Let your use of the resource be in proportion to its usefulness. Pupils investigate similar triangles by measuring side lengths and considering given angle measures. The results of the investigation help develop generalizations about...

Precise measurements make the job easier! One of the challenges when using an inclined plane for testing comes from pupils not using exact measurements. They often rely on books that slide or different ramp lengths when experimenting. By...

Take the class over the rainbow. Pairs or small groups follow directions to create a spectrograph. The pupils measure the angles formed by the different colors of the spectrum along with calculating the lengths formed by the spectrum and...

A fossil is worth a thousand words! Individuals craft their own amber fossil of an insect in addition to molds and casts of seashells. A third activity takes the lesson a notch higher: Learners measure stride lengths between tracks and...

Learners investigate properties of similar figures. In this properties of similar figures lesson, pupils construct similar figures using Cabri Jr. They dilate their figure to create a similar one, and discuss the relationships between...

Students cut yarn into several different lengths and fold paper in half, using skills for measuring and fractions. Then they use unconventional items (yarn) as tools to create mirror-image art and experience first-hand the math idea of...

Young mathematicians use the Visual Thesaurus to define mean, median, and mode. In this mean, median and mode lesson, learners use online sources to find the definitions of mean, median, and mode before applying the concepts to a class...

Who needs a compass to find cardinal directions? Just place a stick in the ground and record the movement of its shadow over the course of a day. Then, measure the shadow lengths in order to determine a north-south line. A simple...

Shine some light on the topic of seasonal change with this collection of activities. Whether it's by measuring the change in the length of their shadows, or modeling the earth's orbit around the sun using a lamp and a globe, these...

Young geometers become pool sharks in this analysis of the angles and lengths of a trick shot. By using angles of incidence and reflection to develop similar triangles, learners plan the exact placement of balls to make the shot....

Learners build confidence working with geometric tools and develop their construction techniques in the sixth lesson plan of the 29-part series. Given a geometric description, they use a compass, protractor, or ruler to create it....

Using patty paper, classes determine that only one triangle is possible when given two specific angle measures and a side length. As the 10th instructional activity in the series of 29, young math scholars add these criteria to those...

What sets of whole numbers make up the measures of side lengths in right triangles? Pupils use an interactive triangle to learn about Pythagorean triples. Individuals find missing values in triples and learn more about Pythagorean...

Congruent figures: two figures that want to be just like each other. Individuals learn to distinguish between figures that are congruent and those that are not. Measuring the lengths of line segments and angles helps in this endeavor.

How do we know how long ago a dinosaur lived or an ancient fire pit was used? Scholars learn about the application of carbon dating and half lives to discover things about the past. They adjust the amount of radioactive carbon in the...

The narrator of a short video explains the steps in constructing a triangle given the measure of two angles and the length of the side between the angles. The resource provides opportunities for pupils to practice the skill with two...

What's one more app? After reviewing how to calculate missing side lengths or angle measures in a right triangle, pupils create instructions for a phone app to do all of the tedious work. They must consider all nine cases of known...

Put trigonometric ratios into inverse. Scholars learn how to find an unknown angle in a right triangle by using inverse trigonometric ratios. The pupils understand how the inverses undo a trigonometric ratio to provide the angle measure....

Touch a circle once. Individuals watch a video and learn two theorems related to tangents and circles. The pupils then apply the theorems to find missing angle measures and lengths in figures. At the end, they practice their skills on...

Students create a ruler for the purpose of measurement using the standard and metric systems. The rulers are of different lengths and are compared to one another. Then students make conversions of different lengths using both systems of...

Eighth graders participate in an experiment that emulates a sonar signal bouncing off the ocean floor. They determine how the ocean floor is measured by the length of time it takes for the sonar signal to return. They work with a wooden...

In this significant figures activity, students read about how to determine significant figures in calculations and measurements. They practice identifying significant figures in five problems.

Students make origami frogs to race. After the race they measure the distance raced, collect the data, enter it into a chart. They then find the mean, median, and mode of the data. Next, students enter this data into Excel at which time...

Students observe snails and their characteristics.  In this science lesson, students decide how to measure their snails and to observe a behavioral trait.  Students create a graph to present their findings.