Curated OER
"Weighing the Elephant"
Can your class solve the problem presented in the Chinese folktale, "Weighing the Elephant?" Read your class the description before having them attempt to solve the problem. After they've come up with an answer (or attempted to!), finish...
Scholastic
Scholastic: Math Maven's Mysteries: Mystery at the Third Strike Sports Store
Solve a mystery using your reasoning skills. At this site use all the clues and figure out the winner of the Third Strike Contest.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Math Maven's Mysteries: The Bell Clapper Caper
Help the Math Maven get the kids out of school on time. Someone has stolen the bell's clapper and if the bell doesn't ring at 3:00, the school doors will not open! You have to figure out the last question to ask the number one suspect.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Nctm: Figure This: Math Challenges for Families
NCTM offers sections on Families & School, Families & Math, Families & Homework, and more. Has links to brain-teaser problems ranging in skill from very easy to challenging. Click Take a Challenge or Challenge Index for...
PBS
Pbs Mathline Lesson: Mix It Up [Pdf]
A lesson based on the story, "Oliver's Fruit Salad," where young scholars explore the concept of proportional reasoning through modeling, student sharing, and questioning. A great introductory lesson for this concept that is sure to...
Other
Geography Through Literature Pacific Islands
This site is a highly detailed unit plan. That crosses almost all the disciplines, with "Call it Courage," as the beginning point. Links to a .pdf file and Word versions of handouts are available.