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...
Balanced Assessment
L to Scale
Explore the meaning of scale in relation to actual size through this activity. Young mathematicians examine scale models and determine their relationship to each other. They also find perimeter and area of each model.
Balanced Assessment
Compact-Ness
Creating a definition may be easier than it sounds! Give your classes experience creating their own definition. Scholars examine the meaning of the compact-ness of a scatter plot and create their own definitions based on measurements.
Balanced Assessment
Transformation II
Develop a solid understanding of the manipulation of expressions to produce equivalent expressions. Given an expression, pupils rearrange it to create a new one. Their new functions must match the structure of the model expressions.
Balanced Assessment
Shirts and Flags
Learn the importance of geometry to tailors. Given a shirt sewing pattern, scholars determine the actual size of the shirt. After which they answer questions that require problem solving and extending their understanding of scale.
Balanced Assessment
Multi-Figures
Apply concepts of scale and ratio to determine relationships in irregular figures. Learners determine the ratio of the perimeters of two figures composed of rectangles and circles. After, they apply similar concepts to find the ratio of...
Balanced Assessment
Disc-Ness
Transform your scholars into mathematicians as they develop their own geometric definition. The task asks individuals to compare cylindrical objects and create a definition for the disc-ness of each object. They may use any method and...
Balanced Assessment
Oops! Glass Top
A short assessment asks participants to find the original radius required to replace a table top. The problem provides a hypothetical situation of having a segment of a broken glass table top. Pupils find the radius of the circular top...
Balanced Assessment
Bicycle Chain II
Apply geometric concepts to a design problem. Individuals examine the structural setup of the chain on a bicycle and use the measurements of the circles to determine the length of the chain.
Balanced Assessment
Blirts and Gorks
Start a trend by using blirts and gorks as your standard unit of measures. The activity asks learners to take a known measures of blirts and gorks and develop a conversion ratio. Individuals use both perimeter and area measures of...
Balanced Assessment
MasterMind
Knowledge of statistics and probability can increase your advantage when playing games. The activity asks learners to analyze the game of MasterMind to determine the number of possible codes. They also examine different variations of the...
Balanced Assessment
Bagels or Donuts
Explore business problems through mathematical analysis. The task has individuals write and graph a linear system to determine the best business model. They use their models to answer a series of questions that help to make a conclusion.
Balanced Assessment
The Triskaidecaphobia Conference
Triskaidecaphobia is an extreme superstition to the number 13—and ironically the answer to the word problem is 13! Presented with a series of descriptive data, individuals analyze the data to determine the population size. They must...
Balanced Assessment
Fermi Estimates II
How many hot dogs does Fenway Park go through in a year? Learners estimate answers to this question and more as they work through the task. Problems require participants to make assumptions and use those assumptions to make estimations.
Balanced Assessment
Garages and Phones
Examine and compare a linear and step function. The task provides two scenarios, one modeled by a linear function and the other a step function. Pupils create a graph for each and explain how each compares to the other.
Balanced Assessment
Mirror, Mirror II
Apply the concept of similar triangles to design a space in a room. Scholars use similar triangles to determine how a spotlight reflects from a mirror. After drawing the path of the spotlight, individuals find the smallest possible width...
Balanced Assessment
Bumpy-Ness
Develop a new measure of the properties of an object. Scholars develop a definition and formula to measure the bumpy-ness of an object. They utilize their formulas to find the property for several spherical objects.
Balanced Assessment
Cost of Living
Math scholars investigate the cost of living in Hong Kong compared to Chicago but must first convert the different types of currency. They then choose a type of graph to compare different spending categories and finish the activity by...
Balanced Assessment
Presidential Popularity
Media often misrepresent data and statistics to their advantage. This lesson asks scholars to analyze an article with misleading statistics. They use margin of error and mean data in their studies. Once they complete their analysis,...
Balanced Assessment
Vacation in Bramilia
This performance task gives the population model of different types of flies and asks scholars to analyze the two populations. After interpreting the functions individually, participants compare the two populations and find the time when...
Balanced Assessment
Smaller, Larger, In-Between
Build a solid understanding of rational number relationships by asking class members to use various skills to order decimals, fractions, and numeric power expressions. Using the resource, they find that the fractions do not have an...
Balanced Assessment
Number Game
It's all in the numbers! Create a mathematical model to analyze a number game and develop a winning strategy. Using a given numerical pattern, scholars write an expression to model the scenario. They then interpret the pattern of the...
Balanced Assessment
Toilet Graph
Mathematics can model just about anything—so why not simulate the height of water in a toilet bowl? The lesson asks pupils to create a graphical model to describe the relationship of the height of the water as it empties and fills again....
Balanced Assessment
Scaling the Stars
Examine ratio and scale through coordinate geometry. Scholars use two diagrams of different scale to calculate perimeter and area. Then, individuals use the perimeters and areas to find ratios.