Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Calculating Iridium Fallout from an Asteroid Impact
Should we be afraid of a large asteroid impact on Earth today? Young scientists estimate the size and composition of an asteroid similar to the one that caused the K-T mass extinction. They apply algebraic formulas to answer questions...
Curated OER
The Shadow Knows: Student Worksheet
Pairs of pupils get together in order to measure the heights and lengths of their shadows. They use these measurements in order to predict the height of other friends in class. A good activity to practice measuring things that cannot be...
Curated OER
Geometry and Measurement
Young geometers explore relationships between units of measure and objects. Three activities provide varied opportunities to practice. Learners calculate the volume of two cylinders made by rolling a piece of paper vertically and...
EngageNY
Simple Interest
An interesting lesson helps young financial wizards determine the amount of money earned via interest. The resource introduces the concept of simple interest to show how money can grow. Pupils use their knowledge of percents to solve...
EngageNY
The Most Famous Ratio of All
Pupils develop a definition of a circle based upon its radius in the 17th segment of a 28-part series. They determine the relationship between the radius and the diameter of a circle. To round out the lesson, they use the formula for the...
EngageNY
Applying the Properties of Operations to Multiply and Divide Rational Numbers
Use properties to evaluate several multiplications and divisions. The 16th lesson in a series of 25 demonstrates to scholars how they can utilize properties of operations to evaluate complex numerical expressions involving multiplication...
Curated OER
Stretching the Quads
Explore parabolas in this algebra lesson with the graphing calculator. The class investigates what effects the changing of the parameters of the vertex form of a quadrati have to its graph. They find the zeros of a quadratic graphically...
Shodor Education Foundation
Measures
Take a look at data from a statistical lens. An interactive allows pupils to enter data set, labeling the data including the units used. Manipulating the applet, learners select the statistics to calculate that include total, mean,...
Shodor Education Foundation
Overlapping Gaussians
Adjust the overlap to compare probabilities. Using sliders, learners adjust the shape of two Gaussian curves. The interactive calculates the area of the left tail for one curve and the right tail for the other. Pupils set the interactive...
Curated OER
Baseball Proportion: Student Worksheet
Here is a simple and clever activity which illustrates the concept of mathematical proportion and size quite effectively. In it, two pupils hold baseball bats: one is a regulation-size bat, the other is a miniature souvenir bat. The...
Curated OER
Drops on a Penny
Young scientists explore the concept of surface tension at is applies to water. In this activity, learners use a dropper to place drops of water on a penny. Each group guesses how many drops a heads-up penny will hold, then conducts the...
Virginia Department of Education
Growing Patterns and Sequences
Learners explore, discover, compare, and contrast arithmetic and geometric sequences in this collaborative, hands-on activity. They build and analyze growing patterns to distinguish which kind of sequence is represented by a set of data...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Sidewalk Stones
One block, two blocks, white blocks, gray blocks. In the high school assessment task, learners investigate patterns of sidewalk stones to develop a quadratic expression for each colored block. Young mathematicians then use the expression...
Curated OER
Calculator Skills
In this math learning exercise, students solve the problems that are related to the use of a calculator. The sheet is intended as a users guide.
Curated OER
Domian and Range of Graphs
High schoolers determine the domain and range of various graphs using a graphing calculator. Given a set of graphs to analyze, learners calculate the range and domain of the graphs by plotting the graphs on their calculators. Downloads...
PBS
The Yo-Yo Problem
What do yo-yos and pennies have to do with linear equations? Learn about writing and solving linear equations while considering the Yo-Yo Problem and Penny Pattern Exploration from the High School Math Project. Learners utilize algebra...
Science Friday
Make a Model of a Home Made From Shipping Containers
Build a scale model of a home built out of shipping containers. A hands-on activity has scholars watch a video about a home built from shipping containers and then design their own home. They build scale models of their designed homes...
Illustrative Mathematics
Use Cavalieri’s Principle to Compare Aquarium Volumes
Learners are designing a stunning new water feature for an aquarium, but they soon discover that more than just a pretty home for their fishy friends is required. From calculating the volume of a composite shape through the...
Teach Engineering
Discovering Phi: The Golden Ratio
Fe, phi, fo, fum. This activity leads pairs to find the ratio of consecutive terms of the Fibonacci sequence. The pairs find that the Fibonacci sequence can be found in many places. A discussion with the class shows that the ratios...
Illustrative Mathematics
Rolling Dice
Rolling dice is a great way for your mathematicians to get a hands-on approach to probabilities. Use the chart to record whether they rolled a six during ten attempts. Calculate results individually (or in small groups) and then record...
Curated OER
Number Line: Negative Numbers
In this graphing calculator worksheet for the TI-83 calculator, middle schoolers first observe a demonstration for calculating negative numbers. Next, middle schoolers use their graphing calculator to answer 6 thoughtful T/F and short...
Teach Engineering
How Big? Necessary Area and Volume for Shelter
Teams must determine the size of cavern needed to house the citizens of Alabraska to protect them from the asteroid impact. Using scaling properties, teams first determining the number of people that could sleep in a classroom and then...
Saxon
Plotting Functions
Youngsters use a graphing calculator to assist in creating a function table. They graph the function on a coordinate plane. They explore the relationship between the domain and range in the graph. This four-page worksheet contains two...
Baylor College
Calculating Exponential Growth
There can be a steep learning curve when teaching about exponential growth, but the lesson helps kids make sense out of the concept. When talking about exponential growth of viruses, learners may not be very interested, but when you are...