Curated OER
Conjectures and Conclusions
Students draw conclusions and make conjectures given a specific scenario. In this geometry lesson, students model real life scenarios using properties of triangles. They model number facts and explain why the outcome is what it is.
Curated OER
Finding Patterns in Fractals
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.
Curated OER
Exponent Rules
Young scholars engage in a lesson plan that is concerned with the rules of exponents. They practice solving problems that use exponents in a variety of contexts. Students are shown how to use the rules in numerical sequences and after...
Virginia Department of Education
The Exercise Fields
Horses need exercise, too. Scholars create linear equations to model the perimeter of exercise fields for horses. They finish by solving their equations for the length and width of the fields.
Virginia Department of Education
Factoring for Zeros
Relate factors to zeros and x-intercepts. Scholars first graph quadratics in both standard and factored forms to see that they are the same. They go on to use the graphs to see the relationship between factors and x-intercepts.
Curated OER
The Workers
Students observe the axis of a graph on the board and add the title and axis labels. They plot two points on the graph and join the two with a line and work to describe the story in each of the graphs.
Curated OER
Investigating Patterns
Fifth graders practice recognizing patters and determining what comes next in a sequence. Using a given website, 5th graders play "The Crazy Pattern Machine," where they recognize and complete given patterns. After completing the most...
Curated OER
Pigs, Goats and Sheep
Student are able to devise and use problem solving strategies to explore problems systematically and mathematically. They also form and solve various types of equations. This activity requires some prior knowledge of equations.
Curated OER
What Happens on Average
Fifth graders are introduced to convergence of sequences based on averaging previous terms in the sequence. The power of the "fill-down" function in spreadsheets is exploited. By using various starting numbers, and inferring the limit,...
Curated OER
Free Cell
Fourth graders use algebra to begin solving a problem. The problem has a real world application to engage learners. The main skill is converting fractions and decimals. Also finding the right number sentence for the word problem is...
Curated OER
Patterns and Matchsticks
In this math patterns activity, students solve 10 problems in which a pattern is made with matchsticks on a grid. Students figure out how many matchsticks it will take to continue the pattern. Students also use simple algebra to figure...
Curated OER
Still More Lollies
Fourth graders listen to the problem to the class and think about how they solve the problem and to discuss it with their friends using number sentences in their written record of the solution.
Curated OER
The Fathers' Day Card
Students subtract using decimals and find half of a decimal number. They write and solve problems which involve decimals and which require a choice of one or more of the four arithmetic operations.
Curated OER
The Rock Pool
Third graders use number sense and appropriate problem solving techniques to solve the assigned problems. They write out the solutions to the assigned problems. They work in groups to solve the problem before reporting back to the whole...
Curated OER
Fences and Posts
Fifth graders use Geoboards to demonstrate how shapes can be made by looping the rubber bands over the nails. They make a triangle on their Geoboards. At least one side of the triangle should be either horizontal or vertical. The picture...
Curated OER
Pocket Money
Students discover that the mathematics behind this question is a comparison of the rate at which adding a fixed number increases the total compared to continual doubling of a number. In fact no matter what whole numbers you start with,...
Curated OER
Triangle Sums
Fourth graders determine a way to place numbers in the nine circles that are arranged in a triangular pattern so that each side has an equal sum. They use each number once and practice adding single digit numbers.
Curated OER
How High?
Fourth graders play an estimation game to guess how sheets of paper are in a pile and then guess who high a stack of one million would be. They work in small groups to explore ideas for working out how high the stack would be.
EngageNY
Interpreting the Graph of a Function
Groups sort through NASA data provided in a graphic to create a graph using uniform units and intervals. Individuals then make connections to the increasing, decreasing, and constant intervals of the graph and relate these...
EngageNY
Percent Rate of Change
If mathematicians know the secret to compound interest, why aren't more of them rich? Young mathematicians explore compound interest with exponential functions in the twenty-seventh installment of a 35-part module. They calculate future...
EngageNY
Equivalent Rational Expressions
Rational expressions are just fancy fractions! Pupils apply fractions concepts to rational expressions. They find equivalent expressions by simplifying rational expressions using factoring. They include limits to the domain of the...
EngageNY
Are All Parabolas Similar?
Congruence and similarity apply to functions as well as polygons. Learners examine the effects of transformations on the shape of parabolas. They determine the transformation(s) that produce similar and congruent functions.
EngageNY
Are All Parabolas Congruent?
Augment a unit on parabolas with an instructive math activity. Pupils graph parabolas by examining the relationship between the focus and directrix.
EngageNY
Modeling Riverbeds with Polynomials (part 1)
Many things in life take the shape of a polynomial curve. Learners design a polynomial function to model a riverbed. Using different strategies, they find the flow rate through the river.