Teach Engineering
Water Power
Young hydrologists observe a waterwheel which helps them investigate the transformations of energy that occur when the blades of a hydro-turbine are turning. They work together in pairs and pretend to be engineers who are building a new...
PBS
Using Symmetry to Create Corporate Logos
Young mathematicians investigate the use of symmetry in graphic design. After first learning about reflection, translational, and rotational symmetry, children use this new knowledge to identify symmetry in letters of the...
Resources for Educators
Fractions of Fun
Reinforce concepts and encourage learner engagement with a collection of math games, science experiments, and cross curricular activities. In one fun resource, learners sort objects, keep a diary of everyday fractions, play a game using...
Intel
Choreographing Math
Leaners investigate families of linear functions through dance. They choreograph dance moves to model nine unique linear functions of their choosing. Using their dance moves, teams create a video presentation complete with music and...
Virginia Department of Education
Similar Triangles
Pupils work in pairs to investigate what it takes to prove that two triangles are similar. They work through various shortcuts to find which are enough to show a similarity relationship between the triangles. Small groups work with the...
Virginia Department of Education
Angles in Polygons
Polygons — it's all about the angles. Groups work with dynamic geometry software to find the sum of the measures of the angles of various polygons. After finding the information for several polygons, the groups generate a formula that...
Virginia Department of Education
How Many Triangles?
Something for young mathematicians to remember: the sum of any two sides must be greater than the third. Class members investigates the Triangle Inequality Theorem to find the relationship between the sides of a triangle. At the...
Virginia Department of Education
Special Right Triangles and Right Triangle Trigonometry
Right triangles are so special! Use special right triangles to discover the trigonometric ratios. Pairs construct special right triangles and find the values of the ratios of the sides. In the process, they discover the ratios stay the...
Virginia Department of Education
Properties of Quadrilaterals
What type of quadrilateral is that? Discover the difference between the types of quadrilaterals. Small groups investigate types of quadrilaterals using geometry software to find their properties. To keep track of the different...
Virginia Department of Education
Pick and Choose
Properly teach properties with three activities that allow learners to investigate properties of real numbers. The resource covers the identity properties for addition and multiplication, the inverse property for multiplication, and the...
Curated OER
The Geometry Of An Ox Skin
High schoolers investigate the concepts of area and perimeter. The lesson plan uses a legend to create a context for the proposed word problem. They use the skill of estimation in order to create an ox skin that is found in the story.
Curated OER
It's Magic: Understanding the Roles, Responsibilities, and Requirements of Workers
Fifth graders investigate the world of work in relation to knowledge of self and to make informed career decisions. Then they break into groups to complete the training and education for two careers selected from a listing in the...
Curated OER
Visualizing Vectors
Investigate vectors in standard positions and use the CellSheet application on the TI calculator to find the sum of two vectors. Convert from polar to rectangular coordinates and vice versa, and show graphs of the vectors.
Curated OER
Sharing Brownies: Fractions That Represent a Fair Share
Elementary graders discover the concept of fractional pieces of a whole. They investigate the meanings of fractions in everyday life and why they are used. Pupils divide brownies amongst each other to demonstrate the use of fractions...
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....
Illustrative Mathematics
Temperatures in degrees Fahrenheit and Celsius
Learners investigate the relationship between the Fahrenheit and Celsius temperature scales. Given two data points, they construct a linear function to describe the relationship, find the inverse of the function, and make observations...
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...
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,...
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...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Sidewalk Stones
One block, two blocks, white blocks, gray blocks. In the high school assessment task, learners investigate patterns of sidewalk stones to develop a quadratic expression for each colored block. Young mathematicians then use the expression...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Patchwork
Sew up learning on writing rules for patterns with an assessment task that has pupils investigate the number of triangles needed for cushions of different sizes. They then use the data to generate a rule for a cushion of any size.
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...