Online Field Trip for Mathematics
Joseph Neil Ryan
Liberty University, School of Education
EDLC 530: Teaching Mathematics
Dr. Justin Leonesio
February 5, 2023
Illuminations
Illuminations by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics is a website that offers a
vast variety of games for students from preschool age up until seniors in high school
(Illuminations). On the website, it provides a search engine that allows you to type in the topic at
hand and filter it by grade level. Unfortunately, when attempting to access some of the lessons on
the website, it does require a membership to the NCTM. Overall, once access is granted to the
full scale of lessons, it is useful resource for students to reinforce their math knowledge.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) website includes the
mathematical standards that they developed for public schools, classroom resources to assist with
lessons, and funding for the NCTM. Just like the Illuminations website, also operated by the
NCTM, requires a membership to enjoy the full benefits that are available. Memberships grant
access to their publications and classroom resources.
Figure This!
The website Figure This is a math website that has mathematical activities and assignments
that you can directly link to either Google Classroom or Canvas that is associated with your
classroom. They offer math challenges that include algebra, geometry, measurement, number,
and statistics & probability (Figure This!). Overall, this is a fun math website that students can
utilize to enhance their knowledge of the math topics that are in the lesson. Also, with the ability
to link it directly to their digital classroom program, either Google Classroom or Canvas,
teachers will be able to track if they complete it or not and assess their work.
Consortium for Mathematics and Its Applications
The Consortium for Mathematics and Its Applications is “an award-winning non-profit
organization with the goal of improving mathematics education” (Kaiser). Consortium for
Mathematics provides contests for high school and college aged students to solve open-ended
mathematical problems. Also, they provide free resources that showcase a deep dive into
mathematical modules that are geared toward middle and high school students.
PBS Learning Media
PBS Learning Media is a free to use website that offers a variety of content that ranges all
grade levels in mathematics, math content from kindergarten math up to probability and statistics
for high school students, and other subjects as well. PBS offers a variety of resources such as
videos, interactive lessons, and other interactives that are grade level appropriate (Teaching
Resources for students and teachers). Through their website, you have the ability to either link it
directly to your Google Classroom and to create a link for any other web based classroom
software that the school district utilizes.
Cool Math Games
Cool Math Games provides a vast amount of math games that cover areas such as
addition/subtraction, multiplication/division, and other mathematical areas (Cool Math Games).
Beyond mathematical arcade style games, they also offer games that work on timing as well that
students use as time wasters, based on professional experience. Cool Math Games also provides
games beyond math subjects that are related to language arts and the sciences.
Association of Teachers of Mathematics
The Association of Teachers of Mathematics website offers free and membership only
classroom resources, training and events geared towards mathematics teachers, and conferences.
While some of their resources are available behind the walls of a membership, they offer more
resources that are free to use rather than paid for. The goal of their website is to “encourage the
teaching and learning of mathematics by relating more closely to the needs of the learners”
(About ATM).
ABC Education
ABC Education is a website that has mathematical videos, lessons, and games that are
relevant to a multitude of topics. The mathematical games that ABC Education provides cover
content such as money, geometry, percentages, telling time etc. (Maths). Overall, the games and
videos that are provided on their website are age appropriate and grade level friendly.
Math Playground
Math Playground is a mathematical games website that has math content that is geared
towards the grade levels between kindergarten and sixth grade. The games are fun, colorful, and
cover a broad range of topics and content. Content that their games cover are
addition/subtraction, multiplication/division, fractions, shapes and graphs, pre-algebra, and
money/time (Math games that Kids Love to play!).
Arithmetic Four
Arithmetic Four is a mathematical game that centers itself on whole number
addition/subtraction, whole number multiplication/division, integer addition/subtraction, and
integer multiplication/division. It is one singular game that allows the student to select a time
limit and combines connect four as well. Every time a student gets a question right it selects
where the red dot goes (Arithmetic Four).
Jefferson Lab – Games and Puzzles
Jefferson Lab, or JLab as we called it when I was in school, is an educational website that
provides fun games and practice tests for math, science, elements, and words as well. Their
mathematical games cover the basics such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Also, it covers inequalities and place values. On top of that, Jefferson Lab also provides practice
SOL test for all SOLs that the state of Virginia requires (Jefferson Lab).
National Library of Virtual Manipulatives
The National Library of Virtual Manipulatives, provided by Utah State University, offers
games that are specifically for numbers and operations for grades 3-5. These games cover topics
such as bar charts, fractions, number lines, money etc. All games provided are of a different
format that better suits the content at hand (Number & Operation (Grade 3-5)).
Seeing Theory
Seeing Theory website is a mathematical website that focuses on the topic’s basic probability,
compound probability, probability distributions, frequentist inference, Bayesian inference, and
regression analysis. Through this website, it takes you through each topic as a chapter and guides
the user in topic. The flaw that this website encounters is that it is not as broad as the other
websites listed and is linear in its approach (Kunin).
Interactive
The interactive website offers activities, lessons, and discussions that are within a wide range
of mathematical topics. The topics are algebra, calculus, discrete, fractions, geometry, graphs,
modeling, number/operations, probability, statistics, trigonometry, and sciences. This website is
targeted towards upper grade and college age students rather than elementary aged students
(Interactive).
Estimation – Hundreds
Estimation website is a matching, flashcard, concentration game with the focus on rounding
numbers to the nearest hundredth. The website contains only the one game that changes the
number set each time you complete the game. Overall, it is a fun game for students to play when
they are learning how to round to the nearest hundredths (Estimation-hundreds).
Random Services – Apps
Random services website is a mathematical and scientific resource that allows students in
science classes to test certain experiments. The experiment topics provided are simple
probability, geometric models, Bernoulli trials, finite sampling models, dice, games of chance,
renewal process, and among others. Only the dice and games of chance section is useful towards
mathematics and elementary students (Siegrist).
Defeat the Fraction Monster – Play Fraction Games
Defeat the Fraction Monster game is a website that centers its attention on fraction based
problems. They offer a multitude of different fraction centered games for a wide variety of
interest to assist with students learning fractions. Also, they offer a link that leads to a brief
review of fractions that is optional before the student starts the game (Fraction Games Help Kids
Conquer Their Fear of Fractions While Having Fun).
Maze Game
The Maze Game website is a maze style game that resembles mine sweep in where you have
to input the correct graph coordinates. It provides the coordinates at random and allows you to
print out the scores as well. The game can seem too challenging or difficult for students to
understand (Maze Game).
IXL Math
IXL Math is a mathematical activities, quiz, and game website that starts with pre-k math and
increases difficulty upwards to calculus. Teachers utilize this website to keep track of their
students’ abilities, homework for new topics, and games that can stimulate review for the topics
aligned with common core curriculum. It provides a fun atmosphere for the students to level up
as they master skills and can create a fun learning environment (IXL Math).
Kahoot!
Kahoot is an interactive quiz based website that allows students to compete with one another
in a fast paced competition. The teacher can submit their own questions based on the topic that
the students are learning, and the students will login to play the quiz. Teachers can use this as a
review opportunity before an assessment (Learning games: Make learning awesome!).
1st Favorite
My number one favorite website for students to utilize is Kahoot. Main reason why Kahoot is
the number one favorite is because when I was in high school and college, my teachers and
professors utilized this website to help us review for an upcoming assessment. When I become a
teacher and have my own personal classroom, I will use this to ensure that the students have fun
and gain a useful review as well. For example, when I use this in my classroom, I would reward
the students who attain podium status with bonus points on the assessment to boost competition
and engagement. Overall, this website gave myself a fun education and helped me succeed on
assessments.
2nd Favorite
My 2nd favorite is IXL Math. One of the reasons why IXL Math is my second favorite is that it
has games and quizzes on their platform that are relevant to common core standards and the
specific school districts standards as well. When you get a question wrong on IXL, it explains to
the student why the answer was wrong and provides steps in how to fix it. The games that they
provide are fun and engaging that allow students to learn and have fun at the same time. Main
reason why it is not number one is because teachers can often rely on it too much which makes
the students become tired of it.
3rd Favorite
My third favorite website from the list above is Defeat the Fraction Monster game. This
website allows for students to practice in a topic that may be a challenge to some students and
develops it into a fun atmosphere. It provides a vast variety of fraction games and to me, that is
what makes it a favorite. By offering a variety of games, it is able to reach a wider audience of
students to ensure that all students can enjoy learning about fractions.
4th Favorite
My fourth favorite website is Jefferson Lab. Jefferson Lab, in my opinion, is a very useful and
straight to the point website that assisted myself in passing the SOL test that we had to endure in
elementary school. Beyond the SOL review that Jefferson Lab provides, the websites games are
also a fun and diverse way for students to review and engage with the math topics that they are
learning in the classroom.
5th Favorite
Lastly, my fifth favorite website from the list provided is Cool Math Games. Cool Math
Games is a favorite of mine because it was a website that not only I was able to learn from, but it
also provided with games that were playable during free time in the class. While the non-
mathematical games outnumbered the mathematical games, both offered a great deal of fun and
learning for myself and the students I have taught through being a substitute teacher. Even
though it is a favorite of mine, it is at number 5 because the website can offer advertisements that
borderline appropriate for school.
Conclusion
The five websites that are selected as favorites are selected based personal and professional
experience with them. During my educational career in public school, we utilized these websites
when we had upcoming assessments and needed an activity to do during stations. In the
professional sense, these five websites provide students with a fun, engaging, and educational
opportunity to learn and reinforce their knowledge in the topic at hand. Combining these
mindsets, the five selected websites offer the best balance of education and fun that students,
especially at the elementary level, require to stay engaged in their education. Overall, these five
websites include the best balance and amount of education and fun that is nostalgic and
beneficial all in one.
References
About ATM. About The Association of Teachers of Mathematics. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5,
2023, from https://www.atm.org.uk/Association-of-Teachers-of-Mathematics
Arithmetic Four. Interactivate: Arithmetic Four. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2023, from
http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/ArithmeticFour/
Cool math games - free online math games, Cool Puzzles, and more. Cool Math Games - Free
Online Math Games, Cool Puzzles, and More. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2023, from
https://www.coolmathgames.com/
Estimation - hundreds. Quia. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2023, from
https://www.quia.com/mc/65924.html
Fraction games help kids conquer their fear of fractions while having fun. Fraction Games Help
Kids Conquer Their Fear of Fractions While Having Fun. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5,
2023, from https://www.learn-with-math-games.com/fraction-games.html
Figure This! Figure this! math challenges for Families - Challenge index.
(n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2023, from
https://figurethis.nctm.org/index.html
Illuminations by NCTM. Illuminations. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2023, from
https://illuminations.nctm.org/Default.aspx
IXL Math: Learn math online. IXL Learning. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2023, from
https://www.ixl.com/math
Jefferson Lab. Games and puzzles. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2023, from
https://education.jlab.org/indexpages/elementgames.html
Index - National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2023, from
https://www.nctm.org/
Interactivate: Activities - shodor.org. Interactive. (n.d.). Retrieved February 6, 2023, from
http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/
Learning games: Make learning awesome! Kahoot! (2023, February 2). Retrieved February 5,
2023, from https://kahoot.com/
Kaiser, B. (n.d.). After conceiving, founding, nurturing, and leading COMAP for over 40 years
Sol Garfunkel is retiring.COMAP, Inc. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from
https://www.comap.com/
Kunin, D. (n.d.). Seeing theory. Seeing Theory. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://seeing-
theory.brown.edu/index.html#firstPage
Maths. ABC Education. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2023, from
https://www.abc.net.au/education/subjects-and-topics/maths#all-years
Math games that Kids Love to play! Math Playground. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2023, from
https://www.mathplayground.com/math-games.html
Maze game. Interactivate: Maze Game. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2023, from
http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/MazeGame/
Number & Operation (Grade 3-5). NLVM 3 - 5 - number & operations manipulatives. (n.d.).
Retrieved February 5, 2023, from http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/category_g_2_t_1.html
Siegrist, K. (n.d.). Random Services. Apps. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from
http://www.randomservices.org/random/apps/index.html
Teaching Resources for students and teachers. PBS LearningMedia. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5,
2023, from https://vpm.pbslearningmedia.org/
