101 Questions
Ferris Wheel
Around and around you'll go! Learners analyze the periodic nature of a Ferris wheel. Using a trigonometric function, they make predictions about the location of a specific car at the end of the ride and its total trips around the circle.
101 Questions
What Micheal’s Coupon Should You Use?
Get your classes on their way to extreme couponing! Young mathematicians analyze two different coupon options for the better deal. They use different scenarios to predict and compare the outcomes.
101 Questions
Suitcase Circle
Analyze patterns in a circular arrangement. After using a geometric construction to complete a circle, learners use proportional reasoning to make predictions. By determining the length of an arc built from suitcases, they estimate the...
101 Questions
Potty Math
You don't want to flush your money down the drain! Have your classes complete a financial comparison between two different types of toilets. They use linear modeling to determine the most cost-effective model.
101 Questions
The Incredible Shrinking Dollar
Make money disappear! Young scholars watch as a copier shrinks a dollar bill to 75 percent of its size. Learners are left to determine the size of the dollar bill after nine passes through the copier.
101 Questions
Rotonda West, FL
The shortest distance from point A to point B is a straight line—or is it? Young scholars determine the shortest route either along a circular path or through the center of the circle. Learners gain a unique perspective on arc length and...
101 Questions
You Pour, I Choose
Tall and skinny or short and stout, which glass hold the most liquid? Learners analyze dimensions of cylindrical glasses to determine the one holding the greatest amount of liquid. They brainstorm the relevant dimensions before making...
101 Questions
Coins in a Circle
Round and round you'll go! Learners watch as different-sized circles fill with coins. They collect data and then make a prediction about the number of coins that will fit in a large circular rug.
101 Questions
Coffee Traveler
Investigate the volume of irregular figures in an inquiry-based exercise. Presented with an irregularly shaped box filled with water, learners must predict the level of water when it is tipped on its side. The class can divide the figure...
101 Questions
Pool Bounce
Use geometry to improve your pool game! Learners analyze the front half of a pool shot to determine its resulting path. By measuring the angle of incidence, they are able to predict the path of the ball.
101 Questions
Super Stairs
Keep your classes climbing in the right direction. Young mathematicians collect data from a video presentation. Using their data, they build an arithmetic sequence and use it to make predictions.
101 Questions
Apple Mothership
Explore Apple's spaceship office building. Built in the shape of a circle, the office building offers a unique floor plan challenge. Young scholars use the dimensions of the building to estimate the square footage for each employee.
101 Questions
Bottomless Mug
How much coffee can you actually drink? An intriguing lesson has learners consider an advertisement for a bottomless mug of coffee. While considering the price of the mug, they analyze different scenarios to determine the cost-saving...
101 Questions
Circle-Square
How do the area and perimeters of circles and squares compare? A clever video illustrates the change in the area of a circle and square while their total perimeter stays the same. The task is for learners to predict the point where the...
101 Questions
Chalk Lines
Read between the lines to find a solution. Budding mathematicians analyze a situation to solve a problem. They view a video presentation of the problem, brainstorm important information to gather, and write linear equations to find...
101 Questions
Pixel Pattern
Any vintage video game users in the room? Young scholars use a video presentation to analyze patterns in pixel arrangements. By writing an arithmetic sequence, they make predictions about the size of the image.
101 Questions
Best Circle
Drawing the perfect circle is harder than one would think! What makes a circle a circle and how can you define that with a formula? Young mathematicians devise their own methods of analyzing the imperfections of circle drawings. Using...
101 Questions
Best Triangle
What makes an equilateral triangle equilateral? It turns out it's much more than just the side lengths! Learners analyze four different triangles to determine the best equilateral triangle. They create a formula that they later use to...
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
Help or Hype: The Ethics of Bio-Nanotechnology
Ethical concerns are not always black and white. A well-designed activity presents learners with scenarios for which ethics may come into question. Scholars learn to consider the different sides of a situation and make an unbiased...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Lesson 7: Observations Across Habitats
How are animals in separate but nearby habitats related? Ecology scholars compare the animal inhabitants of the Gorongosa National Park in part seven of an eight-part series. Learners study photos from two different habitats, then...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
The Teosinte Hypothesis
Don't want to sound corny, but your class will be a-maize-d by an engaging activity! Explore the history of the modern corn plant through a video and Punnett squares. Junior genetics experts get hands-on experience with actual research...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Building Ecological Pyramids
Looking for a fresh take on traditional food/energy pyramids? Conduct an innovative activity where pupils build their own! The lesson uses research data from Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique for a real-life safari touch. Scholars...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Niche Partitioning Activity
Dinnertime on the African savanna is a highly choreographed event! Introduce young ecologists to the concept of niche partitioning through a hands-on activity. Pupils research animal behaviors and use data to develop an understanding of...
The New York Times
I Don’t Think So: Writing Effective Counterarguments
When it comes to writing effective arguments, writers must do more than simply make a claim, counterarguments must be considered. Aspiring writers analyze counterarguments in editorials, and then learn how to write counterarguments in...