Problem solving and word problem resources online

Problem solving websites

Word Problems for Kids
A great selection of word problems for grades 5-12.  A hint and a complete solution available for each problem.
www.stfx.ca/special/mathproblems/welcome.html

Problem Solving Decks from North Carolina Public Schools
Includes a deck of problem cards for grades 1-8, student sheets, and solutions. Many of these problems are best solved with calculators. All of these problems lend themselves to students telling and writing about their thinking.
community.learnnc.org/dpi/math/archives/2005/06/problem_solving.php

Math Stars Problem Solving Newsletter (grades 1-8)
These newsletters are a fantastic, printable resource for problesm solve and their solutions.
community.learnnc.org/dpi/math/archives/2005/06/math_stars_news.php

Open-Ended Math Problems
Collection of problems that lend themselves to more than one way of solving.
fi.edu/school/math2/index.html

Math Kangaroo Problem Database
Easily make worksheets of challenging math problems based on actual past Math Kangaroo competition problems.
www.kangurusa.com/clark/pdb/

Thinking Blocks
Learn to model or make visual representations of word problems with this interactive program.
www.thinkingblocks.com

Mathematics Enrichment - nrich.maths.org
Open-ended, investigative math challenges for all levels.
nrich.maths.org/public/

Figure This! Math Challenges for Families
Word problems related to real life. They don't always have all the information but you have to estimate and think. For each problem, there is a hint, other related problems, and interesting trivia. Website supported by National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
www.figurethis.org

Learn to Solve Word Problems
A collection of school algebra word problem solvers that solve your problems and help you understand the solutions. All problems are customizable, meaning that you can change all parameters.
www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/word/

Math Word Problems for Children - MathStories.com
Over 12,000 interactive and non-interactive NCTM compliant math word problems, available in both English and Spanish. Helps elementary and middle school children boost their math problem solving and critical-thinking skills. Need to pay for membership. 
www.mathstories.com/

• Word Problems Solving Strategies
  Gives one example of each strategy: Find a pattern, Make a table, Work backwards, Guess and check, Draw a picture, Make a list, Write a number sentence, Use logical reasoning.
  www.mathstories.com/strategies.htm

Math Word Problems Worksheets
Free worksheets from About.com for various grades in PDF form.
math.about.com/od/wordproblem1/Worksheets_for_Word_Problems_Various_grades.htm

MathsChallenge.net
Search for number, geometry, probability etc. word problems and challenges. Includes solutions.
mathschallenge.net/

Smart Skies - Distance Rate Time problems
Six Air Traffic Control (ATC) Problems, with downloadable curriculum materials and teacher guide. For grades 5-9.
quest.nasa.gov/projects/smart_skies/

Ms. Lindquist: the Tutor
An intelligent tutoring system for algebra for tutoring students in writing expressions for algebra word problems.
www.cs.cmu.edu/~neil/

Online math tutors to help with math homework are available 24/7 at Tutor.com.

Books

Solving Math Problems - a Reference for Teachers FREE SHIPPING All Solution Processes Explained in Detail 200 Solved Problems Ready for Teaching Middle School and Up Sample Problems at www.JohnRDixonBooks.com

Primary Mathematics Challenging Word Problems
For grades 1-6 from Singapore Math. The books include answer key, worked examples, practice problems, and challenging problems. $8 per book.
www.singaporemath.com

Challenge Math For the Elementary and Middle School Student There is a great lesson at the beginning followed by practice and then three levels of questions. The author has taken concepts that are generally saved for older kids (and can be dry and tedious) and made them accessible to a younger age group. Some of the concepts are fairly simple but as you work through how to apply them with increasing difficulty to some real-world problems then it does get you thinking.

Contests and similar

Homeschool Math Contests
A comprehensive list of math contests which are open and accessible to individual homeschoolers.
www.HomeschoolMathContests.com

"Problem of the Week" (POWs)
Problem of the week contests are excellent for finding challenging problems and for motivation. There exist several:

• Math Forum: Problem of the Week
  Five weekly problem projects for various levels of math. Mentoring available.
  www.mathforum.org/pow/

• Math Contest at Columbus State University
  Elementary, middle, algebra, and "general" levels.
  www.colstate.edu/mathcontest/

• Aunty Math
  Math challenges in a form of short stories for K-5 learners posted bi-weekly. Parent/Teacher Tips for the current challenge explains what kind of reasoning the problem requires and how to possibly help children solve it.
  www.auntymath.com/

• Education Place Brain Teasers
  Has a separate one for for grades 3-4, grades 5-6, and grades 7-8.
  www.eduplace.com/math/brain/index.html

• Grace Church School's ABACUS International Math Challenge
  This is open to any child in three different age groups.
  www.gcschool.org/pages/program/Abacus.html

• MathCounts Problem of the Week Archive
  Browse the archives to find problems to solve. You can find the link to the current problem on the home page.
  www.mathcounts.org/webarticles/anmviewer.asp?a=142&z=7

Math League's Homeschool Contests
Challenge your children with the same interesting math contests used in schools. Contests for grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Algebra Course 1, and High School are available in a non-competitive format for the homeschoolers. The goal is to encourage student interest and confidence in mathematics through solving worthwhile problems and build important critical thinking skills. By subscription only.
www.mathleague.com/homeschool.htm

Math projects or investigations

Mixing in Math
A list of activities that mix math in to sports, snack time, arts and crafts, playground games etc. Easy to prepare and lead, and free.
mixinginmath.terc.edu/

Hands-on Manipulative Instructions
Print, cut out, and color & glue - various blocks, tiles, graph paper.
mason.gmu.edu/~mmankus/Handson/manipulatives.htm

MathNotations
A blog with quality math investigations and projects for middle and high school level.
mathnotations.blogspot.com

Math Activities at Education.com
A huge list of free activities for all grade levels.
www.education.com/activity/all-grades/all-grades/math/

Math Lessons and Projects
These are quality math projects - spanning from number sense, geometry, statistics, probability, algebra, to special math events. They're not free but you pay a few dollars per download.
www.digitallesson.com/id14.html

Mathwire.com
Innovative and creative board games, activities and worksheets for elementary and middle school math topics.
www.mathwire.com

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