Curated OER
Murder in the First Degree - The Death of Mr. Spud
Secondary learners investigate exponential functions in a real-world scenario. They collect data on the temperature of a cooling baked potato, enter the data into lists, and graph the data using a scatter plot before finding an...
Curated OER
Mt. Whitney to Death Valley
This is an intriguing problem that brings together real-world data, technology, and mathematical problem solving. If visibility wasn't an issue, could you see from the highest point in the lower 48 states, Mt. Whitney, to the lowest...
Teach Engineering
Earthquakes Living Lab: Finding Epicenters and Measuring Magnitudes
Pairs use an online simulation to determine the epicenter and magnitude of an earthquake. Using real data about the earthquake's maximum S wave amplitudes, they then determine the magnitude. The resource provides a great career...
Teach Engineering
Energy Skate Park
Skate through a simulation on energy with an a activity that uses a computer simulation of a skater to reinforce the concept of conservation of energy. The resource guides pupils through scenarios using the computer simulation to...
PBS
Adventures With The Fish Pond: Population Modeling
Build up from the previous activity where your learners charted the population growth and decay of a fish pond with M&Ms®. Have them look at the data from that activity and create a Now-Next, or recursive equations, to predict the...
Curated OER
Spaghetti Bridges: Student Worksheet
Pairs of learners work together in order to simulate how engineers test materials for strength and safety in the real world. They use paper cups and pieces of spaghetti to run strength tests. This excellent worksheet should lead to...
Curated OER
Financial Plans
High schoolers explore financial planning. In this financial plan lesson, students read real-world problems from a current newspaper. They discuss methods for paying off debt, consolidating debt, computing net worth, and increasing cash...
Curated OER
Chances Are......You're Right
Young mathematicians study probability. In this math instructional activity, learners calculate odds, and convert those into percentages of probability. Fractions are also used, making this instructional activity quite rich in some of...
Curated OER
Stochastic and Deterministic Modeling
Explore the difference between stochastic and deterministic modeling through programming. First have the class write algorithms for relatively simple tasks using pseudocode. Use the Python 2.7 program app to simulate Mendel's Pea Pod...
Google
The Law of Large Numbers and Probability
Learners investigate why theoretical probability doesn't always match reality. The activity involves using Python 2.7 (or Sage) to set up a Bernoulli Trial. It also involves setting up a spreadsheet to simulate the Birthday Paradox....
Curated OER
Write Zeroes in the Dividend
Here is a fine presentation on the finer points of solving a long division problem. Mathematicians are introduced to the divisor, the quotient, and the dividend. They are shown the series of steps necessary to solve these types of...
Curated OER
Multi-dimensional Modeling of Ore Bodies Making Sense of Empirical Data
Math scholars identify four different rock types in that strata and use this identification and data to construct a two dimensional geologic cross-section. They use data tables to construct a three-dimensional geologic cross-section.
Practical Money Skills
Living on Your Own
Every teen dreams of living independently, but often without thinking about the details and costs involved with moving out. Three lessons in a unit about living on your own focus on moving costs, fixed and flexible costs associated...
Curated OER
Math: Will The Airplane Get Off the Ground?
High schoolers use data from real-life models to calculate and compare the force required for an airplane of a given weight to become airborne. They use a graphing calculator to evaluate data and use the World Wide Web to access data.
Curated OER
Linear Functions: Are You Ready for the REAL World?
students emulate a real world problem and model it with mathematics working in a small group. Observe and facilitate discussion as the groups use various strategies, such as (graphs, brainstorming, tables, and dialogue.
Curated OER
Checkbook Math
Twelfth graders simulate balancing checkbooks by applying required mathematical operations. They examine newspaper ads from banks and compare various services they offer. They discuss the uses of credit and debit cards.
Cornell University
Math Is Malleable?
Learn about polymers while playing with shrinky dinks. Young scholars create a shrinky dink design, bake it, and then record the area, volume, and thickness over time. They model the data using a graph and highlight the key features of...
Agile Mind
Isabella’s Credit Card
An in-depth activity that involves a real-world problem about credit card debt. Learners are given a scenario in which Isabella plans to stop using her credit card and pay off the balance by paying a fixed amount each month. The first...
University of Southern Indiana
Manifest Density
There's a lot content packed into the four lessons of this physical science unit on density. From salad dressing to the water cycle and hot air balloons, these lessons engage students in hands-on activities that explore real-world...
Mathematics Vision Project
Module 8: Modeling With Functions
Sometimes there just isn't a parent function that fits the situation. Help scholars learn to combine function types through operations and compositions. Learners first explore a new concept with an introductory activity and then follow...
Bowland
Speed Cameras
Do speed cameras help reduce accidents? Scholars investigate this question using a series of spreadsheet activities. Along the way, they learn about randomness, probability, and statistical analysis.
Discovery Education
Weathering Cubes
Weathering is not necessarily a result of the weather. Scholars conduct an experiment to explore the effect of surface area and volume on the weathering process. They create their own sugar cube rocks using the same number of cubes—but...
Curated OER
Investing for the Future
Twelfth graders perform basic calculations for saving and investment strategies. they simulate the investment of $1,000 in the stock market and savings account. they determine which pays the greater dividend.
Curated OER
What Do We Do With A Dirty Bomb?
Young scholars examine composition of dirty bomb and its possible effects on a city, and investigate simulations of such an event; students use computational and problem solving skills to assess damage and prepare report proposing...