National Endowment for the Humanities
Mark Twain and American Humor
“The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” is famous, in part, because it established a uniquely American form of humor. For this famous story, Mark Twain combines the tall-tale, the dialect story, and satire. Here is a resource...
Curated OER
“THE LORAX” by Dr. Seuss
Few children's books convey the message of conservation as well as Dr. Seuss' The Lorax. Read the story aloud, emphasizing the interconnectedness of plants and animals in an ecosystem and discussing different ways people can help...
EngageNY
Scale Factors
Is it bigger, or is it smaller—or maybe it's the same size? Individuals learn to describe enlargements and reductions and quantify the result. Lesson five in the series connects the creation of a dilated image to the result. Pupils...
EngageNY
The Volume Formula of a Pyramid and Cone
Our teacher told us the formula had one-third, but why? Using manipulatives, classmates try to explain the volume formula for a pyramid. After constructing a cube with six congruent pyramids, pupils use scaling principles from...
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Writing the Equation for a Circle
Circles aren't functions, so how is it possible to write the equation for a circle? Pupils first develop the equation of a circle through application of the Pythagorean Theorem. The lesson then provides an exercise set for learners to...
EngageNY
Solving General Systems of Linear Equations
Examine the usefulness of matrices when solving linear systems of higher dimensions. The instructional activity asks learners to write and solve systems of linear equations in four and five variables. Using matrices, pupils solve the...
EngageNY
Matrix Multiplication Is Distributive and Associative
Learn the ins and outs of matrix multiplication. After discovering the commutative property does not apply to matrix multiplication in a previous lesson in the series, pupils now test the associative and distributive properties. The...
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Graphing Cubic, Square Root, and Cube Root Functions
Is there a relationship between powers and roots? Here is a instructional activity that asks individuals to examine the graphical relationship. Pupils create a table of values and then graph a square root and quadratic equation. They...
EngageNY
Special Triangles and the Unit Circle
Calculate exact trigonometric values using the angles of special right triangles. Beginning with a review of the unit circle and trigonometric functions, class members use their knowledge of special right triangles to find the value...
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Linear and Nonlinear Expressions in x
Linear or not linear — that is the question. The lesson plan has class members translate descriptions into algebraic expressions. They take the written expressions and determine whether they are linear or nonlinear based upon the...
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Magnitude
Build an understanding of the powers of 10. Pupils investigate the results of raising 10 to positive and negative powers. They relate this understanding to the magnitude these powers represent in this seventh lesson of 15.
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Writing and Solving Linear Equations
Incorporate geometry into the solving linear equations lesson. Pupils use their knowledge of geometry to write linear equations which reinforces geometry measurement concepts while at the same time providing a familiar context for...
EngageNY
Sequencing Rotations
Discover the result of a sequence of rotations about different centers. Pupils perform rotations to examine the patterns. They also describe the sequence of rotations that performed to reach a desired result in the ninth installment in a...
EngageNY
Constant Rates Revisited
Find the faster rate. The resource tasks the class to compare proportional relationships represented in different ways. Pupils find the slope of the proportional relationships to determine the constant rates. They then analyze the...
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Volumes of Familiar Solids – Cones and Cylinders
Investigate the volume of cones and cylinders. Scholars develop formulas for the volume of cones and cylinders in the 10th lesson plan of the module. They then use their formulas to calculate volume.
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Square Roots
Investigate the relationship between irrational roots and a number line with a resource that asks learners to put together a number line using radical intervals rather than integers. A great progression, they build on their understanding...
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Pythagorean Theorem, Revisited
Transform your pupils into mathematicians as they learn to prove the popular Pythagorean Theorem. The 16th lesson in the series of 25 continues by teaching learners how to develop a proof. It shows how to prove the Pythagorean Theorem...
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Ordering Integers and Other Rational Numbers
Scholars learn to order rational numbers in the seventh lesson in a series of 21. Reasoning about numbers on a number line allows for this ordering.
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Writing and Interpreting Inequality Statements Involving Rational Numbers
Statements often have multiple interpretations — but not these inequality statements. Scholars compare rational numbers and write inequality statements symbolically. The lesson includes problems that require comparing three numbers.
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Ordered Pairs
Scholars learn to plot points on the coordinate plane. The instructional activity introduces the idea that the first coordinate of a coordinate pair represents the horizontal distance and the second coordinate represents the vertical...
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Exponents
Powered up! Here's a great resource on exponents. Scholars build on their previous understanding of exponents to include all positive real number bases. Distinguishing between an and a^n is a major goal in the fifth lesson of a 36-part...
Missouri Department of Elementary
R-E-S-P-E-C-T: A Basic Skill
Imagine seventh graders developing a school wide plan to promote respect in their school. That's the vision behind the second lesson in the R-E-S-P-E-C-T series. In preparation for designing a school-wide media campaign, class members...
West Contra Costa Unified School District
Motion Problems
Let's hope class participants don't get motion sickness. In the lesson plan, class members first solve motion problems using tables and graphs. They then use algebraic techniques to solve motion problems.
EngageNY
Solving Problems Using Sine and Cosine
Concepts are only valuable if they are applicable. An informative resource uses concepts developed in lessons 26 and 27 in a 36-part series. Scholars write equations and solve for missing side lengths for given right triangles....