Illustrative Mathematics
To Multiply or not to multiply?
When do you multiply a fraction by a fraction? Here, fifth graders are given 10 different word problems and asked to decide if multiplying 2/5 x 1/8 is appropriate. Many times, real-world word problems sound similar although the required...
Illustrative Mathematics
Converting Fractions of a Unit into a Smaller Unit
There is more than one way to answer a question; especially when you have fractions in measurement. Here are three questions with real-world situations in which 5th graders are asked to provide answers in three ways: a larger unit of...
Curated OER
Minutes and Days
Elapsed time is a skill developed by the single question that is the center of this activity. Fifth graders are asked to find out the time that is 2011 minutes after the beginning of 2011. This question addresses the standard that...
Illustrative Mathematics
Flu on Campus
An outbreak of the swine flu on a school campus has caused an increase in the number of boxes of tissues sold by the school store. In a real-world-modeling activity, pupils use composition of functions to determine how the number of...
Illustrative Mathematics
Lake Algae
Introduce learners to exponential growth with this real-world problem about algae that is rapidly spreading across a lake in a city park. The task presents the rate of growth and an end value and asks learners to determine what happened...
Curated OER
Slope
Studying slope? This one page worksheet has it covered! Learners use graphs and coordinates to find slope and also use slope to find a missing coordinate of a point on a line. The lesson also includes a real-world example that asks...
Illustrative Mathematics
Influenza epidemic
This activity presents a real-world problem about an epidemic of influenza spreading through a city. Learners refer to a graph that shows the number of individuals infected in relation to the number of weeks that have elapsed since...
Illustrative Mathematics
Boxes and Cartons of Pencils
Boxes and cartons of pencils are a natural, real-world example for understanding bundles of ten and their relationship to a hundred. When you have many cartons, you can discuss place value, and how to represent multiple hundreds.
Illustrative Mathematics
Above and below sea level
Using the real-world example of elevation, above or below sea level, young mathematicians interpret expressions using negative signs, and absolute value. This task provides a good opportunity to discuss the notion of magnitude and...
Illustrative Mathematics
Sugar in Six Cans of Soda
Understanding how to multiply a whole number by a fraction is the key concept. Young mathematicians create a visual model of this real-world example and find the solution. Extensions are possible for making this an even richer activity....
Illustrative Mathematics
Throwing Baseballs
This is a wonderful exercise for learners to apply their critical thinking skills along with their knowledge of quadratic functions and parabolas. Young mathematicians investigate a real-world scenario about the height a baseball reaches...
Illustrative Mathematics
Busy Day
This activity gets at the heart of algebraic reasoning and setting up equations with one variable to solve real-world problems. The worksheet has only one problem, but it requires that learners first use their own reasoning...
Illustrative Mathematics
The Florist Shop
A real-world approach to common multiples asks learners to find different groups of flowers based on their multiples. Useable as a class activity or independent exercise, they will have to organize their thoughts to explain the totals of...
Illustrative Mathematics
US Garbage, Version 1
An interesting example of a discrete function and how it is applies to the real world. This could easily make a good collaborative lesson with an environmental science class. Practice reading a table and drawing a scatter plot make up...
Illustrative Mathematics
Mile High
What is the meaning of sea level? This resource helps your class understand the meaning of elevations above, below, and at sea level. Provides for good discussion on using positive and negative numbers to represent quantities in the real...
Curated OER
Stock Swaps, Variation 2
If Microsoft wanted to take over Apple, how many shares would they need to break even? This is an ideal task for seventh graders who are studying proportional relationships and applying them to real-world scenarios. Use it as an...
Mathematics Vision Project
Module 8: Modeling Data
Statistics come front and center in this unit all about analyzing discrete data. Real-world situations yield data sets that the class then uses to tease out connections and conclusions. Beginning with the basic histogram and...
Mathed Up!
Pictograms
Young mathematicians read, interpret, and complete a variety of real-world pictograms. Each question includes a key and information to complete the graphs.
Mathematics Assessment Project
Estimating Length Using Scientific Notation
Would you rather have a million dollars or 1 x 10^6 dollars? To find the answer to this question, class members first complete an assessment task converting numbers between decimal notation and scientific notation. They then take...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Solving Linear Equations in Two Variables
Solving problems about pen and paper with systems of equations ... or is it the other way around? In the lesson, learners first interpret expressions and use equations in two variables to solve problems about notebooks and pens. They...
University of Utah
Functions
Define, explore, compare, and analyze functions with the fourth chapter of a 10-part eighth-grade workbook series. After encountering the definition of a function, pupils begin to explore linear and nonlinear functions. They then...
Mathed Up!
Area and Circumference of Circles
Don't go around and around, help your class determine amounts around and in a circle with a video that connects circumference to the perimeter or the distance around an object. The resource includes 14 questions dealing with circles and...
CK-12 Foundation
Inverse Variation Models: Speedometer for Inverse Variation Models
Model inverse variation while solving a real-world problem. Young scholars use the interactive lesson to discover the pattern of inverse variation data. They then use that discovery to write and analyze an equation.
02 x 02 Worksheets
Proportions
Cut-and-paste a great activity into your lesson plans. Scholars analyze real-world problems involving proportions. To change things up a bit they cut-and-paste quantities to create a proportion on their way to solving the problems.
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