NASA
Make a Planetary Exploration Balloon
Balloons aren't just for parties! An inquiry-based lesson explores the idea of using balloons for space exploration. Learners become engineers as they attempt to control the ascent and descent of a helium balloon using different masses.
Teach Engineering
Powering a Device Using Food
Eat up a resource on using food to power electrical devices. Future engineers first experiment with different fruits and vegetables to determine the amount of electrical energy they provide. Based on the data, they design and create an...
Las Cumbres Observatory
Plotting a Supernova Light curve
Supernovas burn for a short time but can give scientists extensive information about the universe. Learners analyze given data about the change in the light magnitude of a supernova. They look for patterns in the data and use them to...
Radford University
How Do I Design a Raised Bed Garden to Accommodate My Plants?
Give plants the best place to grow. Given constraints on plant spacing, pupils design a raised bed garden using graph paper, then calculate the perimeter, surface area, and volume. They use the provided costs of lumber and soil to...
PHET
Equality Explorer: Two Variables
Solving equations in two variables can't be that much harder than solving equations in one variable. Using a balance interactive, scholars solve equations in two variables. They apply inverse operations by adding -x, -y, or -1 as...
PHET
Equality Explorer
Find the right balance between concrete and abstract thinking. After using interactive balances to explore inverse operations, learners solve multi-step equations with variables on both sides. Of course, they can still use the...
PHET
Equality Explorer: Basics
Not all interactives are made equal. Scholars use an interactive balance to explore the concept of equality. They place different objects on balances to determine the number of each object needed to balance the scale.
Newspaper Association of America
By the Numbers: Mathematical Connections in Newspapers for Middle-Grade Students
A cross-curricular resource teaches and reinforces mathematical concepts with several activities that use parts of a newspaper. Scholars use scavenger hunts to find the different ways math is used in the paper along with using data...
Rice University
Elementary Algebra
Find all the Algebra 1 content in one location. A helpful eBook contains the content typically found in an Algebra 1 course. Concepts range from solving and graphing linear equations to solving and graphing quadratic equations. Pupils...
Pace University
Grades 7-8 Solving Equations
Create a similar blueprint. The differentiated lesson has pupils work in teams to create a brochure, scale model, or blueprint of a selected house with some minor changes. Once finished, team members present their final projects to the...
Pace University
Grades 7-8 Independent and Dependent Variables
It all depends upon the independence. The differentiated instruction lesson introduces learners to independent and dependent variables. Using real-world situations, scholars gain a conceptual understanding of the difference between the...
PHET
Proportion Playground
Ratios are all around you. A fun interactive has scholars investigate ratios and proportions in different situations. These include creating bracelets with different ratios of beads, mixing paint, adjusting the length and width of a...
PHET
Least-Squares Regression
Less is best when looking at residuals. Scholars use an interactive to informally fit a linear regression line to data on a scatter plot. The interactive provides a correct best fit line with residuals and correlation coefficient to...
PHET
Graphing Slope-Intercept
Slope-intercept form ... perhaps it has something to do with slope and intercepts? An easy-to-use interactive lets users adjust the locations of two points on a line. The interactive automatically updates the slope-intercept form of the...
PHET
Graphing Quadratics
Quadratics only have three terms, but each one is fairly important. Scholars use an interactive to explore how each coefficient affects the graph of a quadratic function. They also see how changes to the vertex form and how changes to...
PHET
Function Builder
Build confidence about functions with the function builder. Pupils learn about functions and transformations using an interactive. A function machine transforms pictures, numbers, and equations based on a function rule. A mystery...
PHET
Graphing Lines
Ready to increase pupils' understanding of slope with an upward slope? Scholars use an interactive that allows users to move two points on a coordinate plane. The interactive then automatically calculates the slope, the slope-intercept...
PHET
Function Builder: Basics
Learn about functions using the function builder app. A fun online interactive has the class conduct an investigation using a function machine. Inputs are pieces of art, and output are transformations of these pieces of art.
Corbett Maths
Dividing Algebraic Fractions
Do the keep, change, flip dance. The resource shows that the division of algebraic fractions follows the same rules as dividing numerical fractions. Pupils understand that if they can multiply rational expressions, they can divide...
Corbett Maths
Multiplying Algebraic Fractions
Make the complicated look relatively simple. The video shows how multiplication of algebraic fractions is easier when they factor the numerators and denominators. Pupils see which factors will cancel, or divide out, easier when writing...
Corbett Maths
Simplifying Algebraic Fractions
Simplification is about factoring. While working with rational expressions, pupils must know how to factor. The video shows how the process of finding common factors in algebraic fractions is similar to finding common factors in...
Corbett Maths
Adding Algebraic Fractions
The process requires the combination of several concepts. A video shows how individuals need several concepts to add rational expressions. Pupils must remember they need to find common denominators, combine like terms, and use the...
Corbett Maths
Dividing Algebraic Expressions
Get back to the basics to become an expert. The short video shows the basics of dividing algebraic expressions. Using several examples, the presenter reminds viewers of the rules of exponents when dividing. Pupils practice dividing...
Corbett Maths
Density
A short video introduces the triangle that illustrates how to find any value given the other two in the density formula. Class members use the triangle to work several problems to find the mass, volume, or density of an object.