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ActiveMath Mysteries

Rated 4.63 out of 5, based on 49 reviews
84 Followers
Oakwood, Ohio, United States
About the store
The authors and designers of this store have vast experience in creating top-notch math resources! You'll find high quality review or warm-up activities that engage and challenge students in middle school or beyond. Students will review math as they learn about inspirational people, places, and events throughout the year!
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Preview of Summer Math & History Bundle: 7 Middle School PDF Mini Lessons w/ Slides & Easel

Summer Math & History Bundle: 7 Middle School PDF Mini Lessons w/ Slides & Easel

These 7 activities for 6th, 7th, or 8th graders relate to fun topics for summer or any time. Math clues provide mixed review as students find digits of each Mystery Year. Present the questions using PowerPoint or Google Slides, hand out the printable activity page, or assign with Easel. Students will be engaged! NOTE: For some topics the PDF resource is separate from the PPT (but both are included). Each Mystery Year Puzzle Includes Print & Digital Options:1-page printable puzzle with 1-pa
Preview of MAY BUNDLE: 10 Middle School Math-History PDF Mini Lessons | Mixed Review

MAY BUNDLE: 10 Middle School Math-History PDF Mini Lessons | Mixed Review

These 10 math-history middle school activities connect to May dates of awards, sports, and other social studies events. Use PDF mini lessons as test prep or review. Real-world events are springboards for questions that review middle school math skills/concepts. Students solve math clues to find the Mystery Year of each event. Each PDF download includes:1 print/digital student page, also available in Easel 1 annotated answer key pageTeacher Notes including step-by-step solutions, teaching tips
Preview of May 28 Math & Literature Puzzle: Poet & Activist Maya Angelou | Grades 6-8 Math

May 28 Math & Literature Puzzle: Poet & Activist Maya Angelou | Grades 6-8 Math

The math clues in this Mystery Year review puzzle involve the Commutative and Associative Properties of Addition to evaluate an expression, finding the percent of a number, dividing with 0, and dividing with mixed numbers. The context is the work of Maya Angelou, civil rights activist and author of seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and more. Your Print/Digital PDF Includes:A ready-to-print Student Page along with annotated Answer Key 3 pages of Teacher Not
Preview of May 27 Mystery Year Puzzle: Biologist & Writer Rachel Carson | Grades 6-8 Math

May 27 Mystery Year Puzzle: Biologist & Writer Rachel Carson | Grades 6-8 Math

The math clues in this Mystery Year review puzzle involve division of multi-digit numbers, rounding decimals, area of a circle, and evaluating an expression with an exponent. The context is the work of biologist Rachel Carson, author of the book Silent Spring. Your Print/Digital PDF Includes:A ready-to-print Student Page along with annotated Answer Key 3 pages of Teacher Notes with step-by-step solutions, historical notes, links, and optional extension questions1 page with tips, How to Use H
Preview of Jesse Owens Track & Field Star | Middle School Math Review Activity & Slides

Jesse Owens Track & Field Star | Middle School Math Review Activity & Slides

The math clues in this Mystery Year review puzzle involve division of multi-digit numbers, solving equations, and applying divisibility rules for 3 and 5. The context is the record-setting performances of track-and-field star Jesse Owens. This engaging puzzle is great for middle school students to use at any time. Your Purchase Includes Print & Digital Options:1-page printable puzzle with 1-page answer key5 pages of Easel screens showing introduction and the four puzzle questions2 pages of Tea
Preview of May 22 Mystery Year Puzzle: Wagon Train on the Oregon Trail | Grades 6-8 Math

May 22 Mystery Year Puzzle: Wagon Train on the Oregon Trail | Grades 6-8 Math

As students solve this Mystery Year puzzle, they solve math review problems involving percent, elapsed time, and equations. The context of this puzzle is the first major wagon train to travel what is known as the Oregon Trail.Your Print/Digital PDF Includes:A ready-to-print Student Page along with annotated Answer Key 2 pages of Teacher Notes with step-by-step solutions, common misconceptions, links to historical notes, and optional extension questions1 page with tips, How to Use History-Myste
Preview of May 20 Mystery Year Puzzle: Blue Jeans Patent Issued | Grades 6-8 Percent Change

May 20 Mystery Year Puzzle: Blue Jeans Patent Issued | Grades 6-8 Percent Change

As students solve this Mystery Year puzzle, they use proportions and percent to calculate markup and markdown. The context of this puzzle is the patent for blue jeans issued on May 20 of the Mystery Year to businessman Levi Strauss and tailor Jacob Davis.Your Print/Digital PDF Includes:A ready-to-print Student Page along with annotated Answer Key 2 pages of Teacher Notes with step-by-step solutions, common misconceptions, links to historical notes, and optional extension questions1 page wit
Preview of May 17 Mystery Year Puzzle: Brown v. Board of Education | Grades 7-8 Math Review

May 17 Mystery Year Puzzle: Brown v. Board of Education | Grades 7-8 Math Review

On May 17 of the Mystery Year, the U.S. Supreme Court justices ruled 9–0 that state laws involving racial segregation in public schools are unconstitutional. The math clues for finding the year involve proportional reasoning, solving an equation with rational coefficients, and converting a fraction to a decimal or percent. The ruling is called Brown v. Board of Education.Your Print/Digital PDF Includes:A ready-to-print Student Page along with annotated Answer Key 4 pages of Teacher Notes with
Preview of May 12 Mystery Year Puzzle: American Musical HAMILTON | Grades 6-8 Math Review

May 12 Mystery Year Puzzle: American Musical HAMILTON | Grades 6-8 Math Review

On May 12 of the Mystery Year the musical Hamilton won eleven Tony Awards. To find the year, students solve math clues about place value, patterns, evaluating algebraic expressions, converting time, and finding the percent of a number. Your Print/Digital PDF Includes:A ready-to-print Student Page along with annotated Answer Key 4 pages of Teacher Notes with step-by-step solutions, reteaching tips, historical notes, and optional extension questions1 page with tips, How to Use History-Mystery P
Preview of Mini Lesson Sampler of 21 MATH HISTORY-MYSTERY PUZZLES | Middle School Review

Mini Lesson Sampler of 21 MATH HISTORY-MYSTERY PUZZLES | Middle School Review

This cross-curricular sampler of 21 puzzles will provide review, test prep, and/or enrichment for middle school math. Puzzles focus on dates that relate to famous people or events. Students solve math clues to find digits of each Mystery Year. Take a look at the bonus quick-reference chart to choose puzzles according to math topics/domains or real-world connections. Also see three smaller samplers of 7 puzzles each, labeled for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade.PUZZLES INCLUDEPrint/digital PDFs of puzz
Preview of Mini Lesson Sampler C of MATH HISTORY-MYSTERY PUZZLES | Review for Grade 8 & Up

Mini Lesson Sampler C of MATH HISTORY-MYSTERY PUZZLES | Review for Grade 8 & Up

This cross-curricular sampler of 7 puzzles will provide review, test prep, and/or enrichment for 8th graders and up. Puzzles focus on dates that relate to a famous people or events. Students solve math clues to find digits of each Mystery Year. Take a look at the bonus quick-reference chart to choose puzzles according to math topics/domains or real-world connections. PUZZLES INCLUDEPrint/digital PDFs of puzzle pages. See the PREVIEW VIDEO of all student pages.Historical notes and quotesProfes
Preview of Mini Lesson Sampler B of MATH HISTORY-MYSTERY PUZZLES | Review for Grade 7 & Up

Mini Lesson Sampler B of MATH HISTORY-MYSTERY PUZZLES | Review for Grade 7 & Up

This cross-curricular sampler of 7 puzzles will provide review, test prep, and/or enrichment for Grade 7 and up. Puzzles focus on dates that relate to a famous people or events. Students solve math clues to find digits of each Mystery Year. Take a look at the bonus quick-reference chart to choose other puzzles according to math topics/domains or real-world connections. PUZZLES INCLUDEPrint/digital PDFs of puzzle pages. See the PREVIEW VIDEO of all student pages.Historical notes and quotesProf
Preview of Mini Lesson Sampler A of MATH HISTORY-MYSTERY PUZZLES | Review for Grade 6 & Up

Mini Lesson Sampler A of MATH HISTORY-MYSTERY PUZZLES | Review for Grade 6 & Up

This cross-curricular sampler of 7 puzzles will provide review, test prep, and/or enrichment for grade 6 and up. Puzzles focus on dates that relate to a famous people or events. Students solve math clues to find digits of each Mystery Year. Take a look at the bonus quick-reference chart to choose more puzzles according to math topics/domains or real-world connections. PUZZLES INCLUDEPrint/digital PDFs of puzzle pages. See the PREVIEW VIDEO of all student pages.Historical notes and quotesProfe
Preview of May 11 Math & Music Puzzle: Composer Irving Berlin | Daily Mixed Review

May 11 Math & Music Puzzle: Composer Irving Berlin | Daily Mixed Review

May 11 of the Mystery Year was the birthday of composer Irving Berlin. To find the digits of the Mystery Year, students calculate expected value using probability, find a missing value for an array, and find the range of a set of data. Puzzles provide engaging mixed review and test prep! Your ZIP download includes PDFs:A ready-to-print Student Page along with annotated Answer Key. A digital version with expanding form fields, to use with Adobe Reader.A complete file including 2 pages of Teach
Preview of JANUARY BUNDLE: 15 Middle School Math-History PDF Mini Lessons | Mixed Review

JANUARY BUNDLE: 15 Middle School Math-History PDF Mini Lessons | Mixed Review

Get PDF mini lessons that review key middle school topics such as integers and square roots. These will engage students by integrating math with January historic events.Topics: Greta Thunberg, Attack on the U.S. Capitol, Stephen Hawking, Mathematician Maria Agnesi, First Clinical Use of the X-Ray, Motown, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Benjamin Franklin, Dolly Parton, Joan Kroc's $1.6B Gift to the Salvation Army, Captain "Sully" Sullenberger, Bob Moses (Advocate for Math Literacy), Mozart, Chal
Preview of 9 Black History Month PDF Mini Lessons | 6th 7th 8th Grade Math Mixed Review

9 Black History Month PDF Mini Lessons | 6th 7th 8th Grade Math Mixed Review

These nine PDF mini lessons integrate math with historic events for famous Black Americans. The people featured are Martin Luther King, Jr., Harriet Tubman, Ernie Banks, Toni Morrison, Kamala Harris, Chadwick Boseman, Katherine Johnson, and Benjamin Banneker.Each puzzle requires students to solve math clues to find the Mystery Year of an event. The video preview shows all puzzles.Each download includes print/digital PDF(s):1 or 2-page digital version with horizontal layout, prepped for Easel 1-
Preview of DECEMBER BUNDLE: 17 Middle School Math-History PDF Mini Lessons | Holidays

DECEMBER BUNDLE: 17 Middle School Math-History PDF Mini Lessons | Holidays

Integrate history with middle school math key concepts including problem solving. These PDF mini lessons for review or enrichment involve December holidays and events. Topics: Pearl Harbor, John Lennon, Hanukkah, Beethoven, Metric Conversion, Silent Night (Christmas), Louis Pasteur, Debbie Reynolds, and more. More about the puzzles: Students solve math clues to find the Mystery Year of each event. Each PDF download includes:2-page digital version with horizontal layout, prepped for Easel 1-pa
Preview of 12 Literature Math-History PDF Mini Lessons | 6th 7th 8th Grade Mixed Review

12 Literature Math-History PDF Mini Lessons | 6th 7th 8th Grade Mixed Review

These 12 PDF mini lessons integrate middle school math with literature. Questions connect key math topics with famous authors including Shakespeare and others. Writers/Authors: Agatha Christie, William Shakespeare, HG Wells, Confucius, Toni Morrison, Noah Webster, Robert Frost, Amanda Gorman, Ian Fleming (James Bond), Barbara Bush, Rachel Carson, Maya Angelou. Students solve math clues to find the Mystery Year of an event. The VIDEO PREVIEW shows most student pages.Each download includes print
Preview of YEARLONG BUNDLE: 140+ Middle School Math-History PDF Mini Lessons | Mixed Review

YEARLONG BUNDLE: 140+ Middle School Math-History PDF Mini Lessons | Mixed Review

This bundle of more than 140 PDF mini lessons related to people and events through the year. The interdisciplinary topics are springboards for middle school math review and test prep. These activities includes math clues for finding Mystery Years of events. Use in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades or high school. View the VIDEO PREVIEW for a glimpse of most student pages, or the PDF preview for a quick-reference list and correlation of most puzzles. Mystery-Year Puzzles Include:Printable Student Page,
Preview of NOVEMBER BUNDLE: 16 Middle School Math-History PDF Mini Lessons | Mixed Review

NOVEMBER BUNDLE: 16 Middle School Math-History PDF Mini Lessons | Mixed Review

Review middle school proportions and more as you integrate math with historic events in November. These 16 PDF mini lessons involve presidents and other subjects. Topics: Chicago Cubs win World Series after 108 years, Election Day, Origins of the Seeing Eye® Dog Program, the inventor of basketball, Benjamin Banneker, Debut of "Sesame Street," World War I Armistice, Auguste Rodin, the Federal Reserve, Britney Spears, "Birthday of Mickey Mouse, Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, Assassination of Pre
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About the store

Experience

The authors and designers of this store have vast experience in creating top-notch math resources! You'll find high quality review or warm-up activities that engage and challenge students in middle school or beyond. Students will review math as they learn about inspirational people, places, and events throughout the year!

Teaching style

DAVID B. SPANGLER wrote or inspired the entire series of puzzles in this store. He was active in mathematics education from 1972 until his passing in 2022. He taught at the middle school and community college levels, while continuing to teach math methods courses at the university level. In 1994, he co-founded ActiveMath Workshops for teachers. Over the years, he helped develop math programs for major publishers, authored seven math books, wrote numerous articles for math education journals, and was a frequent speaker at math conferences. David held a master's degree in education with an emphasis in mathematics from Northern Illinois University. David epitomized what good mathematics instruction looked and sounded like. His legacy will live on in the many lives his work and works impacted. His coworkers, Karen and Angie, will continue to update puzzles in this store. KAREN S. CORDELL has been a trusted math educator/coach/consultant for 35 years. Her focus is development of resources that support efficacy, access, and equity for all students. She has taught middle school and high school mathematics and has planned and delivered engaging lessons that helped all students build conceptual understanding through varied reflective learning activities. Karen has created both formative and summative assessments. Her master's degree in educational leadership is from The College of New Jersey. ANGIE SELTZER has 30+ years of experience in math curriculum writing, editing, and instructional design. She has been a supervising editor of major textbooks, assessment resources, and technology supplements. Angie has taught at the middle school level and tutored students of all ages. She has a master's degree in mathematics education from The Ohio State University. Angie has her own TpT Store with thousands of 5-star reviews on games to promote math sense! (https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/K8mathsense)

Additional biographical information

STORE CONTRIBUTIONS BY THE TEAM David and Karen were co-authors of more than 130 Math History-Mystery Puzzles in this store. Angie designed the covers, previews, correlation charts, and other elements for Math History-Mystery Puzzles. READ MORE ON LINKED-IN for KarenCordell and Angie-Seltzer.