Math in the Middle Grades

In this lab, students investigate the difference between experimental and theoretical probability using a small pack of skittles or m & m’s. Students begin by performing a series of random trials to determine the experimental probability of selecting a particular color candy. Students draw candies at random from their bowl and record the frequency of each color drawn. Then, students express these frequencies as probabilities out of the total number of trials performed in the form of fractions, d

A Thanksgiving-themed color by numbers activity on matching slope-intercept form equations can be a fun and educational way to reinforce mathematical concepts. In this activity, students will be provided with a worksheet containing a series of graphs or descriptions of equations. To complete the worksheet, students will need to identify the matching slope-intercept form equation in the answer bank below by determining the slope and y-intercept, and then match it to the corresponding color on th

This is a flexible review activity that can be used as a whole group teacher led review or as an individual review set of task cards! Print slide 30 as a full page for each student to create their own bingo board on. Students win by getting 5 answers horizontally, vertically or diagonally in a row. Have students use pen or a marker to create a non-editable board.  For a whole-group review, the teacher can toggle through the slideshow of problems one at a time. Once a problem is revealed, stude

This is a flexible review activity that can be used as a whole group teacher led review or as an individual review set of task cards! Print slide 30 as a full page for each student to create their own bingo board on. Students win by getting 5 answers horizontally, vertically or diagonally in a row. Have students use pen or a marker to create a non-editable board.  For a whole-group review, the teacher can toggle through the slideshow of problems one at a time. Once a problem is revealed, stude

A chat stations activity is an engaging, quick and interactive way for students to clarify key concepts regarding composition and operations with functions. This activity involves setting up 7 different stations around the classroom, each with a clarifying question regarding some key misconceptions about composition and operations with functions. Key concepts include domain and range, notation, order of composition and order of operations. Suggested Use of These Materials: Print and hang pages

This google doc digital activity can be easily shared with students virtually. Students practice solving 9 multi-step equations (including distributive property, fractions and decimals) with variables on both sides and then classifying the type of solution: no solution, all real numbers or one solution. Equation tiles may be "cut" and "pasted" into the graphic organizer of solution types. The doc can be edited to suit your needs, but is formatted for immediate sharing. A teacher answer key is a

This is a flexible activity that can be used is perfect for a station activity for small groups or individual students  Print or share slides 2-13 as a full page for students. These can serve as individual stations students can visit throughout the room or task sheets they can work on one at a time in small groups. Students are given one representation, a table, graph, function rule or verbal description and have to fill in the remaining representations.This is a rich activity for reviewing the

This is a flexible review activity that can be used as a whole group teacher led review or as an individual review set of task cards! Print slide 30 as a full page for each student to create their own bingo board on. Students win by getting 5 answers horizontally, vertically or diagonally in a row. Have students use pen or a marker to create a non-editable board.  For a whole-group review, the teacher can toggle through the slideshow of problems one at a time. Once a problem is revealed, stude

This is a flexible review activity that can be used as a whole group teacher led review or as an individual review set of task cards! Print slide 30 as a full page for each student to create their own bingo board on. Students win by getting 5 answers horizontally, vertically or diagonally in a row. Have students use pen or a marker to create a non-editable board.  For a whole-group review, the teacher can toggle through the slideshow of problems one at a time. Once a problem is revealed, stude

This worksheet contains 2 word problems containing systems of equations that yield the case of no solution and infinitely many solutions. Students model the situation, graph the system and make sense of each case in context of the word problems. This activity helps students make the connection that parallel lines yield no solution when situations contain the same rate and different starting point and that coinciding lines yield infinite/multiple solutions when the equations are scalar multiples

This google doc worksheet can be easily shared with students virtually. Students practice simplifying 8 numerical expressions that emphasize order of operations and operations with real numbers and then classify the final answer in the real number system (real, rational, irrational, integer, whole, natural). The doc can be edited to suit your needs or printed for a paper based activity, but is formatted for immediate sharing. A teacher answer key is attached at the end of the document and can

Classifying real numbers is an important concept in mathematics that helps students understand the properties and relationships between different types of numbers. This lesson plan is designed for middle school students to provide an overview and of the different types of real numbers and how they are classified and allows students to engage in deep conversation about the differences of each set. Suggested Use of These Materials: Begin the lesson with a brief introduction of what real numbers a

This google doc student investigation provides a space for students to track their daily caloric intake using basic mathematical compound inequalities. This resource can be easily shared with students virtually and serves as a great introduction to the concept of compound inequalities in pre-algebra/algebra. It can also be used as a health and wellness task for students to explore their own caloric intake, examine the FDA recommendations and extension activities that students can continue to

A vocabulary reinforcement activity can be an excellent way to help students grasp the concepts involved in solving equations in algebra. In this handout, students match key vocabulary terms with their definitions and clarify the steps to solve a multi-step one variable equation. Suggested Use of These Materials: This activity can be used in small groups, as a center or station activity, as a end of class wrap up activity or as a formative assessment of vocabulary associated to solving an equat

This is a great, quick activity that can be used at the start of any class or cycle with new students. It get students out of their chairs and encourages them to mix and mingle with their new classmates. Items can be tailored to meet the needs of your population. This one would be best used at the start of a new school year, following summer vacation. Though it is not necessary, it can be very rewarding to go over the activity with the students aloud during a whole group share out at the end o