This article presents some of the optics and mathematics related to what causes a rainbow, why it is brighter inside than out, and why more than one rainbow may appear. (PK)

Describes a project in which 11- to 13-year-old children used their LOGO programing experience to assist them in investigating a mathematical topic. Students initially drew frieze patterns on graph paper and then wrote LOGO program. Implications of the project for mathematics instruction are noted. (JN)

Discusses a computer program requiring students to find an object on a grid by using location coordinates. The program, which provides a wide range of problem-solving activities, is a highly motivating approach to hands-on metric measurement, rounding off numbers, and plotting points on Cartesian coordinate systems. Includes complete program…

The need for development of a curriculum that provides vertical links between earlier and later work and horizontal links with other topics in mathematics and other subjects is promoted. Much of the material describes explorations of circles and cones suitable for many levels. (MP)

Shows that the experiment of the ancient Greek mathematician and geographer, Eratosthenes, can be replicated and used to teach geographic concepts. Eratosthenes calculated the most accurate ancient measurement of earth based on fundamental mathematics concepts and earth-sun relations. Includes instructions, illustrations, graphs, and historical…

Discusses the calculation of pi by means of experimental methods. Polygon circle ratios, Archimedes' method, Buffon's needles, a Monte Carlo method, and prime number approaches are used. Presents three BASIC programs for the calculations. (YP)

Describes attempts to instruct 12 children, aged between 10 and 11, during a 12-hour course in LOGO that proper attention should be paid to the external angles through which the turtle rotated. Results suggest that using LOGO to draw closed figures may lead to confusions about angle that are not amenable to conventional intervention techniques…

This literature review examines the contribution of the LOGO programming language toward facilitating elementary school students' learning and in promoting problem-solving skills. Topics addressed include positive and negative effects of LOGO use; LOGO theory and development; transfer of LOGO skills; and support for structured, teacher-mediated…

Described is a two-week summer residential program designed for students who have been identified through one of several middle school talent searches. Discussed are the assumptions and goals, course content and pedagogy, evaluation, and materials of the program. (CW)

This article describes a geometry project that used the beauty of stained-glass-window designs to teach middle school students about geometric figures and concepts. Three honors prealgebra teachers and a middle school mathematics gifted intervention specialist created a geometry project that covered the curriculum and also assessed students'…

This article describes a unit of instruction designed to promote a conceptual understanding of area in sixth-grade students. Students used benchmarks to estimate the areas of real houses and calculated the areas of houses based on building plans. (Contains 7 figures.)

"Lettuce Learn Math" is an interdisciplinary program that has effectively linked a small-scale agricultural production system to a sixth-grade mathematics and science curriculum. The mathematical concepts and skills, including measurement and geometry, taught in this project met and often exceeded the standards set by New York state for…

This paper describes an activity which attempts to change the discourse of a mathematics classroom with the specific intent to help children who may have difficulties with mathematics and ways of communicating. Ten 8-year old children in the Learning Support Programme were engaged in an open-ended geometric task. In this paper a brief description…

High school algebra and geometry teachers use graphing calculators extensively in their classes today. National and state mathematics curriculum standards recommend their use for class work, tests and assignments. Because of recent legislation, including "IDEA 2004" and "No Child Left Behind", most students with mild…

A sequence of number pairs can be used to generate many interesting examples in teaching mathematics subjects at various levels. It is often used in elementary or middle school mathematics classes to illustrate the concept of "patterns." In this paper the authors present a few interesting ways of using this sequence to form examples for high…