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Tough Stuff
Nurture critical and creative thinking!
Cryptarithms
What are they?
Cryptarithms are mathematical puzzles where the digits of the numbers are completely replaced with letters. Each letter represents a unique digit, so different letters will always represent different digits and the same letters will always represent the same digit. Even though there are no numerical digits, students should be able to use deductive reasoning to determine all of the digits in the puzzle.
What is a Cryptarithm?
Solving Subtraction Cryptarithms
Solving Addition Cryptarithms
Cryptarithms in Base-5
3rd Grade Sheet
4th Grade Sheet
5th Grade Sheet
Magic Squares
What are they?
A Magic Square is an array of numbers where the sums of the numbers in each row, column, and diagonal are the same. Students are challenged to determine all of the numbers in the magic square. Magic Squares are great for building mathematical thinking, introducing and reinforcing algebraic thinking, deepening understanding of a topic, and promoting flexible thinking!
What is a Magic Square?
Solving Magic Squares
1st Grade Sheet
2nd Grade Sheet
3rd Grade Sheet
4th Grade Sheet
5th Grade Sheet
Brain Coffee
What is it?
Our Brain Coffee videos are simply logic games you can use with your kids in a whole-group setting! These are great for quick transition breaks! Keep your kids up and moving while exercising their brains with Brain Coffee!
Brain Coffee Volume 1
Brain Coffee Volume 3
Brain Coffee Volume 2
SIDES CHECK STRATEGY
What is it?
SIDES Check is the embodiment of all problem-solving strategies, broken down in a way that reminds kids the process of how to solve problems. It’s NOT a checklist. It guides thinking. To solve any problem, you need to name the problem, identify what you need to try to solve it, make a plan using that information, and then attempt to solve it.
SIDES Check Song
SIDES Check How-To
Videos To Use With Students
TAPE DIAGRAMS
What are they?
Tape diagrams are visual models that help to represent what is happening in a problem, and the relationship between the numbers. This is a great resource to develop independent thinkers with conceptual understanding!
Tape Diagrams With Fractions
Word Problems With Percents
Part-Whole Model Addition
Additive-Comparison Model
Multiplicative-Comparison Model
Division With Multiplicative-Comparison Model
Tape Diagrams With Percents
What Are They?
Part-Whole Model Subtraction
Part-Whole Model Multiplication
Part-Whole Model Division
Videos To Use With Students
VOLUME
What is it?
There’s no need to waste your time explaining this! Check out these resources to help you teach volume conceptually!