Pre-K-2, 3-5
Students often view linear measurement as a procedure in which a number is simply read off a ruler. The goal of this lesson is to have students gain experience in linear measurement by using a variety of measuring instruments to measure the heights of classmates, to discover the error inherent in measurement, and to search for patterns in data that are represented on a table. In this lesson, students compare results of measuring the same height using different methods, and discuss measurement error. They measure the heights of classmates and the heights of older students in their school, and construct a table of height and age data. The lesson is also designed to serve as a springboard for a second lesson in which students relate measurement to algebra and data analysis concepts.
Pre-K-2, 3-5
A key goal for instruction on algebra at the elementary level is to analyze change, and to understand how change in one variable can relate to change in a second variable. The goal of this lesson is for students to explore how changes in students’ ages relate to changes in their heights.
3-5, 6-8
The
Stomachion is an ancient tangram-type puzzle. Believed by
some to have been created by Archimedes, it consists of 14 pieces cut
from a square. The pieces can be rearranged to form other interesting
shapes. In this lesson, students learn about the history of the
Stomachion, use the pieces to create other figures, learn about symmetry and transformations, and investigate the areas of the pieces.
3-5
Students explore the importance of the side lengths of a triangle and when triangles can or cannot be constructed on the basis of these lengths.
3-5
Students love games! In this lesson, students apply what they know about area by planning a four square tournament for their school. They'll calculate the total area of a large room and figure out how many four square game courts are possible. The lesson promotes problem solving and decision making as students work to design a tournament space that allows for movement of people and active game play.
3-5
Oil spills are in the news. To make real-world connections, this lesson provides hands-on experiences with mixing oil and water, provides surface area information about the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and gives students opportunities to estimate small oil spills of their own making.
3-5
In this lesson, students will create memorable benchmarks for ounces and pounds by playing a classroom scavenger hunt game in which they gain points for finding objects that weigh approximately an ounce or pound. Students will practice weighing objects and will discuss why it is important to know the difference between ounces and pounds.
3-5
In this lesson, students prepare jumping jack data to send to officials on the planet Jumpalot. Students record how many jumping jacks they can do in ten seconds and use their knowledge of time conversions to figure out how many jumping jacks they could complete in a minute all the way to a year if they never tired. Students then organize class data and explore mean, median, and mode and the effects extreme values have on these measures. Students then brainstorm the advantages and disadvantages each measure offers.
3-5, 6-8
If a tree could talk, we could ask it how old it is. Here is a mathematical way to estimate the age of your schoolyard trees. Students will measure circumference of trees in order to find diameter and calculate age of local trees using a growth rate table.
Pre-K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Need a pentagonal pyramid that's six inches tall? Or a number line that goes from ‑18 to 32 by 5's? You can create all those things and more! Place the images you want, then export it as a PDF or as a JPG image.
