Curated OER
Bus and Car
Would you go by bus or car on the autobahn? Here, learners use distance, time, and average speeds to investigate the fastest way to get from Berlin to Frankfort for a soccer game. It might be fun to start with a discussion or short video...
Illustrative Mathematics
Rainfall
Ideal for use as an introduction to the idea of inverse functions, this activity investigates rainfall as a function of time. Learners use the data displayed in a table of values to analyze the function and its inverse, including why the...
Illustrative Mathematics
Average Cost
Here is an activity that presents a good example of a function modeling a relationship between two quantities. John is making DVDs of his friend's favorite shows and needs to know how much to charge his friend to cover the cost of making...
Illustrative Mathematics
Jumping Flea
Mathematics minors consider the magnitude of a jumping flea as he hops from place to place. Through this exercise, they will investigate absolute values, as well as positive and negative rational numbers on a number line. The first page...
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...
Curated OER
Symmetries of a Quadrilateral II
Learners investigate the symmetries of a convex quadrilateral in a collaborative activity. Rigid motion and complements are explored as learners analyze different cases of reflections across a line.
Curated OER
Tennis Balls in a Can
Make your classroom interesting by teaching or assessing through tasks. Deepen the understanding of Geometry and motivate young mathematicians. The task uses investigation with tennis balls and their container to prompt learners to...
Mathematics Vision Project
Quadratic Functions
Inquiry-based learning and investigations form the basis of a deep understanding of quadratic functions in a very thorough unit plan. Learners develop recursive and closed methods for representing real-life situations,...
Illustrative Mathematics
Logistic Growth Model, Abstract Version
Here learners get to flex some serious algebraic muscles through an investigation of logistic growth. The properties of the constant terms in the logistic growth formula are unraveled in a short but content-dense...
Mathematics Vision Project
Module 7: Connecting Algebra and Geometry
The coordinate plane links key geometry and algebra concepts in this approachable but rigorous unit. The class starts by developing the distance formula from the Pythagorean Theorem, then moves to applications of slope. Activities...
Mt. San Antonio Collage
Congruent Triangles Applications
Triangles are all about threes, and practicing proving postulates is a great way to get started. The first page of the activity provides a brief introduction of the different properties and postulates. The remaining pages contain...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Maximizing Area: Gold Rush
Presenting ... the gold standard for a lesson. Learners first investigate a task maximizing the area of a plot for gold prospecting. They then examine a set of sample student responses to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses.
University of Utah
Geometry: Angles, Triangles, and Distance
The Pythagorean Theorem is a staple of middle school geometry. Scholars first investigate angle relationships, both in triangles and in parallel lines with a transversal, before proving and applying the Pythagorean Theorem.
University of Utah
Rational and Irrational Numbers
Conquer any irrational fears you might have of irrational numbers. As class members investigate how to represent numbers geometrically, they learn about rational and irrational numbers, including approximating and ordering rational...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Circles and Squares
Squares, and circles ... and squares, and more circles. In this high school assessment task, pupils investigate the ratio of areas of two squares that are circumscribed and inscribed in a circle. They then determine the ratio of the area...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Sidewalk Patterns
Sidewalk patterns ... it's definitely not foursquare! Learners investigate patterns in sidewalk blocks, write an expression to represent the pattern, and then solve problems using the expressions.
Mathematics Assessment Project
Security Camera
Only you can prevent shoplifting. Class members use a given floor plan to investigate the placement of a security camera. They must incorporate knowledge of area and percents to complete the task.
Mathematics Assessment Project
Floor Pattern
You'll never look at floor tiles the same again. An assessment task prompts learners to investigate relationships between patterns involving squares and kites to determine angle measurements. They then prove...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Glasses
Clink, clink! Young mathematicians investigate drinking glasses composed of known solids (cones, cylinders, and hemispheres). Next, they determine the volumes of these glasses.
Mathematics Assessment Project
Bird’s Eggs
Are the length and width of birds' eggs related? Young ornathologists use a scatter plot to investigate the relationship between the length and width of eggs for Mallard ducks. They then determine the egg with the greatest...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Sorting Functions
There's no sorting hat here. A high school assessment task prompts learners to analyze different types of functions. They investigate graphs, equations, tables, and verbal rules for four different functions.
Mathematics Assessment Project
Cubic Graph
Connect cubic graphs to equations. After connecting solutions of a cubic equation to zeros of its related cubic function, pupils investigate a translation of the cubic function.
Mathematics Assessment Project
T-Shirt Sale
Everyone loves a sale! As pupils investigate a sale on t-shirts, they determine the percent discount and original prices.
West Contra Costa Unified School District
Exploring Quadratics and Graphs
Young mathematicians first graph a series of quadratic equations, and then investigate how various parts of the equation change the graph of the function in a predictable way.