Alabama Learning Exchange
Sky High
How are skyscrapers built? What does it take to make a structurally sound building? How can one work within a budget to complete a building project? These guiding questions will be investigated and answered within a hands-on lesson....
American Statistical Association
How Fast Are You?
Quick! Snap up the lesson. Scholars first use an online app to collect data on reaction times by clicking a button when the color of a box changes. They then plot and analyze the data by considering measures of center, measures of...
Curated OER
Mathematics: A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words
Students examine school yearbooks from 1950 to the present. They count the number of male and female teachers and administrators. They compile date and extrapolate changes in job trends.
Curated OER
Proving (a Theorem) and Disproving (a Theory)
As a cross-curricular lesson, your class examines the issues of gender discrimination, careers, and gender roles. They read and discuss an article, prepare a proof of the Pythagorean theorem as a class, and develop a creative...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Wheels All Around
Budding mathematicians explore the concept of skip counting. They practice skip counting as they use it to determine the number of wheels that come to school at 3 different times throughout the day. They also create a data graph to show...
Curated OER
Questioning NASA
Space science and math collide in this inquiry that investigates launching times for antacid-tablet rockets! Upper elementary or middle school learners collect data as they launch these mini rockets. They apply concepts of place value...
Curated OER
"Polly"gon Pockets
Explore polygons with your elementary learners. Divide the class in 12 to configure the polygon puzzle before them. They list the attributes of each type of polygon they see, and if there's time, they jump on the interactive website...
Curated OER
Picture Board
Learners divide a poster board so everyone gets the same amount of area to decorate. Youngsters talk about the different ways to divide a rectangle. They measure their lines to make sure that each piece is equal and then decorate their...
Curated OER
Tangram
Students explore tangrams. For this tangrams lesson, students read Three Pigs, One Wolf, and Seven Magic Shapes and then complete a WebQuest on tangrams. Students explore shapes and rotation during the WebQuest and create a new character...
Curated OER
Environmental Agents of Mathematics: Mathematics for Change
High schoolers analyze environmental science data using Math. They do research about renewable energy, gather data, create graphs and interpret their findings. Then the group presents their arguments persuasively using their findings to...
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
Interpreting Algebraic Expressions
The title of this instructional activity should be "Algebraic Expressions Four Ways." Not only will your class be translating verbal descriptions of algebraic expressions to symbols, but also working with their geometric interpretation...
John Lentine
Butterflies and Bugs
Symmetry, line, shape, art, and math are all connected through a fun hands-on craft. Included are instructions to a classic activity, where learners create butterflies to show symmetry in nature and then discuss symmetry in math. It is...
Polar Trec
How Much Data is Enough?
The next time you read a magazine or watch the news, make note of how many graphs you see because they are everywhere! Here, scholars collect, enter, and graph data using computers. The graphs are then analyzed to aid in discussion of...
Curated OER
Sunflower Measuring and Counting
Youngsters improve their measuring and counting skills using sunflowers. They view pictures painted by Van Gogh. Everyone works in groups to measure sunflowers and record their findings, and they all use sunflower seeds to create...
Illustrative Mathematics
Shake and Spill
Entertaining as well as educational, this math activity about decomposing numbers is bound to capture the engagement of young learners. Given a cup and five two-color counters, young mathematicians simply shake and spill the cup,...
Kenan Fellows
Applying Linear Regression to Marathon Data
It's not a sprint, it's a marathon! Statistic concepts take time to develop and understand. A guided activity provides an opportunity for individuals to practice their linear regression techniques in spreadsheet software. The activity...