Highlight the process of mathematical discovery for your classes. This lesson examines the development of the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus over time. Understanding the history of the theorem helps create a better understanding of the...

Combine algebraic and geometric strategies to find solutions. The task asks learners to find the coordinates of a third vertex of a triangle to create a triangle with a specific area. The project is a set of seven problems that...

Tall and skinny or short and stout, which glass hold the most liquid? Learners analyze dimensions of cylindrical glasses to determine the one holding the greatest amount of liquid. They brainstorm the relevant dimensions before making...

Buying a home, dealing with a lender, securing a mortgage; these are daunting tasks for many adults. Why not teach middle schoolers about this area of adulthood so they are better-prepared to make the leap into home ownership when they...

Young geometers need a clear understanding of perimeter, volume, and area. This lesson provides a worksheet to help small groups of learners to calculate various measurements of objects and choose the proper units for measurement. It...

Grab your classes' attention with a video presentation of a problem to solve. Young scholars develop a plan to predict the time it takes to fill a tank with water. Video footage provides the statistics they need to make their conclusions.

Public transportation is an important aspect of any growing city. Collaborative groups work to redesign a system for a city in need of restructuring. Young scholars design a route, create a timetable, and incorporate a quality control...

First graders sequence the development of a plant. In this plant life lesson, 1st graders listen to a story about how a plant grows, students view a PowerPoint presentation and learn new vocabulary. Finally, students sequence the stages...

Trace the links between a variety of math concepts in this far-reaching unit. Ideas that seem very different on the outset (like the distance formula and rigid transformations) come together in very natural and logical ways. This...

Teachers turning into students? It's not Freaky Friday! It's a thoughtful workshop that teaches participants how to plan professional development for staff. Third in a 15-part series, the workshop provides a platform for the other...

Does money seem to slip through your middle schoolers' fingers? Encourage them to examine spending, saving, and budgeting habits with a unit on consumer skills and money management. Young spenders study the waste that occurs with school...

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.

How do you solve an equation like trigonometry? Learners apply their understanding of trigonometric ratios to find unknown angles in right triangles. They learn the meaning of arcsine, arccosine, and arctangent. Problems include...

Students discuss strategies for estimating information about various shapes. Once they draw and label four shapes with perimeters of 30 units, they calculate the areas of the figures. To complete the lesson, students offer written...

Count and compare numbers and fractions using "greater than" and "less than." Learners count on by 2s and 10s and represent the end number with base ten blocks, counters, and cups. They use circle stickers to illustrate fractions and...

Students investigate the art of baseball. In this sports instructional activity, students discuss their thoughts about the sport of baseball and create a baseball word list. Students use pattern blocks and drawing paper to...

Students examine and discuss a variety of ways to measure length, capacity, and weight. They estimate and measure a pencil's length using Unifix cubes, estimate and fill a measuring cup with Unifix cubes, and weigh a calculator in a...

Fifth graders apply math to real-world situations. In this mathematics lesson, 5th graders are read the book, "Math Curse," which discusses ways in which math is used each day. Students then write a sequel to the book in groups,...

Tell the story of the math. Given a graph of a linear system, learners write a story that models the graph before crafting the corresponding functions. Graphs intersect at an estimated point, allowing for different variations in the...

Learners conduct an experiment to develop a cooling curve for pizza. They consider how this affects pizza delivery in terms of packing material, distance, and delivery routes.

This is not your ordinary farm! Using a case study, small groups study two proposed locations for a wind farm. After researching all the information about the sites, the groups choose a site. Each team member writes up the proposal...

Can you add variables if you don't know their value? Using an empty number line, scholars first locate the position of the difference, sum, product, and quotient of two unknown integers. Later problems mix operations as well as add...

"Life is more risk management, rather than exclusion of risks." -Walter Wriston. Scholars use provided mortality data to determine how likely it is a person will die from a particular cause. They compare the data to the perception of the...

Are the means the same or not? Groups create samples from a bag of numbers and calculate the sample means. Using the sample means as an estimate for the population mean, scholars try to determine whether the difference is real or not.