Illustrative Mathematics
Area of a Trapezoid
Here is a straightforward example of how to apply the Pythagorean Theorem to find an unknown side-length of a trapezoid. Commentary gives additional information on proving that the inside of the trapezoid is a rectangle, but is...
EngageNY
Why Are Vectors Useful? 1
How do vectors help make problem solving more efficient? Math scholars use vectors to represent different phenomenon and calculate resultant vectors to answer questions. Problems vary from modeling airplane motion to the path of a...
Kenan Fellows
Man vs. Beast: Approximating Derivatives using Human and Animal Movement
What does dropping a ball look like as a graph? An engaging activity asks learners to record a video of dropping a ball and uploading the video to software for analysis. They compare the position of the ball to time and calculate the...
Corbett Maths
The Range
Spread the data out on the range. The short video provides a definition of the range. Using a data set of five numbers, the resource calculates the range.
Illustrative Mathematics
Using Benchmarks to Compare Fractions
Introduce a new strategy for comparing fractions by analyzing Melissa's use of benchmarks. Walk the class through her process, calling on students to explain their understanding of each step she took. Then practice this method on two...
Illustrative Mathematics
Running Around a Track I
The accuracy required by the design and measurement of an Olympic running track will surprise track stars and couch potatoes alike. Given a short introduction, the class then scaffolds into a detailed analysis of the exact nature of the...
Illustrative Mathematics
Extensions, Bisections and Dissections in a Rectangle
Gaining practice in translating a verbal description into a diagram and then an equation is the real point of this similar triangles exercise. Once the diagram is drawn, multiple methods are provided to reach the conclusion. An effective...
EngageNY
Using Trigonometry to Determine Area
What do you do when you don't think you have enough information? You look for another way to do the problem! Pupils combine what they know about finding the area of a triangle and trigonometry to determine triangle area when they don't...
Curated OER
Performance-Based Assessment Practice Test (Grade 6 Math)
Keep track of your sixth graders' mastery of the Common Core math standards with this practice assessment. Taking a different approach than most standardized tests, this resource includes not only multiple choice questions, but also...
Achieve
Framing a House
If members of your class wonder where they can use the math they learn in middle school, let them discover the answer. Learners apply geometry concepts of scale and measure to calculate the costs of framing a house addition.
EngageNY
Obstacles Resolved—A Surprising Result
The greater the degree, the more solutions to find! Individuals find the real solutions from a graph and use the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra to find the remaining factors.
Big Kid Science
Measuring Shadows Using an Ancient Method
How did ancient peoples determine the height of really tall objects? Young scientists and mathematicians explore the concept of using shadows to measure height in a hands-on experiment. Paired pupils measure shadows, then calculate the...
EngageNY
The Mathematics Behind a Structured Savings Plan
Make your money work for you. Future economists learn how to apply sigma notation and how to calculate the sum of a finite geometric series. The skill is essential in determining the future value of a structured savings plan with...
Virginia Department of Education
Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences and Series
Examine the importance of sequence and series through contextual situations. Here, learners partake in a five-day unit that begins with the basics of arithmetic and geometric sequences and series. As it progresses, pupils apply the...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Triangle Area: No Height? Use the Sine
No height? No problem! Learners use their knowledge and a little help from GeoGebra to develop the Law of Sines formula. The Law of Sines helps to determine the height of triangles to calculate the area.
Balanced Assessment
Marbles in a Glass
Allow learners to design their own strategies to solve a problem. Given dimensions of a glass and a smaller marble, scholars must find the dimensions of a larger marble. The answer key suggests using the Pythagorean Theorem, but multiple...
College Board
2011 AP® Calculus BC Free-Response Questions
Does the exam look pupils expected? Released free-response questions from the AP® Calculus BC exam allow teachers and pupils to see and practice with actual exam questions. Three of the questions come from the AB portion of the course...
Curated OER
Calculator Activity: Ones, Tens, Hundreds
In this calculator activity worksheet, students learn to use a calculator to add numbers. Students add the numbers in column A to column B and then look for the answer that matches in column C. One answer is missing and students must...
Texas Instruments
Drawing a Line Tangent to a Circle
Explore lines tangent to a circle. In this math lesson plan, students manipulate circles and lines on a TI calculator. They draw a circle and analyze perpendicular lines intersecting the circle in only one place. This activity...
EngageNY
Modeling Riverbeds with Polynomials (part 1)
Many things in life take the shape of a polynomial curve. Learners design a polynomial function to model a riverbed. Using different strategies, they find the flow rate through the river.
Charleston School District
Pre-Test Unit 6: Systems
As if solving equations with an x isn't tricky enough, now they add a y, too? A pre-assessment gauges the knowledge of your classes related to systems. They are asked to solve graphically and algebraically and to solve word...
Yummy Math
Playing with my calculator on the 4th of July
This fun activity guides learners through an exploration of the effects of replacing f(x) with -f(x), f(x) + c, k f(x), and f(x + c). Using graphing calculators, students experiment with variations of the graph of y = x^2 to design a...
EngageNY
Describing Distributions Using the Mean and MAD
What city has the most consistent temperatures? Pupils use the mean and mean absolute deviation to describe various data sets including the average temperature in several cities. The 10th lesson in the 22-part series asks learners to...
EngageNY
A Critical Look at Proportional Relationships
Use proportions to determine the travel distance in a given amount of time. The 10th installment in a series of 33 uses tables and descriptions to determine a person's constant speed. Using the constant speed, pupils write a linear...