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...

Designing fun-size cans ... what fun! Class members use the provided questions to determine the dimensions of a can with a minimum surface area for a given volume. The task allows learners to use graphs or algebraic manipulation to...

A line is a line is a line. As a middle school assessment task, learners first identify graphs of given linear equations. They then identify the equations that represent real-world situations.

How should a cashier stock a cash register with coins? Learners use mathematical modeling and expected value to determine how many rolls of coins of each type they should place in a cash register.

Out with the old and in with the new. Learners use a set of prices of computer monitors from 1994 to make a prediction. They then use one current price and what they know about the old prices to make a more recent prediction. Their...

Before diving into operations with fractions, learners discover the foundation of fractions and how they interact with one another. Exactly as the title says, logic of fractions is the main goal of a resource that shows pupils how...

Put the graph into graphing and allow learners to understand the concept of point plotting and how it relates to data. The worksheet provides a nice way to connect data analysis to a graph and make predictions. The worksheets within...

Represent the relationship between independent and dependent variables through a modeling situation. The activity expects learners to graph the volume of water in a bathtub during a given scenario. The graph should result in two areas of...

Discover an inverse variation pattern. A simple lesson plan design allows learners to explore a nonlinear pattern. Scholars analyze a distance, speed, and time relationship through tables and graphs. Eventually, they write an equation to...

Examine trends in student-to-teacher ratios over time. Building from the first task in the two-part series, classes now explore the pattern of student-to-teacher ratios using a non-linear function. After trying to connect the pattern to...

There are architectural parabolas all around us! A creative lesson analyzes the architecture of a parabolic bridge. Learners must manipulate the bridge to satisfy given criteria and then answer questions about the dimensions of the...

Explore a geometric sequence model through a simulation. Learners change the starting drop height of a ball and watch how the heights of following bounces change. They consider the ratio of the consecutive bounces as they analyze...

Examine an exponential growth model. Using a fractal, learners calculate the perimeters of each stage. When comparing the consecutive perimeters, a pattern emerges. They use the pattern to build an equation and make conclusions.

How much does it cost to add more mangos? An interactive allows users to see how the price of frozen yogurt changes based on the number of scoops and the number of slices of mango. Learners then answer a set of challenge questions...

Periodically ship the class a trigonometric application. Pupils model the level of water in a port. Using their models, learners determine the times that a ship can safely navigate into and out of the port, along with determining other...

How many cups does it take to reach the top? Learners attempt to answer this through a series of questions. They collect dimension information and apply it to creating a function. The lesson encourages various solution methods and...

Launch your classes into a modeling lesson. Young scholars watch angry bird trajectories and make predictions based on their knowledge of quadratic functions. The lesson includes a series of questioning strategies to lead learners to the...

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.

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...

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.

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...

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...

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...

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.