The goal of this task is to use geometry study the structure of beehives. Beehives have a tremendous simplicity as they are constructed entirely of small, equally sized walls. In order to as useful as possible for the hive, the goal should be to create the largest possible volume using the least amount of materials. In other words, the ratio of the volume of each cell to its surface area needs to be maximized. This then reduces to maximizing the ratio of the surface area of the cell shape to its perimeter.

This brief article describes some methods of indirect measurement that have been applied throughout history to the problem of estimating the height of tall trees. Several methods involving scaling, angles, ratios, and tools are discussed.

In this investigation, students visualize and compare volumes in solids composed of unit cubes and look for patterns in the measurements. They work systematically to organize and analyze the results. Ideas for implementation, extension and support are included.

In this set of addition and subtraction word problems students are encouraged to find their own way to solve the problems. This enables students to discover the strengths and weaknesses of different solution methods and to see how multiple methods all arrive at the same answer. Included with the problem set are tips for getting started, the solutions, a teacher resource page, and a printable student page.

The Big6 is a six-stage model to help anyone solve problems or make decisions by using information. Students can use this model to guide them through the research process. This resource is a lesson plan that uses the Big6 model to help students determine how to earn an 'A' grade.

This activity provides an opportunity for students to work on spatial visualization and number sense together. Learners are presented with a hundred grid and told there is another printed on the reverse side. They must work out the unseen numbers for several positions on the grid. Ideas for implementation, extension and support are included along with a printable sheet of grids.

This problem challenges children to make sense of information presented by applying their knowledge of number properties and to make and test conjectures based on that information. Students try to determine the secret number property or rule by examining the numbers that fit the rule and the numbers that don't fit the rule. The Teachers' Notes page offers rationale, suggestions for implementation, discussion questions, ideas for extension and support and a link to an interactivity of the game.

This article highlights the four recommended research-based practices described in the How to Organize Your Teaching U.S. Dept. of Education What Works web site.

The Big6 is a six-stage model to help anyone solve problems or make decisions by using information. Students can use this model to guide them through the research process. This page of the Big 6 website includes an article about the connection between the Big6 and technology.

The Big6 is a six-stage model to help anyone solve problems or make decisions by using information. Students can use this model to guide them through the research process. This page of the Big 6 website includes a presentation about inquiry learning.

The Big6 is a six-stage model to help anyone solve problems or make decisions by using information. Students can use this model to guide them through the research process. This resource is a unit plan for integrating the Big6 and science curriculum.

The Big6 is a six-stage model to help anyone solve problems or make decisions by using information. Students can use this model to guide them through the research process. This resource is a report on a Big6 research project conducted in grades 5-12 in Taiwan.

The Big6 is a six-stage model to help anyone solve problems or make decisions by using information. Students can use this model to guide them through the research process. This page of the Big 6 website is a presentation that introduces the Big6.

The Big6 is a six-stage model to help anyone solve problems or make decisions by using information. Students can use this model to guide them through the research process. This page of the Big 6 website is a presentation that introduces the Big6, particularly explaining Big6 terminology.

This Java applet game allows children to think strategically in an engaging context: the goal is for the two frogs and two toads to change places on the lily pads. The challenge is to do this in as few slides and jumps as possible. Students will need to work very systematically and may also want to develop their own recording system.

This problem provides an interesting context to consolidate addition of fractions and requires students to develop and analyze different strategies and explain their findings. Students are asked to find a general method for expressing unit fractions (fractions which have numerators of one) as the sum of two different unit fractions. They also explore whether all unit fractions can be written like this in more than one way. The Teachers' Notes page offers rationale, suggestions for implementation, discussion questions, and ideas for extension and support.

This article, written for middle grades students, relates the history of the famous Konigsberg Bridge problem and introduces the idea of networks and paths that do not retrace themselves. The article concludes with a path the student must work out.

In this problem students practice addition and subtraction (and possibly multiplication) while developing systematic work strategies. Given two types of ladybirds, each with either 4 or 7 spots, learners explore ways of combining them to achieve different total numbers of spots. The Teachers' Notes page offers rationale, suggestions for implementation, discussion questions, ideas for extension and support, and links to related games.

This collection of division word problems prompts learners to use a variety of methods of division. Allowing learners to choose their own method to solve the word problems enables them to see the strengths and weaknesses of various methods and to see why certain methods might be better for specific problems. Included with these problems is the solution, teacher resource page, tips on getting started, and a printable student page.