Category Archives for Number Sense
Memorial Day 2013
Your students will learn about the meaning and history of Memorial Day as they look for patterns in the date and analyze casualty totals. Brian’s investigation will also help your students become aware of the intent of the Memorial Day … Continue reading
Tornadoes 2013
Moore, Oklahoma was just slammed by an EF-5 tornado. Involve your students in a better understanding of the damage caused by tornadoes by using this investigation. Students learn about the Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF scale), the usual locations and the … Continue reading
How much should you spend at this sale?
This activity can be used in a large range of grade levels. Your class can work on percents, linear equations or piecewise functions. Act One: We missed the semi-annual sale but we want to get ready for the next one. Let’s … Continue reading
Is college affordable?
Widener Library, Harvard University It’s that time of year again. Students are applying and hopefully getting accepted to college. Students are also graduating and moving on from 12th, 8th or 5th grade to new schools in the fall. Whether you … Continue reading
Triple Crown
Joel Rosario riding Orb May 18th will be the running of the Preakness thoroughbred horse race. The Preakness is the second race of the Triple Crown. Hopefully we’ll see the horse, Orb, win the Preakness and get a chance to run for … Continue reading
How much do we spend for Mother’s Day?
Use the Mother’s Day event to engage your students in approximating, reasoning, and investigating. Brian has asked students to estimate how much is spent in the United States for Mother’s Day. There’s a lot to consider and that’s exactly what … Continue reading
Thank your mother and father for all of those diapers.
Which is a better deal, cloth or disposable diapers? How much did you cost your parents in diapers? In the future how much could your kid’s diapers cost? It’s time to celebrate Mother’s Day and then Father’s Day. Help students … Continue reading
Cicada swarmaggedon
Most of the life cycle of the Magicicada Septendecim is spent underground. Then at 17 year intervals, these cicadas emerge from the ground, climb deciduous trees, molt into adults, mate, lay eggs, and die. Why does the 17 year interval … Continue reading
Who had the greatest NBA season ever?
Some of the greats, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson Who had the greatest NBA season of all time? Which player contributed the greatest amount of offensive production to their team? Who was the most valuable? Brian gives weight to … Continue reading
Iphone 5
This is only part of the infographic published and copywrited by AVALAUNCH MEDIA. We’ve left off the solution of this graphic so that your class can come to their own range of iPhone5 costs. To see the full graphic go here. When … Continue reading
True cost of lights bulbs
Last year the House of Representatives voted to withhold funding to enforce a law that was passed in 2007 and increases efficiency standards for light bulbs. There’s a lot of misinformation out there about the cost to consumers of CFL … Continue reading
Patriots’ Day
Monday, April 15th is the official holiday this year to remember the Battles of Lexington and Concord that began the Revolutionary War 238 years ago in 1775. (The actual date was April 19th, 1775) Both Paul Revere and the British … Continue reading
Season 12, American Idol
Let your student study American Idol viewing figures over the last eleven seasons. Students compare historical season premier and season finale audience size in several different ways to determine which event has had higher viewership. They consider outliers and judge … Continue reading
The Greatest March Madness Program
Based on this data, which do you think is the greatest March Madness program ever? Once students decide their “best program ever” challenge them use a different criteria than they originally used. That is, ask them to think of another … Continue reading
Foil Prank
Robert Kaplinsky kindly contributed this post. We think it would make a great April Fools day activity. Check out his site for more great lesson ideas. Watch this movie with your class: foil_prank The Challenge(s) How much does it cost to … Continue reading
