Illustrative Mathematics
Seven Circles III
A basic set-up leads to a surprisingly complex analysis in this variation on the question of surrounding a central circle with a ring of touching circles. Useful for putting trigonometric functions in a physical context, as well as...
Freecloud Design
Mathmateer
Three, two, one...liftoff! Elevate math skills to new heights while having a blast. A great resource that combines entertainment and education for children of all ages.
Bowland
Patchwork Cushions
Find out if there are enough squares. Given diagrams for the first four figures in a sequence, pupils try to determine the next figure. Individuals find the number of square and triangle pieces of fabric that are required to make...
National Research Center for Career and Technical Education
Hospitality and Tourism 1: Safety and Sanitation
Math and science come alive in this career-related instructional activity on sanitation. Along the way, learners explore bacterial growth rates using exponential notation and graphs. A link to a very brief, but vivid video shows just how...
Mathematics Assessment Project
“Ponzi” Pyramid Schemes
Use mathematics to show your classes the power of a good model. Young mathematicians analyze the famous Ponzi pyramid scheme using an exponential pattern. They make conclusions on the reliability of the plan and why it is illegal.
Mathed Up!
Symmetry
Eleven problems provide pupils the opportunity to find the lines of symmetry or identify rotational symmetry. Scholars alter designs to make them symmetrical, learn to recognize signs that are symmetrical, and identify the type of...
EngageNY
When Can We Reverse a Transformation? 1
Wait, let's start over — teach your class how to return to the beginning. The first instructional activity looking at inverse matrices introduces the concept of being able to undo a matrix transformation. Learners work with matrices with...
CK-12 Foundation
Recursive Formulas: Fibonacci Sequence
Explore the building blocks of the Fibonacci Sequence. Given the lengths of sides of squares, pupils deduce the pattern to determine the lengths of two more squares. Learners continue to work with recursive formulas to generate numerical...
Curated OER
Problem Solvers
Fifth and sixth graders compare decimals to the place-value structure in the base-ten number system. They represent fractions as parts of unit wholes, as parts of a set, as locations on a number line, and as divisions of whole numbers....
Curated OER
The 9's times tables finger trick
Kids love short-cuts and this one is an oldie but a goodie. The 9's times tables finger trick is demonstrated using images of a child's hands, the multiplication problem represented, and how tens and ones are represented by each finger....
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
Powers of Ten with the Blue Morpho Butterfly
Explore the powers of ten while examining a Blue Morpho butterfly wing. Learners discover there is a lot more than meets the eye when one looks close enough.
CK-12 Foundation
Exponential Decay: Cool Sunglasses
Who wouldn't want to wear four pairs of sunglasses? Each pair of sunglasses reduces the percent of incoming light by one-half. An interactive tutorial helps young mathematicians build a graph that models this scenario. They then explore...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Skeleton Tower
Who doesn't like building blocks? In the task, pupils use a given diagram of a tower to determine the number of needed blocks. Using this information, pupils then develop a function rule relating the height of the tower to the number of...
Curated OER
Patterns Here, There, and Everywhere!
Upper graders access the Microsoft Word program and create patterns by utilizing certain keys on the keyboard. They create picket fences, smiley faces, and hearts. It seems that this lesson has as much to do with keyboarding skills as it...
Curated OER
Ten More and Ten Less
Get learners to analyze two-digit numbers based on place value, and use manipulatives to add and subtract both 1 and 10. A place value chart is available, and you can project it during guided practice. Through visualizing numbers,...
Curated OER
Dancing Number Sentences
Students explore how dance can be infused with mathematics. In this art and mathematics lesson, students recognize how the ABA dance form is similar to a math number sentence. Students create a dance choosing dance words to represent...
Curated OER
Counting From 1 to 100
The instructions on this 100-chart direct pupils to "circle odd or even numbers," which is pretty ambiguous. However, children can use it to identify odd or even numbers, practice skip counting, or recognize number patterns.
Curated OER
It's Not All Greek to Me
Learners find out the meaning for prefixes used in math vocabulary. By dissecting words used in everyday math, they figure out what the prefix indicates and what the word means. A variety of well-organized worksheets and activities...
Curated OER
Looking Through the Algebraic Lens
Students work with rectangles to find generalizations for adding and subtracting odd and even numbers in part one of the lesson. In part two, students use geoboards to construct polygons, look for patterns, and find a general rule.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Counting the Zeros
This handout is a terrific teaching tool when covering the powers of ten and moving decimal points to multiply and divide large numbers. The first half of the assignment covers multiplication and then gives learners a try. The second...
Curated OER
da Vinci: Body Proportion Theories
Middle schoolers investigate the validity of da Vinci's proportion theory by recording human measurements on scatter plots. In groups of three, they record each other's height and wingspan to create a Powerpoint presentation, chart, or...
Curated OER
The Human Body
Explore the human body through hands-on activities. Young learners will trace their bodies and place cut out body organs in the proper place, print patterns using cut fruit, sing songs about good nutrition, and use their five senses...
Curated OER
Lesson: Younger Than Jesus: Understanding, Looking at, Making Abstract Art
Before the class makes abstract art, they see contemporary examples and analyze them. They look at art made by abstract artists under the age of 33 then use similar techniques to create an interesting collection of their own. The lesson...
Curated OER
Patterns
Fifth graders investigate the use of patterns in a data set. The set is disolayed visually using cubes. This helps struggling students to see the quantity in order to make comparisons more effectively.