Balanced Assessment
Paving the Patio
Next time you need to repave your patio, have your scholars do all the math. They first calculate and answer questions using the area of patio blocks. Next, they determine the cheapest block to use to pave the patio.
Curated OER
Candy Bars
There is often more to data than meets the eye. Scholars learn that they need to analyze data before making conclusions as they look at data that describes the number of candy bars boys and girls eat. They disprove a given conclusion and...
Teach Engineering
What is GIS?
Is GIS the real manifestation of Harry Potter's Marauders Map? Introduce your class to the history of geographic information systems (GIS), the technology that allows for easy use of spatial information, with a resource that teaches...
Balanced Assessment
Confetti Crush
In the first part of a middle school assessment task, learners analyze a given statement about the amount of confetti revelers throw at Times Square on New Year's Eve. The second part of the task requires learners to identify objects...
Balanced Assessment
A Fishy Story
There's nothing fishy about this resource. In the task, learners use given information about fish prices to create a scatter plot and line of best-fit. Later, they use the information to answer questions about the profit from fish sales.
Balanced Assessment
Fractured Multiplication
When would you do multiplication on the floor? When you have no tables. Scholars determine a possible set of digits that would complete a 2-digit by 1-digit multiplication problem. They then determine all possible sets of digits and...
Balanced Assessment
Pick a Pattern or Two
Math is all about finding patterns. In this ask, scholars first investigate a sequence formed by squaring the sum of the digits in the previous term. They go on to investigate a second sequence and write an algebraic expression for this...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Matchsticks
How many matchsticks can be made from a single tree? That is the problem facing middle schoolers. Scholars first determine the volume of a matchstick given its dimensions, and then use this information to estimate the number of...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Expressions and Equations
Express your wonder at this resource. Middle schoolers solve 10 short problems in the expressions and equations domain. They apply operations with scientific notation, set up and solve equations, and analyze linear equations.
Mathematics Assessment Project
Ratios and Proportional Relationships
Time to see what they've learned. Seventh graders solve a set of seven short problems in the ratios and proportional relationships domain. Applications include photo negatives, washing machines, coffee powder, sleep, stamps, etc.
Mathematics Assessment Project
Temperatures
As a middle school assessment task, learners first examine line graphs of monthly temperatures for two locations, and then match box plots to each line plot.
Mathematics Assessment Project
Shelves
Don't leave this task on the shelf — use it is assess middle schoolers understanding of patterns. Participants try to discover a pattern in the number of bricks and planks used to make shelves. They then match descriptions and equations...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Octagon Tile
A connecting-the-dots activity seems too easy for seventh grade but connecting vertices may prove a challenge. Class members first examine a figure created by drawing squares around the inside of an octagon and connecting the vertices....
Mathematics Assessment Project
Linear Graphs
A line is a line is a line. As a middle school assessment task, learners first identify graphs of given linear equations. They then identify the equations that represent real-world situations.
Mathematics Assessment Project
Journey
Drive home math concepts with an engaging task. Learners follow a verbal description to fill in a table and create a distance-time graph representing a car journey. They then answer questions by interpreting the graph.
Mathematics Assessment Project
Historic Bicycle
"Ordinary" bicycles are not so ordinary. Learners use given information to determine the circumference of wheels for a historic Ordinary or Penny Farthing bicycle. Pupils then determine the number of times each wheel turns when the...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Fencing
Nail this assessment task to your list of resources. Learners must set up equations to model the cost of fencing that includes posts and panels. They then determine the cost of a fence with a specific number of posts and panels.
Mathematics Assessment Project
Buying Chips and Candy
As a middle school assessment task, learners first two write equations representing their purchase of chips and candy bars. They then solve the system of equations to find the price of each item.
Curated OER
Buses
Busy buses bustling back and forth. In this middle school assessment task, learners use information given in a graph to answer questions about bus schedules. They then determine how many times a bus passes by other buses going in the...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Aaron's Designs
Learners first create designs for greeting cards by applying transformations of shapes on a coordinate plane, and then determine a sequence of transformations that produces a given design.
Mathematics Assessment Project
Bike Ride
As a middle school assessment task, learners interpret the graph of distance versus time for a bike ride. Pupils then determine distance of the trip, length of the trip, and speeds.
Mathematics Assessment Project
Baseball Jerseys
Batter up! As an assessment task, learners write linear functions to model the cost of baseball jerseys. They then determine which of two companies would charge a cheaper rate to buy baseball jerseys.
Mathematics Assessment Project
25% Sale
Free clothes? In the middle school assessment task, learners first consider whether four 25 percent reductions will result in a sale price of $0. Mathematicians then determine the sale price and discount percentage of such a sale.
Mathematics Assessment Project
Functions
Studying function means more than simply learning a formula. Learners must use functions to think through four problems and find solutions. Each task utilizes a different concept from a study of functions. Class members might use a...