To help teachers identify and attain hands-on experience with high quality classroom materials, the Southwest Consortium for the Improvement of Mathematics and Science Teaching (SCIMAST) has partnered with school district offices, universities, museums, and professional development centers to provide teachers with 40 access centers throughout the Southwest. Access centers act as libraries for printed materials, hands-on activities, high quality curriculum, and online resources as well as offering training about materials that support mathematics and science instruction and network sessions for teachers to share what they learn. Lending policies and hours vary depending on the center. For more information or to search for a resource, visit the access centers online at http://www.sedl.org/scimast/accesscenters/ (link disabled 11/1/2005).

Sample resources relating to diversity contained in one or more access centers include:

Matematica para La Familia/Family Math
Stenmark, J.K., Thompson, V., & Cossey, R.

The book is part of the EQUALS
program that has helped educators and families acquire methods and materials to make mathematics more accessible for all students with a special focus on those from groups that are not well represented in mathematics. There are hands-on activities for teachers or parents and children ages four to eight years old to do together to make mathematics fun.

Math Around the World
Great Explorations in Math & Science (GEMS)
Braxton, B., Gonsalves, P., Lipner, L., Barber, J.

Geared toward grades five through eight and created by the GEMS program, this book is a collection of eight games from four continents that allows students to use mathematics relevant to them as they play the games. The role of diverse people/ancestors in the creation of mathematics is stressed with an emphasis on guided discovery and experiential learning.

Anno's Mysterious Multiplying Jar
Creative Publications

This book is for grades pre-K to 3rd grade and demonstrates the concept of factorials by using colorful pictures, such as rolling landscapes and castles, and a mysterious jar with some water that becomes a sea. By using pictures to depict subdivisions of the sea into an island, the island possessing two countries, the two countries containing three mountains, and so on until the reader has counted to 3,638,800. A dot diagram is used to illustrate the process. The book moves logically from the concrete to the abstract, telling the story and then illustrating how to arrive at the answer.

Geometric Constructions and Investigations with a Mira™
Woodward, E. & Hamel, T.

Useful in grades six through 12, the Mira™, a piece of red acrylic plastic used for tracing line reflections, is used with the 21 lessons in this book to help students visualize geometric relationships. The hands-on activities are particularly useful when working with learning disabled students.

Primariamente Plantas/Primarily Plants
AIMS Education Foundation; Hoover, E., Mercier, S.

This is a plant study for grades K-3 that is available in English and Spanish. Materials were developed by the Activities Integrating Mathematics and Science Foundation (AIMS) and include interdisciplinary and hands-on methods.

Keepers of the Animals: Native American Stories and Wildlife Activities for Children
Caduto, M.J., & Bruchac, J.

This book contains environmental lessons interwoven with the cultural heritage of Native Americans and is suitable for ages five through 12. Extensively field-tested and interdisciplinary, the activities aim to engage the child's whole self while emphasizing creative thinking and synthesis of knowledge and experience.

Multicultural Women of Science
Bernstein, L. et al.

Each chapter contains a biographical sketch of a notable woman of science, a hands-on activity, a Think Work Act page with critical thinking questions, and at least four activities featuring a variety of skills and learning styles. A teacher's addition is included, as well. In addition to this book, there is a set of books with specific cultures represented (i.e., Latino Women of Science and African and African-American Women of Science).

Math in a Nutshell
Delta Education

Developed and tested by teachers, Math in a Nutshell is a kit of game-based activities with durable manipulatives to teach students math concepts and skills. Engaging, hands-on activities are aligned to NCTM standards, and the product includes a student activity and teacher's guide. The kit comes in these different titles and more: geometry, problem solving, money, time, and addition and subtraction.