Young cartographers in groups hide treasure at school and then create a map to find it using pattern blocks and tiles. They make paintings with clues to create a visual representation of the location of their treasure. Groups present...

If your youngsters are new to numbers, here are several interactive strategies to get them thinking about even and odd numbers. For example, they can count the number of desks, people, etc. in the room and determine if it is even or odd....

If you like rap music, are you more likely to like rock music?  Use statistical analysis to determine if there is a positive association between rap and rock in this particular sample. While the problem is relatively simple, the...

Fifth graders need concrete experiences to introduce a unit on multiplying fractions by fractions. A strip of paper is used to create a number line and represent 5/6. It is folded first in half, and then in quarters. After unfolding,...

Drive or take the school bus? Class members determine the amount each student would have to pay in a carpool situation. They then evaluate  the cost in a set of provided examples. I think I'd rather take the school...

Don't think negatively about exponents. Young mathematicians dissect a fictional conversation between pupils trying to evaluate an expression with a negative exponent. This allows them to understand the meaning of negative exponents.

Work with the class to investigate the concept of dividing decimals. They will use a variety of problem-solving skills in order to practice the operation of division. The teacher can use the dialogue to guide learners through the various...

In a writing prompt, learners are asked to check the calculation of a decimal exponent without a calculator. Use as an opener or assessment after studying fractional exponents. Requires a strong understanding of exponents and roots to...

This task focuses on using the verbal definition of the logarithm to understand that a logarithm is an exponent. Learners complete six computational exercises using the inverse properties of logs and exponents and answer two...

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...

At the end of this activity, your number crunchers will have a better understanding as to how to describe graphs of velocity versus time and distance versus time. It is easy for learners to misinterpret graphs of velocity, so have them...

Earthquakes can be frightening and dangerous, but being prepared can make a world of difference. Perform an earthquake simulation during which the class practices how to drop, cover, and hold on as you read a script...

Rolling dice is the best way to show your learners how probability comes in to play. Although this lesson does not specify an activity, your mathematicians can try this probability with real dice to calculate their experimental...

Geometry gets an engineering treatment in an exercise involving a belt wrapped around two wheels of different dimensions. Along with the wheels, this belt problem connects concepts of right triangles, tangent lines, arc length, and...

Some data just doesn't follow a straight path. Learners use line graphs to represent data that changes over time. They use the graphs to analyze the data and make conclusions.

A middle school test contains two 40-minute sections covering material through algebra. All questions involve applied problem solving or mathematical analysis.

Can you spare a 10? Scholars determine digits that could complete a two-digit subtraction problem. They must find all possible combinations of digits and provide an explanation for their reasoning.

"Does this work every time?" We've all heard it. Now learners get to explore methods to answer that question themselves. Pupils analyze a mistake that has been made with creating a formula for multiplying binomials. They then create...

Manufacturers' claims may or may not be accurate, so proceed with caution. Here pupils use statistics to investigate the M&M's company's claim about the percentage of each color of candy in their packaging. Through the activity,...

Apply geometric concepts to a design problem. Individuals examine the structural setup of the chain on a bicycle and use the measurements of the circles to determine the length of the chain. 

Enrico Fermi, the physicist responsible for the first nuclear detonation, was known for his ability to estimate with little or no data. Use this task to have your classes practice their Fermi skills. They estimate the magnitude of three...

Now you'll never have trouble cutting a cake evenly again. Here is a set of five problems all about partitioning shapes into a given number of pieces and identifying the fractional amount of each piece. As learners progress through the...

Assess class members' ability to look at numbers every which way. A helpful worksheet contain four tasks, including writing numbers as a sum of 100's, 10's, and 1's, and drawing a picture to represent the number.

Use the area of polygons to calculate the area between curves. Pupils calculate areas under income and expense curves by filling the space with squares and right triangles. Using that information, they determine the profit related to the...