Illustrative Mathematics
Puzzle Times
Give your mathematicians this set of data and have them create a dot plot, then find mean and median. They are asked to question the values of the mean and median and decide why they are not equal. Have learners write their answers or...
Curated OER
Perplexing Puzzles
Elementary and middle schoolers explore scatter plots. In this graphing lesson, pupils work in small groups and use jigsaw puzzles to develop a scatter plot. Younger students may develop a bar graph.
Curated OER
Graphing Greenery
Students gather leaves and trace them on graph paper. They plot coordinates that approximate the shape of the leaves and share those coordinates as "worksheets" for other students to complete.
Curated OER
Puzzles With Partners
Students work together to complete puzzles. They practice their critical thinking skills and cooperative learning. They share their puzzles once they are complete.
Curated OER
Transportation Math
Students explore the concept of exponents. In this exponents lesson, students evaluate various bases to powers. The bases to a given power are in the context of miles driven, stops on a route, and minutes spent in route. Students read...
Curated OER
Paths and Circuits
Students complete math puzzles. In this graph theory lesson, students look at an image and attempt to trace it without picking up their pencil or retracing their line. They see to count the nodes to find where to begin tracing.
American Statistical Association
Happy Birthday to . . . Two?
How many people do you need in a room before two likely share the same birthday? Scholars consider this puzzle by analyzing a set of data. They ponder how to divide the data and determine the proper size of a group for this event to...
Curated OER
Raising the Bar While Hogging the Ham (Radio, That Is)
Young scholars watch a Cyberchase video to determine the importance of using the correct scale when making bar graphs. They examine how to use bar graphs to gain information easily. They determine how to use bar graphs persuasively.
Curated OER
Four Color Map
Students explore geometry by completing a color puzzle. In this shape identification lesson, students utilize deductive reasoning to complete a Google SketchUp puzzle with trapezoid, triangles and rectangular shapes. Students complete...
Curated OER
Tantalizing Tangrams: What Are Transformations?
Students use the Internet to learn about transformations and tessellations. In this geometry lesson, students use the Internet to define the meaning of reflections, translations, rotations, glide reflection and symmetry. Students...
Curated OER
Introducing Powers and Models
Students construct two dimensional models to illustrate squared numbers. In this geometry lesson, students use graph paper and an x/y axis to build squares exponentially. Students identify powers and relationships between various figures...
Curated OER
Transforming Triangles
Sixth graders graph translations (slides) and reflections (flips) on a coordinate plane. They visualize and identify geometric shapes after applying transformations on a coordinate plane. Finally, 6th graders write a paragraph telling...
Curated OER
Is the Hudson River Too Salty to Drink?
Learners explore reasons for varied salinity in bodies of water. In this geographical inquiry lesson, students use a variety of visual and written information including maps, data tables, and graphs, to form a hypothesis as to why the...
Curated OER
Raising the Bar While Hogging the Ham (Radio That Is)
Young scholars create a bar graph that communicates an amount without the need to know the exact data, determine what scale to use to best represent the data and use their bar graph to persuade others.
Curated OER
Constructing Tangrams
Sixth graders are introduced to how geometry and algebra are related. In groups, they graph various points on a coordinate plane and write the ordered pair for each quadrant. Using this information, they create their own tangrams to...
Curated OER
Transforming Triangles
Sixth graders examine how to graph translations (slides) and reflections (flips) on a coordinate plane. They practice the slides and flips kinesthetically and apply it to a worksheet working with triangles.
Curated OER
Does the falling tree make a sound if no one if there to hear it? (or communication via encryption)
Young scholars explore encryption. They discuss the importance of cryptography in our daily lives. Students use games and cryptography to discover transformational geometry and modulo systems. They design their own encryption puzzles...
Curated OER
Problem Solving Using Pattern Blocks
Students use pattern blocks to create a figure that is described to them and establish a pattern based on the description of the geometric figure. In this pattern blocks lesson plan, students fill out shape and fraction worksheets.
Curated OER
Drawing Conclusions
Students play a probability game, then design and complete a probability problem concerning changing odds.
Curated OER
Drawing Conclusions
Sixth graders participate in an activity reinforcing the concept of probability. In groups, they are given a set of clues along with a red or blue counter. After pulling out one counter (either red or blue) they identify the proability...
Curated OER
Tourism in London
Students discuss the tourist attractions that are in London. They examine how data can be manipulated by completing a worksheet. They plan a trip to a London attraction after conducting Internet research.