Middle schoolers observe and count bird sightings around their schoolyard throughout the school year.

Learners use quilt patterns to illustrate ratios. For this fractions lesson, students color quilt patterns using given fractions and ratios of colors. A finished "quilt" is assembled from the work of the learners. This is an...

Eighth graders discover the relationship between speed, distance, and time. They calculate speed and represent their data graphically. They, in groups, design a ramp for their matchbox car. The goal is to see who's ramp produces the...

Students, in teams of four, practice shooting free throws while mentally converting the ratio of shots made to those thrown into a percent. They chart and record the ratio, decimal and actual percentage earned after each round.

Students, in groups, determine the volume of a box large enough to hold a million dollars. They calculate the dimensions of a bill and the volume of the money.

Eighth graders pick a topic or person to research related to the history of mathematics. They brainstorm and create a concept map, using the multimedia software inspiration, about what they are researching and want to examine. They then...

Students explore the concept of Venn Diagrams through word problems. For this Venn Diagram lesson, students solve word problems about groups of people using Venn Diagrams. Students use survey results about MySpace and Facebook in a...

Young scholars examine the diet of panthers. In this interpreting data lesson, students collect data on the panther's diet and chart the data in bar and pie graphs.

Students distinguish between proper and improper fractions. They create a "Character Clue Box" that represents a fraction. Fractions are picked from a hat and then groups go outside and search for items that represent their fraction....

Students explore inequalities. In this Algebra I instructional activity, students solve and graph linear inequalities involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division.  Students use inequalities to solve and graph...

Students explore the concept that when money is borrowed, people pay to use it because someone else is losing an opportunity to use it while they have it. What you pay to use the money is called interest. The rate of interest is a...

Students figure out the mileage from one state to another using a map. In this map instructional activity, students look at the scale factor and turn it into a fraction. They measure the distance between two cities and use the proportion...

Students examine the patterns that exist in Pascal's Triangle. They explore multiples and factors. Sudents use an applet to create and color the multiples in Pascal's Triangle.

Students discover patterns and sequences. They use a website to explore patterns and fractals. Students share their discovery of fractals and their patterns with the class. They develop a list of patterns used in everyday life.

Convert a table to probabilities. Pupils set up the winning rules for the sums of two dice. Using the rules, the applet fills out a table showing the winners for each combination. Learners determine the probabilities of winning for each...

Students analyze how to calculate averages, and discuss the use of averages in baseball. They calculate averages and decimals to thousandths using the data on baseball cards.

Pupils study the egg code to learn about sea ice. In this sea ice lesson, students discuss and view a diagram to learn about the egg code when describing sea ice and its thickness. Pupils work in groups to play a game using the egg code....

Eighth graders investigate the order of numbers and how they are located on the number line. They also review the symbols used to compare quantities in order to decipher simple expressions and graph them on the numberline.

Students investigate the use of multiplication and division of whole numbers to solve problems including equivalent ratios and rates.

Eighth graders use the unit price to compare which local grocery store has the best prices. Assign students to work with a partner and a role. One person is the recorder and the other is the mathematician.

Eighth graders solve real world problems.  In this solving real world problems lesson, 8th graders decorate a school cafeteria for a dance.  Students determine the number of balloons needed to put a balloon every foot for the...

Students examine various triangles and discuss how similar triangles have sides that are proportional. They utilize an ancient Egyptian method to determine the height of a flagpole.

Learners examine a problem and develop the best method to arrive at the solution. In this math lesson, students apply basic math skills by coming up with the correct steps to solve a word problem. ...

Students observe and discuss cloud cover. They identify percent of cloud cover, calculate cloud cover by fraction and convert to a percent, and compare their models with the current real sky cloud cover.