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...
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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 learners may develop a bar graph.
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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.
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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.
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nvestigation - Justin and Daniel's Puzzles
Seventh graders explore area and perimeter, using tangram pieces. They discover the area and perimeter of rectangles and squares. After experimentation, 7th graders write a rule for finding the perimeter and area of squares and rectangles.
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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...
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Data Analysis and Probability
Students make their own puzzle grid that illustrates the number of sit-ups students in a gym class did in one minute, then they make a histogram for this same data. Then they title their graph and label the scales and axes and graph the...
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Four Color Map
Young scholars explore geometry by completing a color puzzle. For this shape identification lesson, students utilize deductive reasoning to complete a Google SketchUp puzzle with trapezoid, triangles and rectangular shapes. Young...
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Is the Hudson River Too Salty to Drink?
Students 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...
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A Geological Puzzle
Students compare and contrast the various types of rocks on each continent. In groups, the calculate the rock ages and types to determine if the continents, in their opinion, were joined at one time. They develop two imaginary...
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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...
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Constructing Tangrams
Seventh graders visualize and identify geometric shapes after applying transformations on a coordinate plane. In this tangrams lesson, 7th graders construct a set of tangrams and then answer extension questions related to measurement,...
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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.
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Kincaid Creatures
Students brainstorm a list of nocturnal and diurnal wild animals they see in their community and discuss how the animals would be different if they were living during the Ice Age. Using a handout, they discover how archeologists record...
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Drawing Conclusions
Students play a probability game, then design and complete a probability problem concerning changing odds.
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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.