Creating equations with one variable  to solve real-world-type problems is a key skill any algebra learner needs to master. Here the focus is on realizing that one can write the equation in different ways depending upon how one...

Don't leave anyone out. To highlight the importance of the US Census to younger learners, an activity has them distribute markers to see if there are enough for each person. They see that counting the population is necessary to fairly...

Tenth graders create and maintain a ledger, write an essay for the process, and learn to keep financial accounts through the ledger. In this ledger lesson, 10th graders define an accounting ledger and create one for the money they've...

Help youngsters understand how to manage small amounts of money by discussing an allowance and the difference between spending, saving, and giving.  

Students explore New York City's bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games. They estimate budget allocations for such a proposal while practicing the calculation of percentages.

Powers of two: it's a matter of doubling. A short summative assessment task asks pupils to determine a process to calculate the number of cells at given time intervals. They use powers of two in order to calculate the number of...

Here is a (great) lesson on using parentheses! The task requires the expression of ages using algebraic expressions, including the distributive property. Pupils use their expressions to determine the individual ages.

What figure is formed by connecting the midpoints of the sides of a quadrilateral? The geometry assessment task has class members work through the process of determining the figure inscribed in a quadrilateral. Pupils use geometric...

Functions model relationships between quantities. The Smarter Balanced sample items demonstrate the assessment strategies for eighth grade function modeling standards. Items range from constructing linear functions from a table and a...

Eleventh graders apply mathematical knowledge and reasoning skills to solve a real life problem.  In this algebra lesson, 11th graders use a variety of problem solving skills to solve non-routine problems of increasing...

Fourth graders discover how to budget in order to live in today's world. Allocating their resources is of prime importance in the monthly budget. They utilize a worksheet imbedded in this plan to figure out their monthly budget.

Students play roll of fictional radio disk jockeys. They allocate their daily program time into fractional time slots for the playing of specified catagories of music and commercial advertisements.

If you're looking for a fantastic cross-curricular lesson on the Statue of Liberty, then this lesson is for you! Learners watch a Reading Rainbow episode which focuses on the Statue, then gather facts about the creation, construction,...

A cross-curricular resource that takes the electoral votes and allows your learners to organize and analyze the data. Young voters can determine which states are more influential and interpret the dotplot provided for more data....

A brilliant resource is at your disposal. Future consumers investigate and discuss an electric bill. Given only partial information, they estimate the monthly bill. They then consider how tiered pricing will affect the bill.

What a great classroom resource! The intention of this lesson is to show that real-world math can and should be applied to the community in which your young scholars reside. The class relates properties of equations to solving for...

It's time to get crafty with shapes! Your future farmers demonstrate their geometric ability by building a farm using triangles, circles, rectangles, and squares. But first, scholars take part in a brainstorm session inspired by their...

Why do shadows look different in the summer than in the winter? What causes day and night? How can a sundial be used to tell time? Answer these questions and more through two engaging lessons about light and shadows. Fourth and fifth...

Class members learn how to set up and maintain a personal budget through discussion, financial planning worksheets, and a brief PowerPoint presentation.

From fixed and variable expenses to gross income and net pay, break down the key terms of budgeting with your young adults and help them develop their own plans for spending and saving.

Does money seem to slip through your middle schoolers' fingers? Encourage them to examine spending, saving, and budgeting habits with a unit on consumer skills and money management. Young spenders study the waste that occurs with school...

You'll return to this resource again .. .and again ... and again. Class members determine the maximum profit of a boomerang-making business by solving a system of equations. They then review and analyze provided sample responses to...

By making the following changes to the roads, we can prevent several accidents. A multiple-day lesson prompts pupils to investigate accidents in a small town. Pairs develop a proposal on what to do to help reduce the number of...

Using clocks as dining tables? Scholars estimate the number of people that can sit around the face of the clock on the Royal Liver Building in Liverpool. They use estimation to justify their responses.