3-5, 6-8
In this lesson students will review plotting points and labeling axis. Students generate a set of random points all located within the first quadrant. Students will plot and connect the points and then create a short story that could describe the graph. Students must ensure that the graph is labeled correctly and that someone could recreate their graph from their story.
6-8
Students begin by breaking down a typical summer day into a variety of activities and the amount of time they spend on each. They then translate their activity times into a simplified fraction, a decimal, and a percent. Students create a pie chart for this information that is unique to them. Students who struggle with the calculations will have the opportunity to practice these conversions by playing a game that can easily be differentiated for various levels of learners.
6-8, 9-12
In this lesson, students compare different costs associated with two
cell phone plans. They write equations with 2 variables and graph to
find the solution of the system of equations. They then analyze the
meaning of the graph and discuss other factors involved in choosing a
cell phone plan.
6-8
In this activity, students will multiply and divide a recipe to feed groups of various sizes. Students will use unit rates or proportions and think critically about real world applications of a baking problem.
6-8
Students will plot points on a coordinate grid to represent ships
before playing a graphing equations game with a partner. Points along
the
y-axis represent cannons and slopes are chosen randomly to
determine the line and equation of attacks. Students will use their
math skills and strategy to sink their opponent's ships and win the
game. After the game, an algebraic approach to the game is
investigated.
6-8
In this lesson, students will use dimensions of round and square hay bales to calculate and compare volumes. They also calculate unit prices to determine which hay bale is the better value. Finally, students explore how to fit round and square bales into a barn to maximize volume, and decide which type of hale bale is the best choice.
6-8
In this lesson, a string will be stretched across the classroom and various points will be marked for 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4. This classroom number line will be used to show that all proper fractions are grouped between 0 and 1, and that improper fractions or mixed numbers are all grouped above 1. Students clip index cards with various proper fractions, improper fractions, and mixed numbers on the clothesline to visually see groupings. Students then play an estimation game with groups using the same principle. Encouraging students to look at fractions in various ways will help foster their conceptual fraction sense.
9-12
In this lesson, students use uncooked spaghetti to transfer lengths from the unit circle to a function graph on large butcher paper. In the process, they discover the key features of sine and cosine graphs. The activity is presented for students working in degrees, but another version of the handouts is provided for students working in radians.
6-8
In this lesson, students explore linear equations with manipulatives
and discover various steps used in solving equation problems. Students
use blocks and counters as tactile representations to help them solve
for unknown values of
x.
6-8
Darts is a popular game in which players throw 3 darts, one at a time, aiming for a target. Different regions of the board give different points. In this lesson, students learn how to change the scale of an object, and how to measure and draw angles using a protractor. By the end of the lesson, students have created their own dartboard. The dartboard can later serve to emphasize properties of angles and angle pairs. This activity is a good one to do prior to a lesson in which students construct circle graphs. The practice they will get in this lesson drawing circles and measuring angles will help them in their quest to more accurately create circle graphs.
