PBS
Light Bulb Challenge
Efficiency equals money where homes are concerned. A comparative lesson asks learners to measure heat output of incandescent and compact fluorescent light bulbs. They follow their investigation with calculating the cost of using the two...
Curated OER
How Do You Profit From Trading Stocks?
Students calculate gains and losses of stock portfolios. Although the Global Stock Game (GSG) calculates profits and losses automatically, students should learn the basic math skills in calculating their stock investment the...
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Savings Account Introduction Lesson
This teaching tool promotes a practical understanding of basic mathematical skills by having learners determine percents on interest. There are several worksheet options available as well as a guid on how best to use them.
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Maximize It!
Students design a rectangular box without a lid that has the largest possible volume using the supplied sheet of centimeter graph paper. They work in groups to construct different size boxes to determine the largest possible volume and...
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Horatio's Ratios
View a PBS video entitled Horatio's Drive and explore Horatio's Ratios. Collaborative learners form groups to use Mapquest to determine distances covered. They generate the mathematical averages, ratios, and rates in order to calculate...
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Deals on Wheels!
Students calculate monthly car payments using different rates of interest. They calculate the maximum amount that can be financed/borrowed given a preset estimated/budgeted monthly payment and determine how limited resources cause people...
Illustrative Mathematics
Pizza Place Promotion
The longer you wait to try the new pizza place, the more it's going to cost you! This real-world problem about how the cost of pizza varies with respect to time is a good example of how piecewise functions are used to describe...
Curated OER
Sounds Really Good! (sort of...)
Your friend Phil wants to know if he should play the lottery. Have your class use the given data to compute the expected value and explain to Phil what he should do and why. This handout is ideal for a quick assessment of skill and...
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Energizing Our School
Students explore energy usage in home and in school. They examine the types of non-renewable sources and discover alternate sources of energy. Through group activities, students calculate the perimeter and area of a given room. They make...
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Boorito!
Delicious Chipotle burritos are a big treat, especially when they are offered for only $2.00. This Halloween-themed learning experience isn't tricky, but learners will need to think critically about division with large numbers in order...
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Cover and Boarders
Students find the area and perimeter of rectangular figures. They use this information to find patterns and discover relationships between area and perimeter. Students apply and explain formulas relating to perimeter, area, and volume.
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Paws in Jobland Number Crunch
Learners analyze real life jobs that involve math. They discuss jobs where math is used, and explore how math is important in many areas and research some of these jobs in the book "Paws in Jobland." They complete a worksheet with four...
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Probability and Applications of Simulations
Middle schoolers apply properties of probability to the real world. For this probability lesson, learners simulate the construction of empirical distribution. They collect and analyze data using central tendencies.
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Completing Simple Tax Forms
Twelfth graders practice filling out IRS 1040 EZ forms. They discuss various ways people pay taxes. They assess the importance of W-2 forms and apply skills using the IRS tax table to compute how much money is owed or returned.
Curated OER
Logic and Problem Solving: Math Hunt
In these math lesson plans, students discuss how math problems are written to reflect real-world situations. They complete an online Math Hunt using specific web tools, and work individually to create their own Math Hunts....
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Financial Contracts
Prepare your class for the real world and learn the basics about credit and the principles behind using it wisely. The activity includes handouts that explain the necessary vocabulary and concepts to understanding credit. After reviewing...
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The Stock Market
Students explore the loss and gain made in the stock market as they invest a sum of money and report the results as percentages instead of points.
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Cartels and Competition
Students work together in teams to role-play a cartel. Using that information, they all produce the same commodity and they are trying to make as much profit as possible. Each group completes a balance sheet and calculate the amount of...
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Budgeting for the Future
Eighth graders determine the net amount of an income for a fictional job. They must determine their net worth minus standard deductions. Students must then determine their monthly budget including, groceries, credit, and rent.
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Chuck Close Up Close
Students practice the art of storytelling using realistic art. They pick one illustration of a character in the book and create a story about the possible life he lived. The important details that are needed is the name, occupation,...
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Lucky Envelopes - Intro to Independence (has both reviews)
What are the chances you will pick a lucky envelope that contains money? Learners calculate conditional probabilities and are introduced to independent events. Use this worksheet for skills practice or get out actual envelopes and cash...
Illustrative Mathematics
Sarah, the chimpanzee
Is Sarah, the chimpanzee, smart or just a lucky guesser? Here, learners set up a simulation and read a dotplot to find out the likelihood of getting 7 out of 8 questions correct. One suggested modification would be to have your class...
Curated OER
Compound Interest
In this consumer math worksheet, students read an example of how to use the interest formula to compute interest that is compounded daily over six years. They complete a chart where they compute the interest earned over 10 years when the...
Curated OER
What's a Per-"cent"?
Students recognize the mathematical connections between fractions and percents. They develop and study graphs to make connections between their data and what it represents. They write about the connections they have discovered.