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Relationships Round Robin
Mathematics is all about patterns. Young mathematicians analyze geometric patterns to write algebraic expressions. They use the expressions to predict future stages of the patterns.
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Numbers in a Name
What's in a name? Pupils create a data set from the number of letters in the names of classmates. Each group then takes the data and creates a visual representation, such as a histogram, circle graph, stem-and-leaf plot, etc.
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The Real Meal Deal
Burgers and salads and sodas, oh my! Scholars use a menu to investigate the Fundamental Counting Principle. They create tree diagrams to illustrate the number of possible choices for each given scenario.
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What Are the Chances?
Take a chance on an informative resource. Scholars conduct probability experiments involving coins and number cubes to generate data. Compiling class data helps connect experimental probability to theoretical probability.
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Dilation
Open up your pupils' eyes and minds on dilations. Scholars perform dilations on a trapezoid on the coordinate plane. They compare the image to the preimage and develop generalizations about dilations.
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Rotation
Rotate this resource into your lesson plans. Scholars rotate polygons in the coordinate plane by multiples of 90 degrees. They then compare the original and new figures to develop conjectures about coordinate points after rotations.
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Square Roots
Square away any doubts about using a new resource. Pupils learn about squares and square roots in the mini-instructional activity. They complete a worksheet identifying roots of perfect squares up to 400.
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Ordering Fractions, Decimals, and Percents
Order up a resource on comparing rational numbers. Scholars order fractions, decimals, and percents by converting to a single form. They conduct a cut-and-paste activity ordering three sets of rational numbers.
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Similar Solids and Proportional Reasoning
Double the dimensions, quadruple the surface area. Pairs build similar prisms and compare the ratios of their surface areas and volumes to the ratio of the heights. Given two similar cones, partners determine the ratios of the lateral...
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A Mystery to Solve
Investigate field properties of real numbers. Scholars use a table for a given operation to determine the identity element. They use the same table to find a missing value in an equation.
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The Exercise Fields
Horses need exercise, too. Scholars create linear equations to model the perimeter of exercise fields for horses. They finish by solving their equations for the length and width of the fields.
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Transformationally Speaking
Young mathematicians explore transformations of graphs by graphing sets of functions on the same pair of axes. They use their graphs to determine the effect that the values of a and b in y = ax + b have on the graph of y = x.
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The Submarine
Submerge yourself in the study of slope. Scholars investigate a situation involving slope and the rate of change of a submarine. An additional example further explores the concept of slope by changing one of the conditions of the submarine.
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Slippery Slope
Explore slope using geometric patterns. Young mathematicians investigate towers built from cubes to develop a linear pattern. They move the data to a coordinate plane to connect the pattern to slopes.
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Transformation Investigation
Graph it! Investigate transformations with a graphing calculator. Pupils graph sets of linear functions on the same set of axes. They determine how changes in the equation of a linear function result in changes in the graph.
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Spring Fling Carnival
Think critically — and linearly by applying linear equations to solve real-world problems. Young mathematicians write equations to model the profit on popcorn and cotton candy at a carnival and solve problems using these equations.
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Solving Linear Equations
Practice solving linear equations by graphing. Scholars learn to solve multi-step linear equations in one variable by graphing both sides of the equation separately. They use graphing calculators to find the intersection of the graphs.
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Factoring for Zeros
Relate factors to zeros and x-intercepts. Scholars first graph quadratics in both standard and factored forms to see that they are the same. They go on to use the graphs to see the relationship between factors and x-intercepts.
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Simply Radical
Simplifying is radical, dude! After reviewing how to simplify square roots of whole numbers, scholars consider how to simplify square roots of algebraic monomials. Also taken under consideration is how to simplify cube roots of whole...
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Scientifically Speaking
Explore the connection between operations with scientific notation and the laws of exponents. Scholars work on a set of word problems involving operations with scientific notation. Along the way, they consider how the laws of exponents...
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Hurricanes: An Environmental Concern
Hurricanes, typhoons, and tropical cyclones are the same type of storm, but their names change based on where they happen. Scholars use a computer simulation to learn about hurricanes. Then they hypothesize ideas to prevent hurricanes...
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Editing and Proofreading
This task is best utilized after a rough draft revision is completed. Writers pair-up and identify when the author uses the passive voice, clichés, and wordiness. Basic examples for the revision points are provided for the instructor to...
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Researching Information on the Internet
Practice Internet research skills. Each class member will need Internet access in order to follow along as you model how to search using key words and to do their own research on African and Asian elephants. Their notes will go into a...
Virginia Department of Education
Revising Writing
Junior high writers investigate other student’s sample writing and critique on how it could be improved. Skill emphasis is place on elaboration, voice, and sentence variety. The student writing is provided, but the checklist for revision...