Cardboard Boat Challenge

We can't build our dream house yet, but we can definitely build a model. Scholars use floor plans to build models of their dream homes. Cardboard is as good as any material for this purpose.

As a continuation of a previous lesson, this activity builds on the concept of calculating the terms of a sequence. Pupils are challenged to determine the smallest starting term to reach a set number by a set number of rounds. Notation...

Faster than a speedy calculator! Show your classes how to use polynomial identities to multiply numbers quickly using mental math. 

Is the application of systems of equations giving your class headaches? Use this resource to build on your pupils' logic to lead them to building equations and using algebraic methods. The lesson begins with an exploration of...

Clay's as good a material as any to build a boat, right? An introductory lesson sets the stage for two activities associated with buoyancy. The first involves building boats out of clay, while the second uses these boats to measure the...

Clay itself sinks, but clay boats float. Why? Young engineers build clay boats to learn about buoyancy. They test the weight the boats can hold using washers and then tweak their designs to make improvements, following the engineering...

A resource fit for a queen. Scholars recognize and continue a pattern in towers people are building for a queen. They write and use an algebraic expression for the number of tiles in the towers.

Working in small groups high schoolers develop three alternative boat designs. They discuss the rationale for the type of hull, propeller, location of ballast, and type of building material used in their design. They build their boat.

Building a doghouse is easier with a little mathematical help! Young scholars use sliders to adjust the length of the doghouse and watch as it affects the width and area. They then answer questions that help them discover the question...

How tall is your marshmallow structure? With limited supplies (including uncooked spaghetti noodles, masking tape, and one marshmallow), teams endeavor to support the marshmallow atop the tallest spaghetti structure they can build....