Eric Jayne

I use this activity to introduce my students to the concept of square roots. It starts by having students draw as many squares as they can on grid paper. Students are then asked to analyze the squares to see how long their sides are and what their area is (in squares). Once students have that data, they are able to make connections between the length of side and the area (side x side = area). This enables a discussion about square roots and perfect squares, as the students will have essentia

Students have difficulty using protractors to measure angles. This activity is a great starting point for teaching students to use protractors because it takes away the lining up piece (where they struggle) and only requires them to correctly read the angle. Students will also practice drawing an angle using a protractor. This make a great introductory activity before having students actually use a protractor.

This activity has students using base-ten blocks to construct towers. The idea is to build the tallest tower using the least amount of blocks. The blocks are given a dollar value, and students must figure out the cost per height of their towers. This is a timed problem-solving activity. I put students in pairs and record each group's results on the board. It's fun to see the different ways students attempt to build their towers. I will record the tallest and most cost effective tower and l

Maps are a great way to examine proportions because they are drawn to scale using proportions. In this activity, students use the classroom map and a ruler to figure out the actual size of states and actual distances between locations in the United States. Students use the map scale (i.e., 1 inch = 30 miles) to set up a proportion with the measurements they get. This is a fun way to get students up and moving and practicing proportions in a real-world context.

In this activity, students will be planning a Halloween party for their class. They will need to "purchase" supplies for their party using a budget that you set. I set a budget that forces the students to make budget choices, i.e., I don't give them enough to buy everything they want. Students will work in partners to plan their party, making decisions based on their budget constraints. Students are also asked to perform some data analysis on the party choices. This is a good activity to do

This sheet assesses students basic understanding of decimals. Students are asked to identify the value of digits in decimals, write decimals in standard and word form, plot decimals on a number line, order decimals, and convert decimals to fractions and fractions to decimals.

I made this problem-solving assignment based on an actual phone call that a customer had with his cell phone provider. The customer and the company disagree about his bill. The company quoted him .002 cents per kilobyte, but they charged him as if his rate was .002 dollars per kilobyte. The phone company contends there is no difference between .002 dollars and .002 cents, while the customer is trying to get them to understand that they are. The actual phone call can easily be found on the web

One of the areas that students seem to struggle with the most is problem-solving. This download contains my basic plan to approaching problem-solving. It's a plan that has produced solid results for me. Included in the download are the following: a definition of problem-solving from the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics that I use as a poster in my room; an explanation of using a 4-step approach to problem-solving (I send this to parents); a student planner that my students use eve