University of Colorado
Modeling Sizes of Planets
The density of the huge planet of Saturn is 0.7 g/cm3, which means it could float in water! In the second part of 22, science pupils explore the size and order of the planets. They then calculate weight and/or gravity and density of...
Virginia Department of Education
Algebra Tiles and Solving Equations
Young mathematicians solve linear equations by drawing models of algebra tiles using colored pencils. To finish, they solve the same equations algebraically and check their answers using a graphing calculator.
EngageNY
Margin of Error When Estimating a Population Proportion (part 1)
Use the power of mathematics to find the number of red chips in a bag — it's a little like magic! The activity asks learners to collect data to determine the percentage of red chips in a bag. They calculate the margin of error and...
EngageNY
End-of-Module Assessment Task: Grade 8 Module 4
Connect proportional linear equations and systems. The seven-question assessment is the last installment in a 33-part series. The items cover comparing proportional relationships, slope concepts, and simultaneous linear...
Royal Society of Chemistry
Moles Equations (16-19)
How many calculations can you think of that include moles? Chances are, plenty! Show young chemists the uses of the multifaceted mole with thought-provoking puzzles. Individuals identify and associate the outcomes of molar quantities...
Concord Consortium
Looking through a Window
Here's a window into graphing calculators. Scholars use a graphing calculator to plot a quadratic function. They then adjust the window to make the graph look like that of a linear function and must recreate given graphs.
UAF Geophysical Institute
Carbon Footprint
Your young environmentalists can calculate their carbon footprint and discuss ways to reduce it with a worksheet about climate change. After reading a handout about what impact one's carbon footprint can have on the environment, kids...
CK-12 Foundation
Coefficient of Variation: Diverse Populations
What is the height of school clubs? Learners use sliders to calculate the coefficient of variation for three different school groups. Using the calculations, class members compare the variation in the heights of the groups.
EngageNY
Mid-Module Assessment Task - Algebra 1 (module 2)
A mid-module assessment uses two multi-part questions to measure progress toward mastery on descriptive statistics standards. Each part of a question addresses a single standard to help determine mastery.
EngageNY
How Far Away Is the Moon?
Does the space shuttle have an odometer? Maybe, but all that is needed to determine the distance to the moon is a little geometry! The lesson asks scholars to sketch the relationship of the Earth and moon using shadows of an eclipse....
Teach Engineering
Swinging Pendulum
Get into the swing of things. Pupils use a pendulum to demonstrate the conversion of potential energy to kinetic energy and back. After measuring the speed of a pendulum and compare it to the calculated theoretical speed, they...
EngageNY
Modeling Riverbeds with Polynomials (part 2)
Examine the power of technology while modeling with polynomial functions. Using the website wolfram alpha, learners develop a polynomial function to model the shape of a riverbed. Ultimately, they determine the flow rate through the river.
Teach Engineering
Density Column Lab - Part 1
Mass and density — aren't they the same thing? This activity has groups use balance beams and water displacement to measure several objects. The pupils use the measurements to calculate the density of the objects.
EngageNY
Credit Cards
Teach adolescents to use credit responsibly. The 32nd installment of a 35-part module covers how to calculate credit card payments using a geometric series. It teaches terminology and concepts necessary to understand credit card debt.
Noyce Foundation
Which is Bigger?
To take the longest path, go around—or was that go over? Class members measure scale drawings of a cylindrical vase to find the height and diameter. They calculate the actual height and circumference and determine which is larger.
Noyce Foundation
Building Blocks
Building blocks have more uses than simply entertaining children. Young mathematicians calculate the volume of a given cube, and then calculate the volume and surface area of a prism formed from multiple cubes.
Virginia Department of Education
Normal Distributions
Pupils work to find probabilities by using areas under the normal curve. Groups work to calculate z-scores and solve real-world problems using the empirical rule or tables.
PBL Pathways
Medical Insurance 3
Create a technical report explaining the components of a medical plan through a function. The project-based learning activity gives a medical insurance scenario that young mathematicians model using piecewise functions. Their analyses...
Beyond Benign
Municipal Waste Generation
Statistically, waste may become a problem in the future if people do not take action. Using their knowledge of statistics and data representation, pupils take a look at the idea of waste generation. The four-part unit has class members...
Colorado State University
If You Can't Predict the Weather, How Can You Predict the Climate?
Why is the weather man wrong so often? Young climatologists discover how chaos rules both weather and climate through a math-based activity. Using an iterative equation, the class examines how small day-to-day weather events total up to...
101 Questions
Trashketball
Take a shot using a lesson on volume! Young learners watch a video showing a trashcan filling with paper balls. The task is to calculate the number of paper balls that will fit in the can. Pupils use volume calculations to make a...
Texas Instruments
Vandalism 101
Learners explore logic and use Geometer’s Sketchpad and patterns of logic to solve a puzzle.
Statistics Education Web
When 95% Accurate Isn’t
Investigate the effect of false positives on probability calculation with an activity that asks scholars to collect simulated data generated by a calculator. To finish, participants analyze the probability of certain outcomes which lead...
Prince William Network
Migration Math Madness
A great way to incorporate math into life science, this lesson plan has learners measure migratory routes on a map and calculate the actual distance that shorebirds on the routes would cover. Learners compute the distance covered in both...