Lesson Plan

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Students use JavaScript to create a scrolling news headline to correspond with a video....

Meme Lesson Plan

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Students embellish a video with graphics and text.  ...

Syntax Lesson Plan — CodeCombat: Ogre Encounter

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This lesson plan, adaptable for grades 3-8, features the game CodeCombat: Ogre Encounter, in which players use computational thinking and computer programming to solve puzzles  framed as mazes. The...

Math Skills Lesson Plan: It’s All Fun and Games

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In this math skills lesson plan, which is adaptable for grades 3-12, students work collaboratively to research selected math skills. Students then create, play, and assess a math game that is designed...