Math in the News Project

This project has students find a news article that is about any topic they would like, the only catch is it has to involve some sort of mathematics. Then they fill out a sheet answering questions such as “How does the story connect to math?” and “What kinds of math were discussed in the article?”

CCSS Connection:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.9-10.2 Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; trace the text’s explanation or depiction of a complex process, phenomenon, or concept; provide an accurate summary of the text.

Surface Area Problem

This hands on activity was used during a short surface area unit. I had students try to visualize the situation before bringing in an actual model. This is the model that I am showing you during the interview. This visual is also used during the teaching of Geometry.

CCSS Connection:
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSG.MG.A.1 Use geometric shapes, their measures, and their properties to describe objects (e.g., modeling a tree trunk or a human torso as a cylinder).
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSG.MG.A.3 Apply geometric methods to solve design problems (e.g., designing an object or structure to satisfy physical constraints or minimize cost; working with typographic grid systems based on ratios).

Discovery Learning of Exponent Laws

When learning the Laws of Exponents this year, students worked together to discover each law. Each student worked with a partner through the problems provided and wrote a rule for the pattern they saw. Also, throughout the unit, students compiled all of the exponent laws onto one single reference card for their binder. This way, they could thumb through them while completing their homework.

CCSS Connection:
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSN.RN.A.1 Explain how the definition of the meaning of rational exponents follows from extending the properties of integer exponents to those values…