Illustrative Mathematics
Temperatures in degrees Fahrenheit and Celsius
Learners investigate the relationship between the Fahrenheit and Celsius temperature scales. Given two data points, they construct a linear function to describe the relationship, find the inverse of the function, and make observations...
Illustrative Mathematics
Running a Mile
The single question in this activity has multiple ways to be solved. Two boys ran a mile. Their times were similar, except one time was a fraction of the other. Who ran faster? In demonstrating the answer to this problem, upper graders...
Virginia Department of Education
Laboratory Safety and Skills
Avoiding lab safety rules will not give you super powers. The lesson opens with a demonstration of not following safety rules. Then, young chemists practice their lab safety while finding the mass of each item in a mixture and trying to...
EngageNY
Solving a Linear Equation
Solving an equation is the art of creating simpler equivalent equations using properties of equality. Here, classes see that solving an equation is not always as easy as guessing. The lesson plan presents linear equations that scholars...
Curated OER
Roman Bernardo: Solving Linear Equations
Mathematicians use an inquiry method to solve linear equations. In this linear equations instructional activity, students practice solving equations using addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. They solve multi-step...
Curated OER
Where's the Water? Stream Side Science
After a whole-class discussion of water reservoirs, ten liters of water are given to each lab group to represent Earth's total amount of water. They divide the water into smaller containers, each representing one of those reservoirs. The...
Illustrative Mathematics
The Physics Professor
Help mathematicians see that a formula found in a physics book has an algebraic structure. Though the formula given in the resource looks complicated, learners are to break down the expressions and interpret each part separately....
EngageNY
Dilations as Transformations of the Plane
Compare and contrast the four types of transformations through constructions! Individuals are expected to construct the each of the different transformations. Although meant for a review, these examples are excellent for initial...
National Institute of Open Schooling
Adsorption and Catalysis
Adsorption, not absorption, is when atoms stick to the surface of an object, like water sticking to a grain of sand. An informative lesson delves into adsorption, teaching physical and chemisorption and the factors that affect them....
Curated OER
Mapping Your State's Role in the Vietnam War
Learners recognize reasons to celebrate Memorial Day. Students create a map of victims of the VIetnam War. Using the internet, learners research information about soldiers from their state who were killd in action in Vietnam. Students...
Curated OER
Science NetLinks: Adolescent Sleep
Wake up, sleepy head! High schoolers craft a creative presentation that represents how they feel when they wake up on a school morning. After the presentations, a reading of Academic Sleep Times and Academic Performance launches a...
Curated OER
Industrialization, Chemicals and Human Health - Math
Students review the units of the metric system, and practice estimating measures before actually converting between the two systems of measurement. They participate in activities to visualize a concentration of one part per million....
Curated OER
Mystery Jars
This is a twist on the old "guess how many jellybeans" game. Using estimation and math skills, learners participate in a fun "mystery jars" activity, trying to make educated guesses at how many objects are in two jars. The basic activity...
Curated OER
A Model Solar System
If Earth is modeled by a grapefruit, what planet could be represented by a golf ball? This activity uses everyday and not-so-everyday objects to create a model of the Solar System.
Illustrative Mathematics
Finding Common Denominators to Add
Finding common denominators is an important strategy when adding fractions with unlike denominators. In the first two questions in this three-question task, fifth graders are asked to combine fractions and draw a picture to show their...
Curated OER
Radical Equations
This task gives geometry learners practice in solving radical equations in one variable and zeros in extraneous solutions.
Bowland
Magic Sum Puzzle
Learners discover the magic in mathematics as they solve numerical puzzles involving magic sums. They then make a conjecture as to why no additional examples are possible based on an analysis of the puzzles.
Howard County Schools
Generous Aunt
Witness the power of exponential growth with an activity that investigates two different savings plans. Class members create tables of values to see how and when a savings plan increasing exponentially exceeds one increasing linearly.
Illustrative Mathematics
Longer and Heavier? Shorter and Heavier?
For many young children it seems obvious that longer objects are heavier than shorter objects. This assumption is put to the test as the class investigates the relationship between length and weight in a whole-group activity. Using a...
Computer Science Unplugged
Battleships—Searching Algorithms
How does a computer perform a search in order to find data? The lesson begins with a demonstration on finding one number out of 15. Pairs then play three games of Battleship by using different search techniques. The lesson plan finishes...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Arithmetic with Polynomials and Rational Expressions
It all starts with arithmetic. An educational resource provides four items to use in summative assessments. The items reflect the basic skill level required by the standards in the domain and are designed to have pupils reason abstractly...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Creating Equations
Using equations to model events. The resource contains four items that prompt individuals to write and solve basic equations. They must reason abstractly and quantitatively while attending to precision when solving the problems.
Balanced Assessment
Fermi Estimates I
Enrico Fermi, the physicist responsible for the first nuclear detonation, was known for his ability to estimate with little or no data. Use this task to have your classes practice their Fermi skills. They estimate the magnitude of three...
101 Questions
Money Duck
A video presentation shows duck-shaped soap that has a $1, $5, $10, $20, or $50 bill in its center. Learners consider different population distribution of the bills to determine a reasonable price for the duck.