Math & Science Cut Ups

This investigation lesson is designed to support students who may be learning at home, or anyone interested in developing an understanding of growth and decay through an exploration activity. The activity is currently free to use. Supports Texas TEKS Alg 1: 9ABCDE Alg 2: 5B

When students work to solve larger problems, we often encourage the use of the Polya model which includes Understanding the problem (break it down into what you need to do), Plan the process (choose a strategy and the steps you will need to take to solve it), Solve the problem (execute the plan and adjust as needed), and Check the problem (check that your answer makes sense and that the math is executed correctly). I've used several different ways to have students carry this out over my teachin

In this hands-on activity, students work in small groups to sort 48 cards in order to identify the typical statistical uses and examples of data measures of central tendency (including mean, median, and mode) and measures of spread (range, IQR, MAD, standard deviation, and variation). Materials include sorting mats and cards, and templates for folded notes. Supports TEKS skills in 6-8 (and basic Statistics) This activity also includes a link to a digital version with your purchase. Use this digi

In this activity designed for small groups, students work together to complete a data chart describing common 3D figures using attributes such as number of lateral faces, bases, edges, vertices, and the shapes of the figure's bases and faces. Then students identify the figures and their net images that would fold to make the shape. Distractor (incorrect nets) cards are included. This activity also includes a link to a digital version with your purchase. Use this digital option for distance learn

This investigation explores the concept of maximum volume of an open-top box. Students work in groups to create an open top box (rectangular prism) from posterboard and compute the volume and lateral surface area. As a class students graph the side lengths of the squares cut from the corners to make the box with the volumes of the boxes to estimate the maximum volume that can be created from the poster board and the side length of square that would be used to create the box. While the graph plot

In this investigation, students will work together in small groups to explore one-variable and two-variable data related to an experiment with a set of pennies. Materials needed per group are shown on the recording sheet. I recommend students each have a recording sheet and work together on the data collection. In activity 1 students use a set of pennies to determine measures such as median, mean, range, mode, and mean absolute deviation and discuss how the measures describe the data. They use s

This activity takes inspiration from an activity my own daughter did in school and a children's book, 12 Ways to Get to 11 by Eve Merriam. In this hands-on activity, students use number combinations to make each target number 4 different ways. Includes multiple grade level mats with increasingly larger numbers. Helps reinforce facts and number relationships. This activity also includes a URL to a digital version that uses slides. Students can use this version to interact with technology. Use it

This investigation uses a set of pennies and allows students to explore the slope-median line, which is a line that can be used to represent a best-fit line for a set of data. Appropriate for Algebra I level students or Statistics students. In activity 1 students plot 10 lines related to penny data. Then students compute the median slope and median y-intercept of each of the 10 lines in order to write the median-slope line. In activity 2 students use residual values and a regression line in a gr

This problem based learning investigation explores the concepts of volume and surface area related to cones and spheres. The investigation involves applications of the formulas for lateral surface area and volume of cones and spheres, and provides a real world context for students to explore within a problem based context. TEKS aligned: Geometry: 11C, 11D Grade 8 supporting TEKS: 8.7A, 8.7B

In this hands-on activity, students work in small groups to sort descriptor cards that define 9 different types of graphs (line plot, stem & leaf plot, circle graph, histogram, line graph, bar graph, box & whisker plot, scatter plot, and Venn diagram). Each graph type is described based on what the graph consists of, what type of data it works well to describe, advantages and disadvantages of the type, and questions you can ask based on the graph. A picture for each is also given to match. Supp

In this exploration designed for students to work in pairs or alone, students create a data set from a simple color tile experiment, then work to construct a frequency table, a bar graph, and a circle graph that are connected together to represent the same data. Students use a strip representing the stacked bars from their bar graph to physically construct a circle (pie) graph. Easily works with the elementary level TEKS and is designed with lower grade level students in mind, but you can easily

After giving an assessment, I always wanted to have students reflect back on their performance to help them become self-directed and part of the accountability process to ensure they have mastery of the materials. I have used many different ways over the years to accomplish this. This form provides a template to have students reflect on the test items as they relate to standards and skills on the assessment and to consider the types of mistakes and ways they get problems incorrect. Once they ha

Thinking cards are designed to help students working in small groups to scaffold their own thinking when they start to struggle and the teacher is working with another group. Students can find a question to help prompt their own thinking about an activity, or use it as an "ask 3 then me" question. Put the cards on a ring and have students use these Process Thinking cards when working with any math problem solving task. Use questions during an activity, to help debrief after an activity, as exit

Thinking cards are designed to help students working in small groups to scaffold their own thinking when they start to struggle and the teacher is working with another group. Students can find a question to help prompt their own thinking about an activity, or use it as an "ask 3 then me" question. Put the cards on a ring and have middle school students use these Functional Thinking cards when working with Algebra I and II concepts. Use questions during an activity, to help debrief after an activ

Thinking cards are designed to help students working in small groups to scaffold their own thinking when they start to struggle and the teacher is working with another group. Students can find a question to help prompt their own thinking about an activity, or use it as an "ask 3 then me" question. Put the cards on a ring and have middle school students use these Geometric Thinking cards when working with geometry concepts in the upper grades. Use questions during an activity, to help debrief aft

This investigation explores the concept of the golden ratio and subsequent ratios, called metallic ratios, through investigating the geometric means and patterns involved in subsequent rectangular relationships. The exploration involves applications of the geometric mean and applies algebra 1 concepts from quadratic functions and geometric sequences. In addition students will need to know how to rationalize denominators of fractions using properties of binomials, radicals, and difference of squa

Thinking cards are designed to help students working in small groups to scaffold their own thinking when they start to struggle and the teacher is working with another group. Students can find a question to help prompt their own thinking about an activity, or use it as an "ask 3 then me" question. Put the cards on a ring and have middle school students use these Algebraic Thinking cards when working with algebraic representations and concepts in small groups. Use questions during an activity, to