Illustrative Mathematics
How Many Buttons?
Bring the class into the probability by having everyone count buttons on their shirts. Organize the data into the chart provided and chose different possibilities such as "female with one button" or "all students with more than four...
Illustrative Mathematics
Heads or Tails
Heads! A great way to practice probability is to flip a coin in class. The provided data allows your mathematicians to predict the probability of heads in ten coin flips. Bring coins to class and allow your own trial of heads or tails....
Curated OER
Valentine Marbles
if you've ever had to guess how many items were in a jar, then this problem is for you! With a big jar full of red and white marbles, does picking a sample of 16 allow your learners to get a good estimate on the percentages of each...
Curated OER
Counting Mat
Using the provided counting mats (1-6 and 7-12) and small objects to count with, guide your young learners to match the correct number of objects to the written numeral and dots. Class members will either read the numeral and count out...
Illustrative Mathematics
How Many Cells Are in the Human Body?
Investigating the large numbers of science is the task in a simple but deep activity. Given a one-sentence problem set-up and some basic assumptions, the class sets off on an open-ended investigation that really gives some...
101 Questions
100-Hand Video Poker
You hit the jackpot with a fun lesson! Peak your pupils' interest with a lesson calculating the probability of poker hands. A video shows the different types of possible hands when given a specific hand and one card to draw.
Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching
Ten Data Analysis Activities
This thirteen page data analysis worksheet contains a number of interesting problems regarding statistics. The activities cover the concepts of average measurements, standard deviation, box and whisker plots, quartiles, frequency...
David Pleacher
Candy Math Fun
Few things can motivate children to learn like the promise of a sweet and tasty treat. Given a bag of M&M®s, Skittles®, or other colorful candy, students first predict the contents of the bag before counting the pieces,...
Curated OER
Dice Games
Games and activities are wonderful for igniting interest in nearly any topic. With a pair of dice, your class will practice their basic math and social skills at the same time. Learners battle it out to see who can roll only odds or only...
101 Questions
Yellow Starbursts
Let the task burst your mind. Scholars estimate the frequency that both Starbursts in a pack are yellow out of 287 packs. They apply probability concepts to complete the sweet task.
Curated OER
Sitting across from Each Other
What is the probability that two randomly seated people will be across from each other at a square table? Check learners' understanding of theoretical probability and compound events with this short assessment. A great opportunity to...
Curated OER
Alex, Mel, and Chelsea Play a Game
This short probability question may look simple at first, but it is actually quite complex! Learners must understand independent events in context and must take into account several different scenarios. Use as an individual assignment...
101 Questions
Nana's Paint Mixup
You would probably do anything for your Nana, including fixing her mistakes! Nana provided the wrong ratio to mix red and white paint, and she didn't realize it until after she mixed the paint. Your class now needs to figure out how to...
Houston Area Calculus Teachers
Polynomial Graphing
Your AP Calculus learners probably have their ID numbers memorized, but have they tried graphing them? Pique your pupils' interest by asking each to create a unique polynomial function based on their ID numbers, and then analyze the...
Yummy Math
Soda Santa
Santa is the focal point of a worksheet that inquires how many cans and boxes of soda were used to create a supermarket display. As a small group project, the discussions that will ensue to evaluate the task's three questions will...
Illustrative Mathematics
Voting for Two, Variation 2
John won the election, but by how much more? Your learners will calculate how many votes each candidate received in order to determine the difference. Use with other lessons provided in the series to practice different variations of this...
Poetry4kids
That Doesn’t Sound Right to Me
Does pajamas rhyme with llamas to you? If it does (and even if it doesn't), an online lesson on rewording poetry for regional pronunciation may be helpful for you and your students.
101 Questions
Double Sunglasses
If you wear two sets of sunglasses, do you get twice the darkness? Pupils explore an enlightening topic using a video and math model. They discover how to extend the topic through a sequel video and challenge question.
Curated OER
The Old Man and the Sea: Problematic Situations
Bring the drama of Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea to class with a fun role-playing activity. Given a list of survival items, readers decide which items would be the most necessary for an adventure like...
101 Questions
Wedding Cake Ribbon
Customers often want ribbon around fancy cakes, but how does a baker know how much ribbon to buy? Scholars view a cake with multiple layers in different geometric shapes. They must figure the perimeter and circumference and add them...
Curated OER
Activity: Gummy Bear Genetics
Who's your Daddy ... and Mommy for that matter? Given a first-generation group of gummy bear offspring, young scientists must determine which bears are their parents. An activity worksheet covers the differences in genotypes and...
Curated OER
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead: Reader's Theatre
Plays are meant to be performed! After reading the entire play, invite your learners to choose a scene from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead that relates to earlier class discussion about characters, motifs, and themes to interpret...
American Museum of Natural History
Microbes Coloring Book and Scavenger Hunt
Coloring pages showcase microbes—bacteria, viruses, and protists. Scholars have the option to download a coloring book and scavenger hunt or color the page directly on the computer. Three paragraphs describe each microbe.
Curated OER
Patterns in the Multiplication Table
Explore patterns in the multiplication table in order to deepen your third graders' understanding of this essential skill. Implement this activity as a whole-class lesson, allowing students to work in pairs or small groups to support...