Teach Engineering
Applications of Linear Functions
It's not so straightforward — lines can model a variety of applications. Pupils experience linear relationships within the context of science, including Hooke's and Ohm's Laws. Class members got a taste of motion and speed from the...
Teach Engineering
Graphing Equations on the Cartesian Plane: Slope
Slopes are not just for skiing. Instructors introduce class members to the concept of slope and teach them how to calculate the slope from a graph or from points. The lesson also includes the discussion of slopes of parallel and...
Teach Engineering
The Challenge Question
A research position becomes a modeling job. The introductory lesson in a series of nine presents the challenge of analyzing a set of bivariate data. The class brainstorms what the data may represent. Pupils must decide what is needed to...
Balanced Assessment
Fermi Number
A fermi number is a rough estimate of a quantity that is difficult or impossible to measure. Individuals design a process for making an estimation of a given scenario. For example, they determine a plan for estimating the number of...
Balanced Assessment
Monitor Pricing
Out with the old and in with the new. Learners use a set of prices of computer monitors from 1994 to make a prediction. They then use one current price and what they know about the old prices to make a more recent prediction. Their...
Balanced Assessment
Number Trick
Show your classes the magic of numbers. Using a number trick, learners practice writing algebraic expressions. They then use their expression to perform the trick. Their exploration should help them understand the magic behind the trick.
Balanced Assessment
Marbles in a Glass
Allow learners to design their own strategies to solve a problem. Given dimensions of a glass and a smaller marble, scholars must find the dimensions of a larger marble. The answer key suggests using the Pythagorean Theorem, but multiple...
Balanced Assessment
Star from Square
Quilting is not only beautiful and unique—it is a mathematical art. Show your classes how to design a quilting block while practicing area and circumference of circles. Scholars create a star from a square and then find the circumference...
Balanced Assessment
Frosting on the Cake
Party planners need algebra too! Here, pupils decide the perfect size of a cake based on available ingredients. They use the concepts of area and perimeter to make their conclusions.
Balanced Assessment
Modern Building
Turn your pupils into emerging architects with a resource that asks learners to analyze a scale drawing of a building. They use the scale drawing to interpret the size of the actual building before recreating the drawing using a...
Curated OER
Hot Under The Collar
Pupils try to get a collar on temperature with a short assessment item that asks them to compare two different methods in converting Celsius to Fahrenheit. Individuals try to find out when an estimation provides conversions that are too...
West Contra Costa Unified School District
Work Problems – Bar Models
Why do we have to do so much work? Scholars learn how to set up bar models to represent a situation involving work. They use these bar models to help set up equations with rational coefficients to solve the problem situation.
West Contra Costa Unified School District
Solving Rational Equations
Scholars first learn to solve two-step equations with fractional coefficients and constants by traditional methods and by clearing the denominator. They continue by learning another approach to solve two-step equations that have decimal...
West Contra Costa Unified School District
Solving Equations Using Balance Scale, Decomposition, and Graphing
There's more than one way to solve an equation — three, actually. Scholars learn how to solve simple linear equations in one variable using three different methods, which include using balance scales, using decomposition (e.g., turning...
Chicago Teachers Union Quest Center
Factored Form of a Quadratic Function
Build upon linear functions to learn about quadratics. The lesson introduces the concept of zeros for quadratic functions and makes the connection to the linear factors of the function. It presents quadratics in both graphical and...
West Contra Costa Unified School District
Three Forms of an Equation of a Line
An equation is an equation is an equation. Scholars see there are many ways to solve them when they first sort a set of linear equations as written in standard form, point-slope form, or slope-intercept. They then write equations in all...
West Contra Costa Unified School District
Solving Systems of Inequalities
Don't throw away those transparency sheets just yet! Young scholars first review inequalities on a number line, then learn about graphing inequalities in the coordinate plane. Finally, they use overhead transparencies to create systems...
West Contra Costa Unified School District
Solving Equations with Variables on Both Sides
So many different ways to solve equations, so little time! Scholars learn how to solve equations with variables on both sides by using several different methods. They apply bar models, decomposition, and traditional algebraic methods to...
West Contra Costa Unified School District
Solving and Using Literal Equations
You literally need to use the resource. Young mathematicians solve geometric problems by using literal equations. They go on to solve distance/rate/time problems by using literal equations — a great progression that helps introduce the...
West Contra Costa Unified School District
Slope-Intercept Sort
What's so special about slope? Pupils first match cards with slope and y-intercept to graphs of linear equations. They continue the lesson by matching equations in slope-intercept form to the same graphs.
California Mathematics Project
For the Birds
It turns out math IS for the birds! Here, learners use mathematical reasoning to determine how often someone needs to fill a bird feeder. The rate the feeder empties varies by the number of holes that are available to the birds. Day two...
California Mathematics Project
Treasure Beneath the Sea
Explore the geometry of treasure hunting! Learners use geometry to design a treasure recovery strategy. The objective is to create a design that minimizes the amount of work required. Budding mathematicians use properties of triangles as...
California Mathematics Project
Model Solar System
The sun's diameter is 864,337 miles—challenge learners to create a scale model of the solar system that fits in your classroom. Scholars make conversions and work with scientific notation as they create the scale model.
Mathematics Vision Project
Module 4: Rational Functions
Time to study the most sensible function — rational functions! The seven-lesson unit develops the concept of a rational function through a connection to rational numbers and fractions. Scholars graph functions, solve equations, and...