Mathematics Assessment Project
Discovering the Pythagorean Theorem
Young mathematicians join the ancient order of the Pythagoreans by completing an assessment task that asks them to find the area of tilted squares on dot paper. They then look at patterns in the squares to develop the Pythagorean Theorem.
Noyce Foundation
Between the Lines
Explore linear and square dimensions by comparing areas of similar figures. A creative set of five activities designed for elementary through high school classes asks young scholars to compare areas of specific polygons. The first two...
Curated OER
Paper Cranes
Paper folding is a great art form that can be incorporated into cultural, mathematic, and art lessons. This resource includes the full instructions needed to fold a paper crane, as well as a Haiku poetry idea. Tip: This activity would be...
Bowland
Geoboard Squares
Don't be a square! Help your budding mathematicians discover patterns within squares. Scholars create squares on geoboards and identify patterns in the number of nails, both nails on the edge of the squares and nails within the squares....
Curated OER
Squares and Square Roots
Students find patterns relating the lengths of the sides of squares to their areas. In this squares and square roots lesson, students draw squares and find their areas. They estimate the sides of square when given the area. Students use...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Patchwork
Sew up learning on writing rules for patterns with an assessment task that has pupils investigate the number of triangles needed for cushions of different sizes. They then use the data to generate a rule for a cushion of any size.
Curated OER
Lots of Squares
Pupils work in pairs, to make a square on the geoboards with a rubber band (or draw one on the dot paper). It can be any size and in any location and share their answers with the class.
Curated OER
Music Box Identification
Fourth graders draw and label music notes and rests. In this music box lesson students use staff paper to draw the notes required. The students give the value of each note or rest.
Curated OER
Light-Capturing Cut Paper Designs
High schoolers create an alternating and repetitive design using at least two original designs. The cut paper design be exposed to a direct source of light (spotlight) in order to form an overall pattern with structural and tonal...
Curated OER
Pythagorean Theorem
In this Pythagorean theorem instructional activity, 9th graders solve and complete 8 different types of problems. First, they go to the given website and copy the picture shown. Then, students draw a right triangle using the straight...
Illinois State Board of Education
Geoboard Areas
Middle school geometers determine the area of a shape on a geoboard or dot paper and draw figures that meet given area conditions. Working as a class, they develop and discuss various ways to draw geometric shapes with specified...
Curated OER
A Special Relationship
Students discover the relationships of the lengths of the sides of right triangles and right triangles using a series of drawings on dot paper. They investigate and solve problems of standard (customary and metric units) and non-standard...
Curated OER
Tiling the Plaza (Geometry)
Students make patterns with a variety of pattern blocks. Pupils experiment with making tile designs using only one shape by rotating that shape around a point. They enter a contest for creating the best tile design for the new plaza...
Virginia Department of Education
The Pythagorean Relationship
Add up areas of squares to discover the pythagorean relationship. Small groups create right triangles with squares along each side. They calculate the areas of each square and notice the relationship. Groups construct other types of...
Curated OER
Bats, Bees, Birds, and Blossoms
Youngsters use a paper bee to pollinate two paper flowers. They use hole-punch dots as pollen. Older learners dissect flowers and name the structures involved in pollination. The handouts mentioned in the lesson plan are not included, so...
It's About Time
How Do Earth's Orbital Variations Affect Climate?
How does Earth's orbit around the Sun affect climate? This third installment of a six-part series looks at how Earth's orbit affects the amount of insolation at locations on Earth involves different experiments used in conjunction...
Curated OER
Geometry and Geoboard
Sixth graders use geoboards and dot paper to experiment with geometric concepts. In this geometry lesson, 6th graders complete four activities using geoboards or dot paper including naming points on a coordinate plan and finding the area...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Graphs from Patterns
Fifth graders analyze patterns and begin looking at function tables. This is a pertinent preparation for graphing patterns. In fact, consider giving your class a piece of graph paper and then teach them how!
Exploratorium
Jacques Cousteau in Seashells
Visionaries create images out of dots to demonstrate the eye-brain connection. Through this activity, they learn that the brain interprets data collected by the eye into recognizable information. Search online for "Jacques Cousteau in...
Curated OER
Symmetry of the Addition Table
Help your class discover the commutative property of addition with this exploration of the addition table. By folding and coloring the table, a symmetry is found that directs students to an understanding of this crucial mathematical...
National Park Service
It's Not Easy Being Grizz
Grizzly bears can be up to 600 pounds and require a great deal of food, especially to survive hibernation. Comprised of multiple games, the third lesson of five only uses one setup. Pupils run around a large field, sorting and collecting...
Teachers Network
A World of Symmetry: Math-Geometry
Define and identify the three basic forms of symmetry translation, rotation, and glides with your class. They cut out and arrange paper pattern blocks to illustrate symmetry, create a Cartesian graph, and design a rug with a symmetrical...
Curated OER
Comparing and Ordering Fractions, Mixed Numbers, and Decimals
Create your own fraction kits by folding and labeling paper using fraction vocabulary. Learners then work in groups to use these in comparing and sequencing both whole numbers and fractions. They also create unit cubes and develop an...
Curated OER
Fractions and Halves
Fourth graders examine halves of a whole and discover through activities that they must be exactly equal in size. Working with Geoboards and Dot-Paper Squares, the class practices finding halves that are both congruent and incongruent.