Radford University
Create A Ramp Design
Ramp up a design challenge. Class members design ramps to meet a client's requirements to comply with the American with Disabilities Act. The scholars create a scaled graph of their designs and determine the equations of the lines on...
Radford University
Summer Woes!
Who can afford the computer required to land a summer job? Pupils work in pairs to solve problems related to finding the number of hours needed to work to purchase a given item. Individuals then work on a performance-based assessment to...
Radford University
Linear Equations in Real Word Problems
Make up a story about a linear graph. Scholars identify key features of a linear graph, such as intercepts, domain and range, and slope. They then create a word problem that could be represented by the graphed line.
Radford University
How High Can You Throw?
Find heights by measuring time. Teams collect data to determine the height that a tennis ball is thrown. Classmates measure the height of the initial release of the ball and how long it stays aloft. Using a projectile motion equation,...
Radford University
Let’s Go Floor Shopping!
Pupils calculate the area of two rooms to re-floor. They research Lowe's and Home Depot to find the cost for different floor coverings. Given different promotions for the stores, individuals determine where to purchase the flooring based...
Radford University
What’s Your Party Like? An Exploration of Area
Who knew that a party is all about the area. Individuals draw out a patio on grid paper while planning to host a party. Using colored paper to represent the total area of the patio, learners cut out furnishings to add to the patio,...
Radford University
Football Tackle Problem
Tackle a task on the gridiron. Scholars use geometric concepts to determine the distance on a coordinate plane that certain football players need to move for a play. They then design their own plays and create presentations where they...
Radford University
Kite Project
Let the class' knowledge of geometry soar like the kites they create. After researching the history and science of kites, learners draw up a blueprint for their own kites. They then calculate the areas and perimeters based on the scale...
Radford University
Trouble in the Orchard
It's no fun catching a fungus. Scholars first investigate how the seasons affect the angle of the sun and the lengths of shadows. They then apply right triangle trigonometry to determine the height of trees based on their shadows to...
Radford University
REALLY Tall!
Conduct indirect measurements three ways. Working in groups, pupils come up with different ways to measure three tall objects indirectly. The teacher provides measurement information requested by the teams, and learners then calculate...
Radford University
The Roanoke Adventure!
Travel about town. Pupils work in pairs to find the distances between landmarks with a map. The teams determine how far to travel on the streets and the length between the landmarks with the distance formula and compare the two. Learners...
Radford University
Your School’s Athletic Director Needs Your Mathematical Input!
Cover the field. Pairs investigate two different rolls of astroturf to cover a football field. The learners determine which type of roll is the most cost effective. Scholars write letters to the athletic director explaining their...
Radford University
How do I Prepare this Piece of Floor Tile to Lay on the Bottom of my Kitchen Sink Cabinet?
How can you place a rectangular tile around a pipe? Scholars first use a model of a kitchen sink cabinet to take measurements. Using a compass and their knowledge of circles, they then cut out a circle from a piece of poster board (which...
Radford University
Ancient Aqueduct Analysis Project
Let the class' knowledge of geometry flow like water in an aqueduct. Future mathematicians research ancient Roman aqueducts and consider the geometric concepts necessary in their construction. They then use GeoGebra to create models of...
Radford University
Build-a-Toy
Don't toy with using a fun lesson. Scholars design new toys and then create scale drawings. They determine the volume and surface area of the toys, and then research prices of raw materials to estimate the manufacturing costs.
Radford University
Streets of Stephens City
Who has the best street smarts? An educational lesson has future mathematicians analyze street maps and measure angles on the map to determine if streets are parallel. They also consider safety issues at different types of intersections.
Radford University
Properties of Different Quadrilaterals
Properly apply the properties of parallelograms. Pupils answer a set of questions designed to review the categories of quadrilaterals. They then identify the shape in each set of quadrilaterals that does not belong and explain why.
Radford University
How Much is in There? A Polygon Investigation
Try to find the triangles in various polygons. An investigation has learners develop a formula for the sum of the measures of the interior angles of a polygon. They use manipulatives to partition each polygon into triangles, then...
Radford University
Koi Pond
There's nothing fishy about the activity. Future mathematicians design a koi pond from various three-dimensional shapes. They calculate the perimeter, area, and volume of the pond, and then create PowerPoint presentations. They also...
Radford University
Triangles in Parallelograms
What's the point of looking at triangles when trying to draw parallelograms? Given three non-collinear points, pupils determine and justify all possible points that would create a parallelogram. They then analyze the four triangles that...
Radford University
Parallel Lines Task
Transform the classroom into a coordinate plane. Scholars walk along parallel lines drawn on a coordinate plane on the classroom floor. They measure angles and slopes and use the results to develop criteria that would make the lines...
Radford University
Fire Truck Presentation
Which truck should the fire department purchase? Given a scenario with three different ladder trucks, pupil compare the height the ladders will reach. They determine which ladder trucks meet the cities' requirements and provide a...
Radford University
Georgia Peaches and California Dreamin’
Plant the fruits of trigonometry. Pairs work through the process of finding the best place to plant fruit trees on a piece of property. The scholars must take into consideration the location of the property and the solar zenith angle. To...
Radford University
How Tall Is It?
Find the height from afar. Teams role play as summer interns to find the height of a set of windows from the outside. Scholars must first determine how to find the height with the available tools. After determining a strategy involving...