Mathwire Dr. Seuss Activities

Many schools celebrate the birthday of Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. Consider adding mathematical activities to these celebrations. One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish is an especially good introduction to combinations. Use the Mathwire open-ended problems written to accompany this book. The problems may be used with older grades who enjoy hearing their childhood book read aloud. Primary students will enjoy completing Seussical Patterns, using the classic red and white striped Seuss hat. See more Mathwire Dr. Seuss activities.

St. Patrick's Day Activities

•  Shamrock Paths challenges students to use Pascal's Triangle to figure out how many different ways there are to spell Shamrock. Included in the PDF file are an explanation of how this problem relates to Pascal's Triangle and the numerical solution to the challenge.
•  Shamrock Patterns requires students to rotate shamrocks to complete the pattern. Download some copies of Extra Shamrocks for students to cut apart and glue on to complete the patterns.
•  Top of the Morning challenges students to identify the 100th and 1000th letter that will be printed on the electronic signboard.

Fall Problem Solving

These open-ended assessments require students to apply mathematical concepts and skills to solve problems and explain their thinking using words, pictures and/or numbers.


 Candy Corn presents a triangular numbers problem using a candy corn pattern. Younger students might use candy corn to model the problem. A sample solution shows how older students might use an input-output table to model the pattern and find the solution without the use of manipulatives.


 Annual Fall Parade challenges students to use the triangular pattern to figure out how many students are in the fourth grade. Given the number of full rows, students must apply the pattern and use effective recording (picture, table, etc.) to explain their reasoning.


 Pumpkin Picking is a pattern problem that can be solved using a picture or an input/output table. [contributed by Shannon Collier, Joseph C. Caruso School, Keansburg, NJ]


 Trick or Treat requires students to create a table of values and identify the pattern or rule to solve the problem.


 Grade 2 Halloween Word Problems were written by Tammie Holcombe and Karen Zeigler, second grade teachers at Port Monmouth Road School in Keansburg, NJ.


Younger students will enjoy analyzing and completing  Fall Patterns. They should then classify the pattern and explain their reasoning as part of the class discussion. It is possible that students will see different patterns in some of the items so their explanation and justification are very important mathematical discourse.

Valentine Quilt

This Valentine Quilt is a great culminating activity for a study of the geometry of quilts. Each student designs a 9-square paper quilt patch using only red, pink and white paper. Students may elect to use a traditional quilt pattern or design their own original pattern and name it. Assemble all of the quilt squares into a class quilt. 

Be sure to use the Quilt Block Challenge to introduce students to the mathematical geometry of quilts.  Here are some additional Mathwire handouts to help you get started on any quilting study:

• 3x3 Quilt Patterns  may be used as templates for copying shapes onto colored paper and for students to assemble their own quilt blocks.
• Paper Quilt Block Writing to Learn helps students reflect on the symmetry and transformations found in their quilt block design.

These internet sites are also helpful when introducing students to the mathematics of quilting:

• Annenberg's Quilts addresses 4 different kinds of symmetry found in quilt blocks. Students will then have to identify the kind of symmetry used in other quilt blocks, then select pieces from the four given pieces to replicate that quilt block. 
• Nine Patch Quilt Block Patterns  shows students pictures of traditional quilt blocks based on the 3x3 grid.

Penguin Math-Literature Connection

The family in this book receives a penguin in the mail each day and these penguins quickly add up to take over the house and their lives. The book already contains measurement calculations, but the book also lends itself to some problem solving possibilities. After enjoying the book, continue with some of these problem solving activities, created by Mathwire:

• Students need to apply calendar skills to solve the Penguin Delivery problem.
• Dad dreams up another crazy arrangement for the penguins in Penguin Formation .
• See more penguin problems including Penguin Parade and Penguin Puzzler which also feature patterns that would have intrigued Dad.

How many ways can you spell HEART?

Heart Paths

Students will enjoy this discrete math activity that challenges them to find all of the possible ways to spell heart.  Each path starts on the H and moves down to an E, then an A, then an R, and finally a T.  You may only move to one of the two letters directly below the letter you are on. 

This activity is directly related to Pascal's Triangle, so it would be beneficial if students have previous experience with this famous pattern.  Try Pascal's Hearts which challenges students to try to figure out how to fill in the missing rows.  The downloadable file contains a notated solution which teachers may use to lead a class discussion of the solution and any patterns students can find in Pascal's Triangle. 

The downloadable Heart Paths file contains a student recording sheet so that students can record their paths in an orderly fashion.  This enables students to check that they have not duplicated a previous path.  Classroom teachers might make a transparency of this handout to be used on the overhead.  This way different students can draw paths as the class discusses the possible paths.

Be sure to check out the Mathwire Discrete Math collection for additional discrete math Pascal's path activities.  The SNOW activity download includes a teacher step-by-step orderly solution that relates the rows to the rows of Pascal's Triangle. This same process is easily extended to the 5-letter HEART paths.

Fall Problem Solving

The following open-ended assessments require students to apply mathematical concepts and skills to solve problems and explain their thinking using words, pictures and numbers.

• Candy Corn presents a triangular numbers problem using a candy corn pattern. Younger students might use candy corn to model the problem. A sample solution shows how older students might use an input-output table to model the pattern and find the solution without the use of manipulatives.
• Younger students will enjoy analyzing and completing Fall Patterns.  They should then classify the pattern and explain their reasoning as part of the class discussion. It is possible that students will see different patterns in some of the items so their explanation and justification are very important mathematical discourse.
• Annual Fall Parade challenges students to use the triangular pattern to figure out how many students are in the fourth grade. Given the number of full rows, students must apply the pattern and use effective recording (picture, table, etc.) to explain their reasoning.
• See more Problem Solving Resources from the Mathwire collections.  All problems are classroom-ready in PDF format.  Many contain a sample solution for teacher use.