Outlines seven principles, in Swahili and English, of Kwanzaa, known as the Nguzo Saba: umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self-determination), ujima (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity), and imani (faith). Uses these principles to lay the foundation for a problem-posing education in…

Presents examples of problem tasks that promote communication and develop or reinforce important mathematical concepts. Problems that have multiple solutions or methods of solution are best in stimulating discussion, creativity, and risk taking. Examples were chosen from TOPS: Communication Deck Grades 1 and 2 (Greenes, Schulman, and Spungin;…

Presents a project in which grade 1 children use diary writing as a link between home and school. Describes how they used problem solving and problem posing as part of normal classroom and home activities. (ASK)

Items in the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory's (NCREL) School Development Library series are multimedia packages consisting of print, video, audio, and CD-ROM resources designed to support educators in their efforts to improve classroom instruction. This particular set consists of a 35-minute video and a printed booklet focusing on…

Explains how critical thinking, communication, and estimation can be incorporated into an exciting problem-solving unit for first-grade students. Presents four related activities. (ASK)

Describes how the author sets the stage for student ownership in learning and encourages students to ask and pursue their questions. Shows how she supports her students so that they view themselves as readers, writers, and thinkers. Encourages her students to become compassionate problem solvers. (SG)

Explains a problem-solving format developed by a school media specialist and first grade teacher that used the framework of Eisenberg and Berkowitz's "Big Six Skills" for library media programs. The application of the format to a science unit on the senses is described. (two references) (MES)

Describes the use of the children's book "Geraldine's Blanket" to promote discussion and allow the teacher to assess the children's understanding of area, place value, number sense, fractions, and problem-solving strategies. (MKR)

Gives examples of, and a rationale for, using estimation in the classroom daily. Includes instructional tips and strategies to enhance estimation activities. (MKR)

The document provides lesson plans for strengthening the thought processes, including problem solving and creative abilities, of first and second grade mentally gifted children. The lessons are organized within the five operations of the mind as defined by J. Guilford's Structure of Intellect (SOI): cognition (10 lessons), memory (3 lessons),…

The Mathematics Pentathlon is a tournament of mathematics games held each spring since 1979 to promote the development of mathematical concepts and skills while fostering interaction among the educational community. There are five games in each of four divisions, for grades K-1, 2-3, 4-5, and 6-7. The focus is on active problem solving and…

Presents seven scenes showing everyday classroom situations that give students the options of applying their own problem-solving strategies to solve everyday problems of life and enable them to experience mathematical power coming from self-initiated insights into mathematical concepts. (MDH)

This book introduces journal-writing prompts in mathematics for grades 1-2. Content prompts, attitudinal or affective prompts, and process prompts are presented. Each of the content prompts relates or connects topics within and outside of mathematics, targeting important or meaningful concepts and skills. The content prompts also provide…

Discusses a child-centered science project in which first-grade students integrate design drawing, construction, mathematics, and language arts to solve engineering problems related to constructing robots. Describes the construction of the robots, follow-up activities, and educational research that supports this approach to teaching. (10…

This document presents 20 activities for grade 1 students and emphasizes using a calculator. It is related to topics from a primary mathematics curriculum. Mathematical topics addressed include counting, addition and subtraction, the commutative property, greater than and less than, and place value. Each activity includes a statement of skills to…