Your river sportsmen will explore an example of paddling upstream as they build functions modeling speed and time in terms of the speed of the current. They then use their algebraic models to interpret features of the function related to...

Mrs. Moore's class is trying to earn money for a trip to the science museum, but how much more do they need? Solve this problem with your own class as they develop their ability to model real-life situations algebraically. As an added...

With algebra tiles in hand 7th graders will uncover the wonders of the distributive property of multiplication. They will take a pre-test, define the distributive property, then model and practice using their tiles to solve basic...

Everyone loves math when it includes food! This lesson tries to take the notion of combining like terms in algebra and comparing it to sorting apples and oranges. It takes a step-by-step approach to helping students understand this...

Here is where algebra learners begin to understand that a function is a rule, and for each input there is exactly one output. The commentary gets bogged down with information about the predator-prey relationship between the fox and...

Your algebra learners interpret algebraic expressions, in order to compare their structures, using a geometric context. They also discern how the two expressions are equivalent and represent a pattern geometrically and algebraically.

Help mathematicians see that a formula found in a physics book has an algebraic structure. Though the formula given in the resource looks complicated, learners are to break down the expressions and interpret each part separately....

Elementary schoolers use a function machine in order to help them look at the relationship between input and output, and to look at the rule for the change. The machine is actually a cardboard box, and it serves quite well for the...

Sometimes young algebra learners don't understand why they need to create an equation when they can just figure out the answer with it. This activity tries to encourage creating simple equations by balancing the use of more complicated...

How to use the relationship between multiplication and division to solve math word problems is the focus of the lesson presented here. In it, fourth graders work in groups to solve problems posed by the teacher. Then, each group is given...

How can learners use algebra to solve a geometry problem? Help learners create an equation that shows the relationship between the number of sides of a polygon and the sum of the interior angles. Students are asked to divide the...

Here is a resource where algebra learners show their understanding of a system of equations involving a circle and a line. Once graphed, learners see two points of intersection, one where the ordered pair is read, and a second where...

Use this resource to present your number crunchers with how to write a constraint equation and to determine viable solutions. The price of an object limits the amount that can be purchased. The speed at which you walk limits the number...

Give your class a concrete example of exponential growth and decay using this hands-on activity. These Algebra II lessons allow for the exploration of exponential growth and decay models, as well as the discovery of the patterns of...

An interesting example of a discrete function and how it is applies to the real world. This could easily make a good collaborative instructional activity with an environmental science class. Practice reading a table and drawing a scatter...

Skeeters are used to model linear and exponential population growth in a wonderfully organized lesson plan including teachers' and learners' notes, an assignment, graphs, tables, and equations. Filled with constant deep-reaching...

Challenge algebra learners to use the difference of cubes to solve this problem. Once your charges have taken out the factor (a - b), combined the like terms and set them equal to zero, the problem becomes a factorable quadratic...

Here is a fun project. Sammy observes a chipmunk and a squirrel to see how many holes each needs in order to stash the same number of acorns.  Scholars could find the answer algebraically or create a table to analyze the...

How do you show that something is a rectangle? This activity starts with four coordinate points and asks young geometers to explain whether they create a rectangle. Knowledge from both geometry and algebra come into play here, as well...

Students explore inequalities to determine the optimal solution to maximize a profit for a company. In this linear programming lesson, students discover how to graph inequalities and how to determine the algebraic representation of a...

Can your mathematicians come up with an easy way to convert miles to kilometers? Start by asking learners to write an algebraic expression for each of the descriptions given. Once they determine that they are both the same, ask...

Your algebra learners explore linear functions concretely using tables of values in a collaborative task. The idea that linear function values change by equal differences over equal intervals, is emphasized. The slope and...

Your visual geometry learners will appreciate triangle drawings as they model the triangle sum theorem and algebraically solve to find the missing interior angle in a triangle. Practice problems increase in complexity and vary in their...

Mixture problems are a classic in first-year algebra. Unfortunately, many learners approach them in a formulaic fashion and don't truly understand the meaning of the algebraic expressions they are using. Here, the questions are not the...