The Robertson Program

Historical Figures in One Minute Students generate and analyze data to reveal issues of power, racial and gender inequality.

Students analyze a class-generated list of historical figures to explore patterns of representation, and discuss the social factors that reveal issues of power, racial and gender inequality. www.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/le...

Beading and Graphing For students to sort, classify, and display a variety of concrete objects, collect data, begin to read and describe displays of data, and begin to explore the concept of probability in everyday contex...

Students learn to sort, classify, and display a variety of concrete objects, and begin to explore the concept of probability in everyday contexts using beads and pipe cleaners.
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Comparing Food Prices: Food Insecurity Part 1 Students use math to explore how explore the factors that influence one’s ability to access food.

Students explore the factors that influence one’s ability to access food in remote areas by estimating and calculating transactions and sales tax. www.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/le...

Fraction Sudoku Develop skills in fraction recognition, comparison, and logical reasoning. Students practice analyzing patterns and applying problem-solving strategies collaboratively.

In this fraction-focused twist on Sudoku, students use equivalent fractions—as well as improper and mixed numbers—to complete the board. Students must reason about fraction size and equivalence while applying logic to solve the puzzle.
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Go Fish Using the four basic operations, players take turns asking opponents for cards that will create a target number.

Using the four basic operations, players take turns asking opponents for cards that will create a whole number up to and including 50. www.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/le...

Cube Challenge In this lesson, students work together to build 21 unique structures out of 3, 4, and 5 unifix cubes. Can you build them all?

In this small group activity, students work together to build 21 unique structures out of 3, 4, and 5 unifix cubes. www.oise.utoronto.ca/site/roberts...

Cookie Sheet Symmetry | The Robertson Program | Ontario Institute for Studies in Education For students to describe, sort, classify, and compare two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional figures, and describe the location and movement of objects through investigation.

Students describe, sort, classify, and compare two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional figures using magnetic pattern blocks and a cookie sheet.
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Comparing Fractions in Our Favourite Foods | The Robertson Program | Ontario Institute for Studies in Education Students expand their knowledge of fractions by looking at recipes that they bring from home.

Students learn to read and compare fractions, including halves and tenths, by looking at favourite recipes they bring from home in this small group activity.
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Probability PIG Students attempt to sink a basketball into net while incrementally increasing their distance from it. Each time they increase their distance from, they roll a die. The number they roll represents the ...

In this group activity, students use probability language to predict the likelihood of sinking a ball into the basketball net at increasing distances. wordpress.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/po...

Using Mahjong tiles, students practice their patterning skills by creating various sets to win the game.
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Ladybug Houses - The Robertson Program for Inquiry-based Teaching in Mathematics and Science Students develop an understanding of numbers by comparing ladybugs inside vs. outside of a house. Early Year. Number Sense.

Students identify number patterns by comparing ladybugs inside vs. outside of houses they construct using small toys and planko squares in this pair activity.
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Children work their spatial reasoning and multiplication facts of 2,5, and 10 to create rectangles and squares using the multiplication mania game board.
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Monthly Math Challenge - The Robertson Program for Inquiry-based Teaching in Mathematics and Science A new set of challenges for teachers each month. Designed to spark classroom discussion and promote deep mathematical thinking. With multiple solution paths, challenges are accessible to all students ...

Check out our latest set of monthly math challenges for primary and junior students!
Word problems, patterning and more!
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Sorting Material - The Robertson Program for Inquiry-based Teaching in Mathematics and Science Students sort and describe different types of materials, such as little animals, beads, and shapes. Early Years. Geometry and Spatial Sense.

Students work in pairs to sort and describe different types of materials, such as little animal figurines, beads, and other shapes. wordpress.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/po...

Pentomino Battleship - The Robertson Program for Inquiry-based Teaching in Mathematics and Science Students practice reading letter-number coordinates by playing a battleship game with a partner. Primary. Junior. Geometry and Spatial Sense.

Students practice reading letter-number coordinates by playing a battleship game with a partner. wordpress.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/po...

How Many? 5-Frame and 10-Frame Inside-Out - The Robertson Program for Inquiry-based Teaching in Mathematics and Science Students develop their spatial structuring of numbers and strengthen their working memory to compose and decompose. Primary. Number Sense.

Students develop their spatial structuring of numbers and strengthen their working memory to compose and decompose whole numbers up till 50 using 5 frame and 10 frame based number cards. wordpress.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/po...

Two of Everything Part 1 - The Robertson Program for Inquiry-based Teaching in Mathematics and Science In this folk tale retelling from Korea, a magic pot doubles whatever falls into it, producing chaos and opportunity for mathematical discussion. The children’s story Two of Everything contains many ma...

After reading "Two of Everything," students explore number pattern rules by using a T-Chart to illustrate the relationships between whole numbers. wordpress.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/po...

Pattern Hunt - The Robertson Program for Inquiry-based Teaching in Mathematics and Science Students go on a pattern hunt to look for naturally occurring patterns in their environment. Early Years. Patterning and Algebra.

Students go on a pattern hunt to identify and describe naturally occurring patterns in their school environment.
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Space Mission - The Robertson Program for Inquiry-based Teaching in Mathematics and Science Primary: Spatial Sense Compose and decompose various structures, and identify the two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional objects that these structures contain.

Students learn about the characteristics of the solar system including the positions of planets, the role of gravity and living conditions while making comparisons to the Earth.
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Hole-Punch Symmetry - The Robertson Program for Inquiry-based Teaching in Mathematics and Science Students visualize how folded and hole-punched paper will look when unfolded. Primary. Geometry and Spatial Sense.

Students visualize how folded and hole-punched paper will look when unfolded, and describe the location of the holes using spatial language.
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Hexagon Card Game - The Robertson Program for Inquiry-based Teaching in Mathematics and Science Students race to completely fill in the outline of a hexagon using different combinations of pattern blocks. Primary. Geometry Spatial Sense.

Students race to completely fill in the outline of a hexagon using different combinations of pattern blocks in this pair activity.
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The Animal Grid Game - The Robertson Program for Inquiry-based Teaching in Mathematics and Science Students love this offline coding lesson! They get to be the zookeeper feeding animals. Early Years. Primary. Geometry and Spatial Sense. Algebra

An intro to coding, students use directional language to explain the route on a grid that a zookeeper must take to get from the animal house to the animal.
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Box or Not? - The Robertson Program for Inquiry-based Teaching in Mathematics and Science Students sort and classify 2D/3D figures by geometric properties and using spatial language. Primary. Geometry and Spatial Sense.

Students sort and classify 2D/3D figures by geometric properties using spatial language. wordpress.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/po...

Chain Game: Simulating the World Market - The Robertson Program for Inquiry-based Teaching in Mathematics and Science Students create a product that can be sold/traded on the “world market.” Soon enough, the market changes!! Junior. Number Sense. Data Management.

Simulate the world market in your classroom by creating linked paper chains! Price fluctuations will be observed at time intervals throughout the game where students will use addition and subtraction to calculate the cost of their product.
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Monthly Math Challenge - The Robertson Program for Inquiry-based Teaching in Mathematics and Science A new set of challenges for teachers each month. Designed to spark classroom discussion and promote deep mathematical thinking. With multiple solution paths, challenges are accessible to all students ...

Check out our latest set of monthly math challenges for primary and junior students! Measurement, money and shapes!
wordpress.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/mo...

Ladybug Patterns - The Robertson Program for Inquiry-based Teaching in Mathematics and Science By using only one kind of material, students are challenged to think about making patterns in a different way. Early Years. Patterning and Algebra.

Students are challenged to think about making patterns in a different way by recognizing, describing and comparing similar sequences.
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One Grain of Rice: Part 1 - The Robertson Program for Inquiry-based Teaching in Mathematics and Science In this beautifully told folk tale from India, exponential growth gets the better of a despotic Rajah. The children’s story One Grain of Rice contains many mathematical concepts, including algebraic t...

After reading One Grain of Rice, students build equations and conceptualize the value of large numbers before identifying growing patterns.
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Base Ten Block Quick Image - The Robertson Program for Inquiry-based Teaching in Mathematics and Science Students recreate images composed of base ten blocks and calculate the sum of the blocks used. Primary. Geometry and Spatial Sense. Number Sense.

Students recreate images composed of base ten blocks and calculate the sum of the blocks used. wordpress.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/po...

Can You Measure This? - The Robertson Program for Inquiry-based Teaching in Mathematics and Science Students measure objects with a ruler, but they can't start at 0 cm! Primary. Number Sense. Geometry and Spatial Sense.

Students use mental math strategies to measure objects with a ruler without starting at 0 cm.
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21 - The Robertson Program for Inquiry-based Teaching in Mathematics and Science Students aim to beat the dealer by getting as close to 21 as possible without going over. Junior. Number Sense

In this friendly competitive card game, students must collect a set of cards with a sum as close to 21 as possible without going over using probability language.
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