Balanced Assessment
Pizza Toppings
Pupils work with a pizza shop's menu to determine the total number of pizzas possible from their ingredient list, how much the pizzas would cost, and how long it would take to eat all of them. The assessment concludes by having scholars...
Balanced Assessment
All Aboard
Pupils must graph the location of a train using the time given a timetable. They analyze the different legs of the trip, graph the return trip, and compare the two graphs. The lesson ends with a discussion of similarities and differences...
Balanced Assessment
Telephone Service
Class members must determine the best phone plan for customers. by assessing three different phone plans. Each plan price depends not only the number of minutes, but also the location of the calls — bringing in a third variable. Scholars...
Balanced Assessment
Chance of Rain
Will it rain during the weekend? Pupils become meteorologists for a day as they use the assessment to determine the chance of rain for Saturday and Sunday. Class members interpret the weather statements as they pertain to probabilities...
Balanced Assessment
Chance of Survival
Class members determine the chance of surviving two years by explaining the concept of probability expressed in a medical terms. Would-be doctors continue to explain a conditional probability statement as it relates to the total population.
Balanced Assessment
Two Solutions
An assessment presents a variety of equations and inequalities. Pupils must find two solutions for each equation or inequality and determine whether there are only two, another finite number, or an infinite number of solutions for the...
Balanced Assessment
Postcards from the Falls
Pupils use graphs to analyze two pricing schemes for postcards. After determining which is the best deal, individuals determine what is wrong with the other pricing structures and explain their thinking.
Balanced Assessment
Oil Consumption
An assessment presents a chart displaying oil consumption Pupils use the chart to determine the greatest increase in consumption, and then apply that information to figure out when the consumption may reach 100 million barrels a day.
Balanced Assessment
Function or Not?
Is it possible for an equation to be a function and not a function at the same time? By completing a short assessment, young mathematicians answer this question. Class members provide an explanation on how an equation represents a...
Balanced Assessment
Dinner Date
Determine just how far to run before dinner. The short assessment asks pupils to determine the distance a person can jog in the time left before dinner. To answer the question, scholars determine the distance if the person jogs one way...
Balanced Assessment
Dollar Line
Challenge the class to develop a story that matches a graph. The short assessment provides a line graph with the vertical axis labeled as dollars. The task asks pupils to develop a description of a situation that could be represented by...
Balanced Assessment
Square and Circle
To determine the dimensional change to quadruple the area, class members determine how to increase the dimensions of a square and a circle to increase the perimeter by a given factor. they then calculate the necessary factor to create...
Balanced Assessment
Ford and Ferrari
Which is faster, a Ford or a Ferrari? The short assessment has pupils analyze graphs to determine the rates of change between the two. Individuals interpret the rates of change within the context of speeds of the cars and develop a map...
Balanced Assessment
House Plan
A short assessment has individuals determine the scale of a house plan. They use the scale to calculate the size of a door and window that need to be replaced, and then divide a bedroom in two, calculating the size of rooms created.
Balanced Assessment
Scale Charts
Develop scales using tables. Pupils complete charts to show equivalent scale factors before using the completed tables to determine the sizes of scale drawings. They finish the lesson and demonstrate their understanding by completing a...
Balanced Assessment
The Contest
Good advertisers can make mathematics seem irrelevant. Teach your classes to use math to see through these tactics and make good decisions. The posed task has pupils analyze sweepstakes statistics to determine and compare the cost of...
Balanced Assessment
Dog Tags
Class members demonstrate a proficiency with conditional probabilities through this task. Individuals calculate probabilities using multiplication and addition. They also distinguish between repetition and non-repetition while...
Balanced Assessment
Melons and Melon Juice
Model the difference between the graphs of discrete and continuous functions. Scholars examine two scenarios and construct graphs to model the situation. They then compare their graphs that illustrate the subtle difference between these...
Balanced Assessment
Gligs and Crocs
Explore relationships between perimeter and area. Learners compare the measurement units of gligs and crocs. They use a given perimeter and area as well as specific measurement relationships to determine the scale of gligs to crocs.
Balanced Assessment
Birthday Card
Add a twist to the practice of simplifying expressions. The task asks scholars to decode a mathematical puzzle using their knowledge of expressions. If they are able to write and simplify the expression, the mathematics behind the puzzle...
Balanced Assessment
Don't Fence Me In
Investigate the complexities of design problems using geometric concepts. The task asks scholars to design a fence for a horse based on the distance it can travel within one hour. It is a seemingly simple task — until individuals learn...
Balanced Assessment
Bouncing Off the Walls
Apply geometry concepts to improve your pool game! Here scholars create the perfect bank shot using angles of incidence and refraction. They create three different options for the same shot.
Balanced Assessment
Stock Market
Analyze trends in the stock market using histograms. Future economists use data presented in a histogram to find periods of greatest increase and decrease. They also draw conclusions about days that would be best to invest.
Balanced Assessment
Larger, Smaller, In-Between I
Determine the level of understanding of decimal and fraction values within your classes with a resource that provides pupils with opportunities to practice with decimal and fraction concepts.