Albert Shanker Institute
Dream Under Development
As part of their study of the 1963 March on Washington, class members do a side-by-side comparison of the original text of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream Speech" with a transcript of the speech he delivered. The take away from the...
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
Help or Hype: The Ethics of Bio-Nanotechnology
Ethical concerns are not always black and white. A well-designed lesson presents learners with scenarios for which ethics may come into question. Scholars learn to consider the different sides of a situation and make an unbiased conclusion.
iCivics
Mini-Lesson: Presidential Succession
Who is in line for the presidency? Learners research the line of succession in the executive branch. They analyze the role the cabinet plays in a situation where the president and vice president are not able to serve. Along the way,...
iCivics
Step Three: Who You Gonna Call?
Problem solving is an essential skill everyone must master. The resource instructs pupils how to analyze different scenarios and decide the best way to solve many different problems that take place in communities. Scholars read, discuss,...
Radford University
Environmental Issues
Pupils investigate the air pollution situation in China by fitting a curve to historical data. They dig deeper into environmental issues that are of interest and provide a mathematical analysis of the issue. Class members develop a route...
Radford University
Mathematical Modeling: Lessons 2-3
Not all functions are created equal. Pupils apply regression analysis using polynomial, exponential, and logarithmic functions to investigate the relationship between variables and to decide which function would be best to model the...
Radford University
A Little Devil In Need of Help
Math modeling to help endangered species? Scholars first investigate linear and exponential equations and graphs that model fictitious animal populations. They consider how key features of the graphs relate to the situation. As a final...
Radford University
Catch Me If You Can!
Crime doesn't pay, but everyone can learn from it. Learners consider different situations involving mischief at a school, such as stink bombs and rockets, and analyze them using mathematics. They must apply trigonometry, quadratic...
Radford University
Function Family Fun
It's time for a family reunion—function families, that is. Pupils first review different types of parent functions. They then see how to apply transformations to graphs and learn how to select the most appropriate type of function to...
Radford University
Building Your Own Home
Building a home means mastering math. Scholars apply various math topics to situations associated with the construction of a home. They consider the volume of concrete needed for a foundation, the perimeter and area of
blueprints, the...
Radford University
Real Life Parallels
There's no parallel to a great resource. Scholars take part in three lessons in which they investigate parallel lines in real-world situations. They search for and take pictures of parallel lines in and around the school, develop artwork...
Radford University
Surface Area and Volume
Who knew there were pyramids in China? Learners apply surface area and volume formulas to several different real-world situations. They calculate the volume and surface area of an aquarium, an ice cream cone, and Egyptian and Chinese...
Radford University
Parallel Lines Cut By a Transversal
Perhaps planning a city isn't so difficult after all. Scholars first perform geometric constructions and investigate how parallel lines are useful in real-world situations. They then work on a city design project, drawing street maps,...
Radford University
Running Laps During Soccer Practice
Which option involves running less? Given a situation in which players can either run around the school soccer field 20 times or run back and forth along the diagonal 20 times, learners decide which option would be better. They consider...
Radford University
Pizza, Pizza!
Ponder the problem of pizza prices. Pupils use provided information about two different pricing schedules for pizza. They create tables of values and functions to represent the pricing schemes, consider domain restrictions, and identify...
Radford University
Maximizing Light Through a Window
Let there be plenty of light. For a perimeter of 10 feet, scholars determine the maximum area of a window composed of a rectangle and a semicircle. They draw diagrams and then write and solve equations to find the height and radius for...
Radford University
Data Driven
Use the data for a good cause. Groups first analyze provided data and decide which function type would best model the situation. They then investigate a problem relevant to their lives by collecting data and analyzing the results using...
Radford University
Linear Programming: Sports Shoes
Don't shoo away the resource on shoes. Given constraints on the amount of leather and string needed to make two different types of shoes, learners graph a system of inequalities for the situation. They then determine the maximum profit...
Radford University
Exploring Types of Variation Activity
Create a variable list of problems. Groups come up with four scenarios. Each situation represents different types of variation, direct, inverse, joint, and combined. Teams then generate questions about their contextual problems for...
Missouri Department of Elementary
Be a Problem Solving Star
Encourage scholars to problem solve everyday frustrations using the STAR method. Using the acronym, learners remember to stop, think, act, and review. Participants begin with a math analogy in which they problem-solve to find the correct...
Missouri Department of Elementary
Dealing with Peer Influence: What Are Bullying and Harassment?
Scholars examine examples of peer pressure and discuss how specific actions negatively affect one's well-being. Learners gather in small groups to write two scenarios in which peer pressure is used. They reference the STAR method in how...
Missouri Department of Elementary
Putting on Armor
Peers can exert tremendous pressure that can lead to positive and negative consequences. To conclude the Risky Business unit, class members create a Personal Safety Plan. They list things or situations that cause stress, things they have...
National Woman's History Museum
Congresswoman Jeannette Rankin
Political activist, suffragette, pacifist, and the first woman elected to Congress, Jeannette Rankin has been largely ignored in history and history textbooks. Young historians set out to rectify that situation by examining primary...
California Academy of Science
Modeling Eclipses with Size and Distance Scales
Size within the solar system is a difficult thing for pupils to imagine. Using everyday objects, they build models to show the scale between the sun, moon, and Earth. They situate their props in proportional distances between the objects...