Use food coloring in electrophoresis. The last segment in a four-part series mimics DNA fingerprinting by using chromatography. Teams conduct chromatography on food coloring to find colors that use similar pigmentation in their makeup.

Not all linear functions are linear transformations — show your class the difference. The first lesson in a unit on linear transformations and complex numbers that spans 32 segments introduces the concept of linear transformations and...

Individuals learn to divide and conquer complex numbers with a little help from moduli and conjugates. In the second lesson on complex number division, the class takes a closer look at the numerator and denominator of the multiplicative...

Class members perform complex operations on a plane in the 17th segment in the 32-part series. Learners first verify that multiplication by the reciprocal does the same geometrically as it does algebraically. The class then circles back...

The class checks to see if the formula for finding powers of a complex number works to find the roots too.  Pupils review the previous day's work and graph on the polar grid. The discussion leads the class to think about...

The seventh segment in an eight-part unit promotes the idea of concentrating the sun to increase the power of a photovoltaic panel. Pupils learn about devices used such as reflectors or lenses.

The second segment of a seven-part series reviews the challenge of determining whether gargling with salt water helps a sore throat. Individuals journal what they know about the challenge and what they are trying to figure out to...

Have you hit a wall when trying to create performance task questions? Several open-ended response questions require a deep level of thinking. Topics include triangle congruence, quadrilaterals, special segments, constructions, and...

Prove the Law of Sines two ways. The ninth segment in a series of 16 introduces the Law of Sines to help the class find lengths of sides in oblique triangles. Pupils develop a proof of the Law of Sines by drawing an altitude and a second...

Use the graphs of the trigonometric functions to set the stage to inverse functions. The lesson reviews the graphs of the basic trigonometric functions and their transformations. Pupils use their knowledge of graphing functions to model...

Does the symmetry and transitive property apply to similarity? The 10th segment in a series of 16 presents the class with a group of explorations. The explorations have pairs show that similarity is both symmetrical and transitive....

Draw a rainbow over the rainbow. The second segment in a series of six has the class practice using functions to edit a program that draws a rainbow. After creating the function, the interactive lesson challenges pupils to create another...

Two smiley faces are better than one. The interactive lesson challenges pupils to use methods to alter a program to make it more efficient. Individuals use the new code to create multiple smiley faces that speak. The engaging activity is...

What does it take to show two triangles are similar? The 11th segment in a series of 16 introduces the AA Criterion for Similarity. A discussion provides an informal proof of the theorem. Exercises and problems require scholars to apply...

Get the ball rolling and challenge your class to figure out how to make a ball move. The instruction segment is between two STEM activities devoted to doing just that. The first is simple and involves making a ball move from some...

In the eighth segment of a 33-part unit, learners look at equations that do not appear to be linear at first glance. The equations are proportions where the numerators and denominators may have more than one term. To round out the...

An intersection is more than just the point where lines intersect; explain this and the meaning of the intersection to your class. The 26th segment in a 33-part series uses graphing to solve systems of equations. Pupils graph linear...

Systems of parallel lines have no solution. Pupils work examples to discover that lines with the same slope and different y-intercepts are parallel. The 27th segment of 33 uses this discovery to develop a proof, and the class determines...

The process of elimination really works! Use elimination when substitution isn't doing the job. The 29th segment in a series of 33 introduces the elimination method to solving linear systems. Pupils work several exercises to grasp the...

Determine what the class knows about linear equations. The three-question mid-module assessment is segment 15 in a 33-part series. The assessment includes writing and solving one-variable linear equations and graphing proportional...

Show your class that linear equations produce graphs of lines. The 20th segment in a unit of 33 provides proof that the graph of a two-variable linear equation is a line. Scholars graph linear equations using two points, either from...

Examine the application of the Pythagorean Theorem in problem-solving questions. Pupils apply the theorem to find lengths when given different scenarios. They finish the 17th installment in an 18-part series by applying the theorem...

Remodeling projects require more than just a good design — they involve complex fractions, too. To determine whether a tiling project will fit within a given budget pupils calculate the square footage to determine the number of...

The 15th segment in a series of 22 uses examples that present proportional relationships with fractions. Pupils work through the problems and discover that the process is the same as it is with whole number values. Graphing the...