EngageNY
Real-World Area Problems
Not all structures take the shape of a polygon. The 21st lesson in a series of 29 shows young mathematicians they can create polygons out of composite shapes. Once they deconstruct the structures, they find the area of the composite figure.
DK Publishing
Real-life Word Problems, Part 5
Bring these four word problems to your second grade class to reinforce addition, subtraction, and money math. The problems provide space to write out the proper equations, as well as separate areas to fill in the answers. Use these...
DK Publishing
Real-Life Word Problems, Part 6
Bring math alive with these five word problems. Using multiplication and division in a space for writing equations, fourth graders solve the word problems and practice writing out the answers in a separate area. Helpful as either a...
Curated OER
Money Math Lessons for Life
An outstanding lesson on financial literacy is here for you. Learners are presented with six scenarios, then compute the amount of savings they will have in their accounts. They complete a series of exercises designed to teach them that...
Curriculum Corner
Menu Math
Getting a meal, side dish, drink, and dessert can be delicious—but it can be expensive too! Practice addition and subtraction with money in a lesson that focuses on a sample menu, complete with task cards and word problems.
Wake Forest University
Authentic Activities for Connecting Mathematics to the Real World
Check out the handout from a presentation that contains a collection of high school algebra projects connecting a variety of mathematics to the real world. Activities range from simple probabilities to calculus. The activities can be...
Curated OER
Murder in the First Degree - The Death of Mr. Spud
Secondary learners investigate exponential functions in a real-world scenario. They collect data on the temperature of a cooling baked potato, enter the data into lists, and graph the data using a scatter plot before finding an...
PBS
The Lowdown — Examining California's Prison System: Real-World Ratio
Free yourself from the shackles of traditional math lessons. Young mathematicians investigate race, gender, and age differences in California's prison system. They use provided graphics to compare the prison population with the state's...
Radford University
Transformational Graphing in the Real World: Bacteria – Growth or Decay?
Grow—not decay—your knowledge of exponential functions. Young mathematicians graph exponential functions and explore how transformations affect the graphs. They decide whether the functions represent growth or decay in the context of...
Curated OER
Gotcha Covered, Pardner!
Young geometers use the interactive website Cyberchase to practice calculating both area and perimeter. Real world problems encourage learners to discover that we use math each and every day.
Curated OER
Fractions, Decimals, and Percents Got You Down? "Tri" This!
Have your class design their own mathematical study aids. Learners collaborate in groups on the design of tri-fold presentation describing the relationships between mathematical computations. Then, they write a business letter to the...
Curated OER
Population and Food Supply
What does it mean for something to grow exponentially, and how does that compare to linear growth? This activity tries to help learners gain an understanding of these concepts while modeling real-world problems. Linear and exponential...
Curated OER
Exploring Geometry in the Real World
Students find real-world examples of a variety of geometric shapes. They conduct research, record observations, and write descriptions. They create a classroom cityscape and highlight the information they gathered. They present an oral...
Fayetteville Public Schools
I've Seen That Shape Before
The objectives in the resource allow students to explore the characteristics of simple solid shapes. Youngsters learn to recognize the face shapes, corners, and edges that make up 3-D figures by filling in a chart. Lastly, learners look...
Curated OER
Algebra I: Linear Functions
Using rates from a rental car company, young mathematicians graph data, explore linear relationships, and discuss the role of slope and the y-intercept. This lesson allows for the discussion of independent and dependent variables, as...
Curated OER
Task: Range of Motion
If you have ever injured your shoulder, you know it takes a while to improve your arm's range of motion. In this real-world example, young mathematicians gain insight into the world of physical therapy while they analyze a case study...
PBS
Real-World Proportional Relationships: Gender Wage Gap
When will the gender wage gap disappear? Scholars use a provided infographic to see trends in wage gap over time. They use ratios of women's wages to men's wages to determine which decades had the greatest change in the wage gap. The...
Natinal Math + Science Initative
Slope Investigation
Context is the key to understanding slope. A real-world application of slope uses a weight loss scenario with a constant rate of change to introduce the concept of slope of a line, before it makes a connection to the ordered pairs and...
Curated OER
Real-Life Multiplication Problems
Here is a terrific learning exercise for upper graders that presents seven one-step math word problems. This would be an ideal in-class assignment, homework assignment, or assessment. Answers are provided on the second page of the...
Curated OER
Real-life Problems, Working with Fractions #2
Decimals and fractions can be tricky - especially in word problems! Help your fourth and fifth graders solve these word problems, all of which involve real-life application and decimals or fractions. There are separate spaces for writing...
Curated OER
Decimal Questions
Money and measurement are often expressed as decimal numbers. Here are 20 well-worded problems intended to put decimal numbers in a real-world context. Learners will add, subtract, multiply, and divide to determine the answer to each...
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 context to all...
Radford University
Real Life Parallels
There's no parallel to a great resource. Scholars take part in three lessons in which they investigate parallel lines in real-world situations. They search for and take pictures of parallel lines in and around the school, develop artwork...
Curated OER
Real Numbers in the Real World
Delve into the concept of operating on the set of real numbers! In this operating with the set of real numbers instructional activity, pupils perform order of operations on the set of real numbers using a calculator.