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.

I made this sheet as a review for a fractions quiz, but it could just as easily serve as the quiz itself. The sheet covers identifying fractions, simplifying fractions, finding equivalent fractions, converting between mixed numbers and improper fractions, and comparing fractions.

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

I made this sheet to help reinforce with my students the idea that "in a multi-digit whole number, a digit in one place represents ten times what it represents in the place to its right."* The worksheet has students calculating 10 times more or 10 times less than a number for several numbers. Students are then asked to analyze their responses and record what they notice. I allowed my students to use a calculator, if they needed to, to complete the calculations because my focus was on their ob

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 activity for my math students to solve after they learned about compound events. Students need to understand the difference between dependent and independent compound events to solve this problem. The problem is embedded in a realistic situation, so students need to determine what information is important and relevant before solving the problem. The multiplication of fractions required for this dependent event might seem lofty at first, but if students simplify fac

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