I just came across this wonderful site of rich problems. These problem could be used in centers or whole class.
OpenMiddle
Why should I use tasks in my math classroom? Rich tasks offer opportunities to meet the needs of learners where they are at. A task opens the doors to questioning (by students and teachers). A "rich task" is nothing more than a "good problem". A problem students need to solve! Too often we "provide" information and assign a worksheet for students to regurgitate the steps/process they just learned. A rich task allows students to use strategies learned and apply them to a situation - a true problem to solve. Students aren't "allowed" to sit back and let the teacher do the work, but they must participate in the challenge. With that being said, the task must be attainable (through work) or a wide range of learners. Tasks naturally flow into "math talk" in the classroom - between peers and teacher.
A rich task offers the teacher to observe student weaknesses and strengths. They could be used to support assessment all the while they are building excitement in your classroom because the students are engaged in trying to solve a problem! Through math tasks teachers are able to embed direct instruction into a meaningful context, create open-ended, differentiated learning experiences, engage students through real-world experiences, and promote the development of mathematical reasoning.
While there are a lot of resources on the web and in books, nrich is a wonderful site to begin implementing tasks in your classroom.
Other task resources:
Balanced Assessment
NZMaths
OpenMiddle
Why should I use tasks in my math classroom? Rich tasks offer opportunities to meet the needs of learners where they are at. A task opens the doors to questioning (by students and teachers). A "rich task" is nothing more than a "good problem". A problem students need to solve! Too often we "provide" information and assign a worksheet for students to regurgitate the steps/process they just learned. A rich task allows students to use strategies learned and apply them to a situation - a true problem to solve. Students aren't "allowed" to sit back and let the teacher do the work, but they must participate in the challenge. With that being said, the task must be attainable (through work) or a wide range of learners. Tasks naturally flow into "math talk" in the classroom - between peers and teacher.
A rich task offers the teacher to observe student weaknesses and strengths. They could be used to support assessment all the while they are building excitement in your classroom because the students are engaged in trying to solve a problem! Through math tasks teachers are able to embed direct instruction into a meaningful context, create open-ended, differentiated learning experiences, engage students through real-world experiences, and promote the development of mathematical reasoning.
While there are a lot of resources on the web and in books, nrich is a wonderful site to begin implementing tasks in your classroom.
Other task resources:
Balanced Assessment
NZMaths