Curated OER
Boat Hull Design
Working in small groups students 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.
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Volume and Surface Area
Build boxes using unit cubes to compare surface area and volume. The group performs multiple experiments to determine properties of volume, such as if it makes a difference which order the dimensions are multiplied in. Extensive...
American Statistical Association
Scatter It! (Predict Billy’s Height)
How do doctors predict a child's future height? Scholars use one case study to determine the height of a child two years into the future. They graph the given data, determine the line of best fit, and use that to estimate the height in...
American Statistical Association
Step into Statastics
Class members study the size of classmates' feet and perform a statistical analysis of their data. They solve for central tendencies, quartiles, and spread for the entire group as well as subgroups. They then write a conclusion based on...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Representing Quadratic Functions Graphically
Sometimes being different is an advantage. An engaging activity has scholars match cards with quadratic functions in various forms. Along the way, they learn about how each form highlights key features of quadratic functions.
Shodor Education Foundation
Triangle Area
While the lesson focuses on right triangles, this activity offers a great way to practice the area of all triangles through an interactive webpage. The activity begins with the class taking a square paper and cutting in in half; can they...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Building and Solving Linear Equations
Young scholars write and solve linear equations in one variable based on descriptions of the operations that are applied to the unknown variable in an algebra machine. They then create their own problems for classmates to solve.
Mathematics Assessment Project
Representing Inequalities Graphically
A new, improved version of the game Battleship? Learners graph linear inequalities on the coordinate plane, then participate in a game where they have to guess coordinate points based on the solution to a system of linear inequalities in...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Sorting Equations and Identities
Identify the identity. Learners first solve equations to find the number of solutions. Scholars then determine if given equations are always, sometimes, or never true, leading to the concept of identities.
Shodor Education Foundation
Algebra Four
Everybody wins when you play Algebra Four. Players solve linear and quadratic equations to earn pieces on the Algebra Four game. Make a row of four pieces and you win the game. But everyone gets practice with solving equations, so really...
Shodor Education Foundation
Derivate
Derive tangent lines through derivatives. Scholars use an app to graph functions and investigate derivatives and tangent lines. The interactive automatically graphs a tangent line at a specified point and can also produce tables of values.
Shodor Education Foundation
Linear Function Machine
What goes in must come out! Learners play with a function machine to determine the correct function. They enter input values and watch as the machine produces the output.
Shodor Education Foundation
Function Machine
Machines can be so helpful sometimes. A simple interactive has learners enter input values for a function machine and observe output values. These values help determine a function that represents the input-output relationship in the...
Shodor Education Foundation
Equation Solver
Solve your equation and prove it, too. Young mathematicians solve linear equations using an interactive. They must input a property to justify each step of their solutions.
Shodor Education Foundation
Cross Section Flyer
Scholars see cross sections come to life using an app to investigate cross sections of three-dimensional solids. They look at prisms, pyramids, cylinders, cones, and double cones.
Shodor Education Foundation
Recursion
Perform the operation ... and then do it again. Scholars investigate recursive formulas by creating and graphing them. Using the interactive, pupils set the variable, determine the initial value, and type in a recursive formula.The...
Shodor Education Foundation
Vertical Line Test
Connect the points to create a function. Using points given by the applet, pupils try to connect them to create a line that would pass the vertical line test. The resource keeps track of the number of sets the learner is able to identify...
Shodor Education Foundation
Pythagorean Explorer
Make sure the measurement is right. The interactive provides right triangles with a missing side measurement. Pupils use the given sides and the Pythagorean Theorem to calculate the length of the missing side. After entering the length,...
Shodor Education Foundation
Stem and Leaf Plotter
The key is in the leaves. Pupils enter data to create a stem-and-leaf plot. The resource then displays the plot and calculates the mean, median, and mode of the data. Using the plot and the calculated measures of spread, learners analyze...
Concord Consortium
Sine Solution
How many times can eager mathematicians catch the waves? Pupils find the solutions of three different trigonometric equations. They then determine the effect of the slope of a line that intersects a trigonometric function and the number...
Intel
Fair Games
Who said things were fair? The unit introduces probability and its connection to fairness. The class interacts with activities of chance and plays games to relate them to fairness. Groups design a fair game and develop a presentation....
Intel
Pedal Power
Show your classes the importance of mathematics in something as simple as bicycle design. The final lesson in the six-part STEM series has each group research a different aspect of the bicycle. Learners use mathematical formulas, linear...
Curated OER
Angles All Around Us
Explore with your class the characteristics of acute, obtuse, right, complementary, and supplementary angles. They take digital photographs around the school and identify the angles in the images. Uisng software, they label and print the...
Shodor Education Foundation
An Introduction To Quadrilaterals
Young geometers investigate and apply properties of quadrilaterals. After a review and discussion of key terms, students use a computer applet to explore four-sided figures and classify them according to their attributes. The...