If you are lucky and have access to a computer room, a laptop trolley or a class set of iPads for your maths club there are some great online mathematical activities out there beyond the usual times tables practice and homework checking. I have collated a few of my favourites that I have used for extra curricula maths clubs. Something that I have learnt from bitter experience is that you should always check beforehand that the activities you wish to use are compatible with the technology you have!
If you are looking to develop number skills then there are plenty of great starting points, the Factors and Multiples Game from NRICH is quick to explain but can lead on to some deep ideas, especially if you set the challenge of who can make the longest chain. For similar explorations into sequences you might like to try Shifting Times Tables. If you aren't using iPads, the remainders game is a great introduction into some more advanced maths. You could lead onto this pleasing visualisation of Euclid's Algorithm. For a quick game you could try Is This Prime?
Mathematical doodles are a great source of inspiration, you might like this interactivity that draws stars. There are more links to common factors here! You might also like to investigate spirolaterals, here is a simple loops interactive that allows some initial exploration. Here is another one from Bowland maths that does require flash. If you really get into spirolaterals then you can have a play with this more complex interactive from the Mathenæum that allows you to change the angles too.
Another branch of maths that lends itself to interactives is strategy games. When you play against the computer it gives you a chance to develop strategies and check them against an expert. You might like to share Got it, Square It, Approaching Midnight, Drips, and Kaxo. There are also some articles about these types of games and other collections on the Wild Maths website.
For something more artistic you could try out the symmetry artist and tessellation artist from mathisfun.com. You might like to look at Robotic Rotations to explore how the angle of rotation affects the rotational symmetry of a design. There are more links to common factors here!
Spirograph is always a winner I've found. Even if you don't go into the maths deeply, you can still set challenges like 'Can you create a pattern with rotational symmetry of order 4?' (Hint: it's about highest common factors again!) Here is a lovely interactive that allows lots of customisation and you also can export your designs.
If you're into tessellations you might also love this Penrose Tilings interactive, completely hypnotic! Or you might want to explore this interactive gihir tiling, a traditional islamic structure for drawing geometric designs.
If you've had a go at drawing isometric drawings on dotty paper you might like to have a go at this isometric interactive. There are lots of options when drawing and then you can rotate your shape around to see it from different views.
Sometimes you might like a more generic interactive with more flexibility. I particularly like this dotty grids interactive as you can undo and redo the steps to see what order things were done in. I have found that it's a great way to remind students when they are discussing their processes.
I couldn't publish this list without including GeoGebra. I think I may have saved the best till last really as GeoGebra is so versatile, free and possible to use online (though if you can get the full version downloaded onto your computers even better!) I think I would start out with some simple constructions, you might like to use Euclid: The Game to get started with. When your students have got the hang of it they might like to try these tricky construction challenges: Triangle Midpoints, Half a Triangle and The Medieval Octagon. Other things you might like to try constructing include a cardioid envelope, fibonacci spirals and maybe some curvy shapes.
In case you missed them I wrote a blog post about maths club activities using just paper and scissors, and one about printable things for use in a maths club.
Please feel free to comment about anything you think I've missed!
.
If you are looking to develop number skills then there are plenty of great starting points, the Factors and Multiples Game from NRICH is quick to explain but can lead on to some deep ideas, especially if you set the challenge of who can make the longest chain. For similar explorations into sequences you might like to try Shifting Times Tables. If you aren't using iPads, the remainders game is a great introduction into some more advanced maths. You could lead onto this pleasing visualisation of Euclid's Algorithm. For a quick game you could try Is This Prime?
Mathematical doodles are a great source of inspiration, you might like this interactivity that draws stars. There are more links to common factors here! You might also like to investigate spirolaterals, here is a simple loops interactive that allows some initial exploration. Here is another one from Bowland maths that does require flash. If you really get into spirolaterals then you can have a play with this more complex interactive from the Mathenæum that allows you to change the angles too.
Another branch of maths that lends itself to interactives is strategy games. When you play against the computer it gives you a chance to develop strategies and check them against an expert. You might like to share Got it, Square It, Approaching Midnight, Drips, and Kaxo. There are also some articles about these types of games and other collections on the Wild Maths website.
For something more artistic you could try out the symmetry artist and tessellation artist from mathisfun.com. You might like to look at Robotic Rotations to explore how the angle of rotation affects the rotational symmetry of a design. There are more links to common factors here!
Spirograph is always a winner I've found. Even if you don't go into the maths deeply, you can still set challenges like 'Can you create a pattern with rotational symmetry of order 4?' (Hint: it's about highest common factors again!) Here is a lovely interactive that allows lots of customisation and you also can export your designs.
If you're into tessellations you might also love this Penrose Tilings interactive, completely hypnotic! Or you might want to explore this interactive gihir tiling, a traditional islamic structure for drawing geometric designs.
If you've had a go at drawing isometric drawings on dotty paper you might like to have a go at this isometric interactive. There are lots of options when drawing and then you can rotate your shape around to see it from different views.
Sometimes you might like a more generic interactive with more flexibility. I particularly like this dotty grids interactive as you can undo and redo the steps to see what order things were done in. I have found that it's a great way to remind students when they are discussing their processes.
I couldn't publish this list without including GeoGebra. I think I may have saved the best till last really as GeoGebra is so versatile, free and possible to use online (though if you can get the full version downloaded onto your computers even better!) I think I would start out with some simple constructions, you might like to use Euclid: The Game to get started with. When your students have got the hang of it they might like to try these tricky construction challenges: Triangle Midpoints, Half a Triangle and The Medieval Octagon. Other things you might like to try constructing include a cardioid envelope, fibonacci spirals and maybe some curvy shapes.
In case you missed them I wrote a blog post about maths club activities using just paper and scissors, and one about printable things for use in a maths club.
Please feel free to comment about anything you think I've missed!
Comments
Post a Comment