Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Population Dynamics
Will human population growth always be exponential, or will we find a limiting factor we can't avoid? Young scientists learn about both exponential and logistic growth models in various animal populations. They use case studies to...
Curated OER
A Rectangle in the Coordinate Plane
A quadrilateral is drawn on the coordinate plane, and eighth grade geometers find the length of each side and the diagonals by applying the Pythagorean theorem.
Curated OER
Flower Vases
Which vase holds more water: a cylinder, sphere, or cone? Figure out which should be used for your sister's birthday bouquet with this practical word problem.
Illustrative Mathematics
What is a Trapezoid? (Part 1)
Challenge your class to construct a definition for trapezoids. Looking at four examples and four non-examples, learners individually create definitions and use them to classify an unknown shape. Allow for small group and whole-class...
National Wildlife Federation
Get Your Techno On
Desert regions are hotter for multiple reasons; the lack of vegetation causes the sun's heat to go straight into the surface and the lack of moisture means none of the heat is being transferred into evaporation. This concept, and other...
National Wildlife Federation
Quantifying Land Changes Over Time in Areas of Deforestation and Urbanization
Is qualitative or quantitative research more convincing when it comes to climate change? In the eighth lesson during this 21-part series, scholars begin by performing a quantitative analysis of deforestation and urbanization. Then, they...
National Wildlife Federation
Conceptualizing Module III
Many researchers focus on one impact of climate change in isolation, but researchers gain a global perspective when they come together. A timely lesson teaches scholars about the projected impacts of global temperature increases. Then...
Curated OER
Fact Families
Fifth graders explore fact families. They solve simple math problems. Students determine which mathematical property is used to solve the given problem. They are given five minutes to complete as many mathematical facts as possible.
Curated OER
The Escape
Students find strategies for investigating number problems. They find a common multiple of a group numbers. The teacher introduces the problem and students read and think about it. In groups, students discuss the problem and write...
Curated OER
Probability
Fourth graders predict future outcomes with an investigation of the mathematical principle of probability using spinners constructed by them. The spinner is a hands on application an they combine it with writing a ratio for the...
Curated OER
Costing Fencing For A Volleyball Court
Students engage in a lesson plan for mathematical application based upon the use of calculations in order to create a fence for a volleyball court. The fence is designed and drawn with measurements. The core of the lesson plan is the...
Curated OER
Bag the Beans
Students are exposed to a wide array of concrete representations to help develop a foundation for the higher abstract ideas associated with mathematical inquiry. In this lesson, students will work with manipulatives (beans) to create and...
Curated OER
An Introduction to Sequences
Fourth graders are introduced to arithmetic and geometric sequences. In this mathematics lesson, 4th graders produce a variety of sequences by varying the starting number, multiplier, and the add-on number.
Curated OER
Math in Your Life
Examine how math fits into everyday lives by writing mathematical word problems and answering them. Middle schoolers will also practice their test taking skills utilizing different kinds of tests.
Curated OER
Math - "Where Am I?" Position in Space
A big part of understanding mathematical concepts is by mastering the vocabulary associated with those concepts. Students identify and explore positional/directional words as they relate to math. Students answer eleven fill-in-the-blank...
Curated OER
Area of the Lawn Project
Students calculate simple area calculations in real-life situations. They determine simple wage computations. They use critical thinking skills. They demonstrate their ability to use writing in order to express mathematical thoughts and...
Curated OER
T-Shirt Lettering
Students determine the cost of a t-shirt using a variety of mathematical operations to solve problems. Then they use a spreadsheet to calculate the cost of lettering a t-shirt and display this information in a graph.
Curated OER
Teddy Bear Picnic
Young scholars sit in a circle with their bears from home, each child introduces their bear, then students examine all the bears and think of one way that they can be sorted.
Curated OER
Acting Like a Hog
Young scholars explore game theory. In this secondary mathematics lesson, students plat the game of HOG using dice and explore the optimal strategies. Young scholars play the game three ways: any number of dice, a fixed...
Curated OER
Applying the Laws of Inheritance
Biology and mathematics can be integrated through a study of Mendelian Genetics.
Curated OER
The Great Depression: Eating on a Shoestring
Students explore the realities of feeding a family on a very limited budget by comparing the cost of living in the 1930s to the cost of living today. Using primary documents and technology to make the comparison, they identify the impact...
Curated OER
Tennis Tournament
In this secondary mathematics worksheet, students determine the how many matches that must be palyed in a tennis tournament given the number of players and the tournament constraints. The one page worksheet contains...
Curated OER
Convert among decimals, fractions, and percents
Seventh graders convert among decimals, percents, and fraction with and without a calculator. In this seventh grade mathematics lesson, 7th graders explore strategies that help them to remember how to perform the needed operation...
Curated OER
Science as a Source of Social Controversy
Students research the two opposing views and biographical information about Ptolemy and Copernicus in order to be familiar with the societal viewpoints that influenced the thinking of these two scientists. Students role-play supporters...