For the poster of MathPickle’s ideas on elementary math education go here.
It is impossible to be a great math teacher without teaching great mathematics.
In elementary school a quality math education has these objectives in order of importance:
1) Problem-solving
2) Tenacity-building
3) Arithmetic




A PuzzleTime favourite from last week: Add the fewest number of toothpicks so that Willie only has one way to lie down.
Ben Sparks and Brady Haran team up to solve a delicious puzzle.
Mathologer highlights some beautiful mathematics.
Simon Anthony solves a highly symmetric sudoku with some special rules.




Teaching is an experimental science.
James Tanton and the Global Math Project has created an exceptional framework for teaching bases that is essential in every elementary school classroom. It’s called exploding dots.
The Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival and its founder Nancy Blachman refine the pedagogy of problems and promote a non-competitive alternative to competitions. They have a strong commitment to the Spanish community.
Dan Finkel’s Math for Love is a website full of engaging mathematics. He rethemes many puzzles appropriate for elementary school students and creates his own beautiful problems. Prime climb is his board game.
Brady Haran’s Numberphile is one of the top math channels. Most of the videos are not appropriate for the elementary school classroom, but there are many exceptions like this video on the dollar game by Dr. Holly Krieger.
Mathologer produces beautiful videos for his youtube channel. Most target middle and high school students, but this video deserves watching by elementary school teachers as well.
Grant Sanderson’s phenomenal videos on his 3blue1brown youtube channel are stunningly beautiful. They are best for high school and beyond.
Please use MathPickle in your classrooms. If you have improvements to make, please contact me. I'll give you credit and kudos 😉 If you are using MathPickle with adults, please mention the website. If you are from a private school, please ask parents or administrators to donate.
Gordon Hamilton
(MMath, PhD)
