Bridges in Mathematics Overview

Bridges in Mathematics is a full K-5 curriculum that provides the tools, strategies, and materials teachers need to meet state and national standards.

Developed with initial support from the National Science Foundation, Bridges offers a unique blend of problem-solving and skill building in a clearly articulated program that moves through each grade level with common models, teaching strategies, and objectives.

A Bridges classroom features a combination of whole-group, small-group, and independent activities. Lessons incorporate increasingly complex visual models - seeing, touching, working with manipulatives, and sketching ideas - to create pictures in the mind's eye that helps learners invent, understand, and remember mathematical ideas. By encouraging students to explore, test, and justify their reasoning, the curriculum facilitates the development of mathematical thinking for students of all learning styles.

Written and field-tested by teachers, Bridges reflects an intimate understanding of the classroom environment. Designed for use in diverse settings, the curriculum provides multiple access points allowing teachers to adapt to the needs, strengths, and interests of individual students.

Components

Each Bridges grade level provides a year's worth of mathematics lessons with an emphasis on problem solving. Major mathematical concepts spiral throughout the curriculum, allowing students to revisit topics numerous times in a variety of contexts.  More »

Sample Materials

To help you become more familiar with Bridges we offer samples of several elements of the curriculum.  More »

Student Work

Student work samples show how students improve their mathematical skills over time in a variety of contexts.  More »

Bridges Correlations

To assist you in finding materials that address your teaching and learning goals we have correlated Bridges in Mathematics to the Common Core State Standards.  More »

Research & Data

Bridges is based on research, refined by field experiences, and tested by student performance.  More »

Support for Materials

To facilitate the planning and implementation of Bridges in the classroom we offer several types of resources that can be downloaded including Work Places Instructions, Materials Lists by Unit, Inventory Lists, and Home Connections.  More »