MathLexicon: More multiplicative words

You can create:

• New English words
• Silly pictures based on your words - visual representations of math
• Your own wildcard definitions for the English language extender MathLexicon

How?
First, head to MathLexicon software page, enter a word you like (yo

You can create:

You can create:

• A poster with your own collection of multiplication table patterns
• Your own unique plan for memorizing times tables
• Conjectures about algebraic rules related to times tables

How?
If you are planning on memorizing the times table, this activity is the first step. Print out or create a standard times table. Then stare at it for a while. Do you see any groups of facts that are very easy for you? Color each group's ce

You can create:

• Function machines!

How?
Imagine a machine that takes some numbers in, does something to them, then gives you the results. This is, quite possibly, the most popular metaphor in all mathematics: function as a machine! Working with function machines is simple. One person, the machine operator, makes up a machine. Other people offer numbers (or whatever input the machine takes). The operator gives machine's outputs back. Repeat, until you can guess what the machine does.

Here is some of the complexity in th

Spirolaterals are beautiful, and making them feels like a meditation. You can start on square grid graph paper, and then experiment with other paper types. It is a good idea to do most of your math work on graph paper, and to keep a good supply at home, but here is a good printables site for custom graph paper. Use paper with larger cells with younger kids! Some spirolateral artists, such as Robert Krawczuk, use complex grids and even three dimensions for their spirolateral creations.

Square grid spirolaterals, from Wolfram's Math World&l

Maggie F.:
I've got an idea that I'm hoping someone else can execute for the group. I've seen a project (I think Carol C. used this) where children used a template to draw the periodic chart onto pillowcases. .

I was thinking it would be great if we could do the same thing with the multiplication table chart, while I guess we could freehand it, it would be nicer if we had a template to trace from. I did an internet search and did not find an already existing template for such a project and I'm not computer design savvy enough to create on myself.

Jill:
One suggestion, Maggie, is to use the multiplication pie rather than table.

Or you wou

You can create:

• A three-dimensional Lego representation of multiplication table

How?
Draw a times table (up to five or so) on a large piece of paper. You can start with a few cells and see how much space you will need, depending on the way you go about your construction. Then figure out what you will do for multiplication. You can ask kids to represent 1, 2, 3 with Legos first. Then represent 2*3. The picture above shows one possibility among many: the first number is how many Lego blocks of each color you use for a tower, and the second number is how many color

You can create:

• Your own rules and card deck for Multiplication War game

How?
You can start this activity from the very plain (skeleton) rules you will develop into something uniquely yours. From a regular playing card deck, select number cards 2 through 9 and aces that stand for 1. Divide cards evenly between two players. Each player turns over two cards and multiplies them. The player with the largest product collects all four cards. If there is a tie, each player turns two more cards face up and multiplies them. The player with the largest product collects all

You can create:

• Item/idea1
• Item/idea2

How?
Activity description, videos, links, photos

Why?
Because... (reasons the activity is valuable to people)

As you go

• Things to notice
• Ideas to explore

Higher and deeper

• Connections to other topics, math and general culture included
• Deeper explorations within topics

Snippets and strewing

• How can this activity be adapted to tiny snippets of time - two minutes here, five minutes there?
• What objects can you strew around so you remember to do a snippet of this activity?

Video: Napier's Bones

You can create:

• Your own ways of multiplying large numbers
• A coll