Explore the ideas and history behind numbers, shapes, patterns and mathematical thinking. Choose an article below; its reading controls let you move between the available levels.
1,419 public articles · Page 23 of 30
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Think about how many toys are in a box. Some boxes have a few. Some boxes have a lot. We can count how crowded things are. This helps us know what is inside. It is fun to count! Can you count your toys?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleWe use marks to show numbers. These marks tell us how many. Some people use different marks. They can look very new or very old. These marks help us count things. It is a way to write. Can you find numbers today?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleMath helps us guess things. It helps when we cannot know the exact answer. We use small steps to find the way. This helps us build things. It helps us study life. Can you find patterns in math?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleWe use math to solve hard puzzles. It helps us see how things move. We can use small shapes to find answers. This helps us build big things. Math is all around us. Can you find math at home?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleWe use math to catch sounds. We take many small dots of a sound. These dots help us keep the music. If we take enough dots, it sounds just right. It helps us hear things clearly. Do you like music?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleAn octagon is a shape. It has eight sides. You can see it in some buildings. It looks very neat. Can you find one?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleSome shapes have eight sides. These sides can be flat triangles. They look like two pyramids stuck together. You can find these shapes in math. They are fun to look at. Can you find a shape with eight sides?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleA line is a special space. You can find any spot on it. You only need one number to tell where it is. It can be straight or curved. This helps us measure how long things are. It is very useful! Can you find a line?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleWe use math to change things. You can put groups together. You can also take some away. It helps us solve puzzles. Math is all around us. Do you like to count?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleMath can change things. It can take a shape and make it new. It can turn one thing into another. This helps us solve puzzles. It is like a magic trick with numbers. Can you find math in your room?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleMath can look at things in reverse. Imagine a line of people. We can turn them around. Now they face the other way. It works the same way with shapes. This helps us see new things. Can you think of something in reverse?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleWe must pick a good spot for things. We can pick where to build a shop. We can pick where to put a park. This helps us save time and money. It also keeps us safe. Where would you put a new store?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleImagine a magic box. It can answer any question. You ask it a thing. It tells you the answer fast. This box helps a computer. It can solve hard puzzles. Can you think of a question?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleA pair is two things together. The order of the two things matters. If you swap them, it is not the same. This helps us find spots on a map. It is like a list. Can you make a list of two things?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleWe use numbers to show where things are. You can be first in line. You can be second in line. This helps us know the order. It is like a long path. It helps us count in order. Can you find the first one?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleSome shapes have two sides. You can go clockwise or counter-clockwise. Most things work this way. But some shapes are different. They only have one side! Can you find a shape with one side?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleOronce Fine was a smart man. He loved numbers and maps. He even drew a map shaped like a heart. He taught many people about math. He also made tools to look at stars. Do you like to draw maps?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleOne man loved shapes. His name was Oswald. He studied how things look. He found new ways to see. He helped people learn math. Do you like shapes too?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleThink about flipping a coin. One side is heads. The other side is tails. These are the things that can happen. We call these things outcomes. Only one can happen at a time. Do you like to play games with coins?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleA pace is a step. It is how far you walk. You can use it to measure. It helps you know how far you go. It is a fun way to count. Can you take a big step?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleWe use numbers to count things. Some numbers go on and on. They can go to the left. They use special patterns. This helps us solve puzzles. It is a new way to see math. Can you find patterns too?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleA man named Pafnuty loved math. He lived long ago. He studied many patterns. Math helped him find new ideas. He was a great teacher. Do you like to count things?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleLong ago, people used hands to measure things. They used the width of a palm. This helped them know how long things were. It was easy to do. You can use your hand too! Can you try it?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articlePandrosion was a math teacher. She lived a long time ago. She found ways to work with shapes. Her ideas help us solve puzzles. She was a very smart woman. Do you like math puzzles too?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleSome things change as time goes by. Heat moves through a metal rod. It spreads out and gets even. We can use math to see this. It helps us learn about our world. Do you like to see how things change?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleSome lines go the same way. They stay the same distance apart. They never, ever touch. This is true for flat shapes too. They stay side by side. Do you see lines like this?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleThis shape has four sides. The sides go in pairs. Facing sides look the same. They never touch or cross. It is a neat shape. Can you find one?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleLines can go in many ways. Some lines never meet. Other lines will meet. This helps us draw shapes. It helps us see the world. Can you find straight lines near you?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleSome things help us know a thing. They tell us how a thing works. A shape or a size can be one. These help us group things. They help us learn more. Can you find a shape? Do you see a pattern?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleSometimes math rules do not work for every number. You might try to use a rule. But the rule might stop. It might not have an answer. This can happen with some math. Can you find a rule like that?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleSome things go in order. One thing can come before another. But not all things must match. Some things do not have an order. Think of a family tree. You can see who came first. Can you find an order in your room?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleYou can pick some things from a group. You do not have to pick all of them. You can leave some spots empty. This helps us count ways to line them up. It is a fun puzzle. Can you try it?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleYou can put things into groups. Put all your toys in piles. Each toy goes in one pile. No toy is left out. No toy is in two piles. This is a way to group things. Can you make piles with your blocks?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleNumbers can make a shape. It looks like a big triangle. You add two numbers to get a new one. It makes a fun pattern. Do you see the pattern?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleYou can follow a line of dots. The dots are like stops on a trip. You move from one dot to the next. Do not go back to a dot you already used. This makes a path. It helps you find your way. Can you find a path?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleA pattern is something that repeats. You can see them in nature. They are in stars and flowers. They are even in the snow. Patterns make the world look neat. Can you find a pattern today?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articlePaul Cohen loved math. He worked on hard puzzles. He found new ways to think. This helped him win a big prize. He was very smart. Do you like math too?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articlePaul loved math. He liked to solve puzzles. He worked with many friends. He traveled to many places. He wrote many papers. Math was his life. Do you like math puzzles too?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articlePavel was a man who loved math. He looked at shapes and patterns. He wrote many books about them. His ideas help us learn more. Math is a big, fun world. Do you like to count things?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleComputers solve many puzzles. Some puzzles are fast to solve. These are easy for a computer. We call these fast puzzles P. It helps us use machines well. Can you find a fast puzzle?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleNumbers follow a pattern. We start with zero. Then we add one to get the next number. This makes a long line. It helps us count everything. Do you like to count?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleA pentagon has five sides. You can see it in shapes. It can look like a star too. This shape is very neat. Can you find five sides? Count them with me!
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleSome games have no secrets. You can see all the pieces. You know what has happened. This helps you play well. Chess is like this. Can you play a game with no secrets?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleSome numbers are very special. They fit together just right. Take the number six. One, two, and three add up to six. It is a perfect match! Can you find more? Do you like math puzzles?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleThe perimeter is the distance around a shape. It is like a fence around a yard. You can measure the edge of a box. It tells you how long the line is. It helps us know how much string we need. Can you find a shape to…
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleSome things happen over and over. They follow a pattern. A clock is like this. The hands move in a circle. They do the same thing every day. Can you find a pattern? Do you see it too?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleLines can meet in a special way. They can cross like a plus sign. This makes a perfect corner. You see these corners on a square. They are very straight. Can you find a square corner near you?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleSome shapes are made of dots and lines. This shape has ten dots. It also has many lines. The lines connect the dots. It is a very special shape. Can you see the lines?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the article