Challenge Program
Grade 1 - Challenge Math Extension Activities
Trailblazers Unit 9 Grouping by 10's
- Choose own number & count by 10's
- Place value number riddles
- Classroom center materials
Trailblazers Unit 8 Subtracting to Solve Problems
- Guess my number
- Numskill math facts game
Grade 2 - Challenge Math Extension Activities
Grade level: Detective/deductive thinking skills lessons
Trailblazers Unit 4 Working with Data
Collect data on hand and finger measures: "The Great Span" from tip of thumb to tip of little finger. Plot date on line plot and analyze.
Trailblazers Unit 3 Buttons: Estimating, Grouping & Counting
- Introduce line plot
- Problem solving steps
- Crayon word problems
- Estimating quick images
- Materials for classroom centers
Trailblazers Unit 2 Exploring Numbers
- 200 chart game
- Numskill math facts game
- What is a graph?
- Small group problem solving
Grade 3 - Challenge Math Extension Activities
Trailblazers Unit 7 Exploring Multiplication & Division
- Venn diagrams with even numbers & multiples of 3
- Multiples of 9 number patterns
- Multiple step multiplication problems
Trailblazers Unit 6 More Adding & Subtracting
- Close to 1,000 addition & subtraction game
- Multiple step word problems
- Pyramid subtraction
Trailblazers Unit 5 Area of Different Shapes
- Estimating area of polygons
- MCAS grade 4 open response question: "Placemats"
Trailblazers Unit 4 Place Value Concepts
- Individual assessment: reading and writing large numbers to millions
- Place value addition & subtraction
- Number tile addition problems
- Addition with missing digits
- Multiple step addition & subtraction problems
- MCAS grade 4 open response elapsed time problem: Planning Museum of Science Field Trip Schedule
Trailblazers Unit 3 Exploring Multiplication
- Arranging chairs problems with multiplication arrays
- How many legs problems
- Riddle with 22 legs
Trailblazers Unit 2 Strategies: Addition & Subtraction
- Artist Albert Durer's special Magic Square
- Challenging Magic Squares
- Subtraction with missing digits
- Primary Challenge Math: How Much Change Do I Get? (level 2)
Grade 4 - Challenge Math Extension Activities
Trailblazers Unit 7 Patterns in Multiplication
- Cluster Multiplication
- Divisibility tests for 2,3,4,6,9, & 10
Trailblazers Unit 6 Place Value Patterns
- Brainstorm when big numbers are used
- Brainstorm all place value positions students think they know
- Research: Is Zillions a place value position?
- Place value through 100 billion
- Trillions through googleplex and notation with exponents
- Expanded notation with exponents
Trailblazers Unit 5 Using Data
- Grade averages-the meaning of mean; what scores would you need to get a certain grade average
- Collect data: balancing on one foot with eyes closed timed in seconds
- Create a line plot from data
- Analyze mystery balancers
Trailblazers Unit 4 Products and Factors
- Factor puzzles
- Prime and multiple number puzzles and create own puzzles
- Common mistakes with exponents
- Problem solving strategy: make a picture
- Snowman construction project
Trailblazers Unit 3 Numbers and Number Operations
- Place value puzzles and create own puzzle
- Roman numerals
- Place value game with deck of cards
- Place value above one million
- Math Olympiad algebra addition and subtraction problems
- Primary Challenge Math: How Much Change Do I Get? (fewest pieces rule)
Trailblazers Unit 2 Geometric Investigation
- Finding area and perimeter of different shapes
- Area and perimeter of irregular shapes with missing information
- Quick perimeter & area quiz
- Problem solving steps and ICE method
- Perimeter problem solving
- Pre-test on angles
- Classifying triangles
Grade 5 - Challenge Math Extension Activities
Trailblazers Unit 7 Decimals & Probability
- Identify and correct errors sometimes made when problem solving with decimals
Trailblazers Unit 6 Geometry
- Using parallel lines & transversals to measure angles without a protractor
- Using pattern blocks to explore similar polygons & identify ratio relationships
Trailblazers Unit 5 Investigating Fractions
- Challenge geoboard fractions
- Using a fractionstick chart to find common denominators
- Equivalent fraction magic square
- Tic Tac Toe fraction problem choice activity
- Using fraction stick pieces to add/subtract fractions with same & different denominators
Trailblazers Unit 4 Data & Division
- Primary Challenge Math: Area Problems
- Quick division quiz
- Comparing Algorithms: addition, subtraction, multiplication & division
- Mystery division (algebra)
- Cluster division
- Division with missing digits
- Primary Challenge Math: Division Problems
- Primary Challenge Math: Distance vs. Time
Trailblazers Unit 3 Fractions & Ratios
- Pretest 5th grade year fraction topics
- Pattern block mixed numbers
- Using the fraction stick chart
- Equivalent fraction problem solving
- Equivalent fraction puzzles
- Problem Solving: "What's My Speed?"
Trailblazers Unit 2 Big Numbers & Multiplication
- Cluster Multiplication