Hands-on Math Projects with Real-Life Applications : Ready-to-Use Lessons and Materials for Grades 6-12

by Gary Robert Muschla; Judith A. Muschla

• ISBN13: 9780130320155
• ISBN10: 0130320153
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-08-01
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass

Summary

A collection of 60 hands on investigations to help students apply math concepts and skills to everyday problems found across the curriculum, in sports, and in daily life. These tested projects stress cooperative learning, group sharing, and writing, and build skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, decision-making, and computation. Each project follows the same proven format, including instructions for the teacher, a Student Guide, and one or more reproducible datasheets and worksheets. To help find appropriate projects quickly, a special Skills Index identifies the skills emphasized in each project, and all materials are organized into 6 major sections:Math & ScienceMath & Social StudiesMath & LanguageMath & Art & MusicMath & Sports & RecreationMath & Life Skills

Table of Contents

About the Authors	iv
Acknowledgments	v
About Mathematics Instruction	vi
How to Use This Resource	vii
Part I Implementing Projects in the Math Class	1	(34)
Projects in the Math Class--Overview	3	(8)
Your Role	3	(2)
The Teacher's Role During Math Projects	4	(1)
Problem-Solving Strategies	5	(1)
Creating Your Own Projects	5	(6)
Problem-Solving Strategies	7	(1)
Helping Students Develop Problem-Solving Skills	8	(1)
What It Takes to Become a Top Problem-Solver	9	(1)
Sources for Developing Math Projects	10	(1)
Managing Projects in Your Math Class	11	(13)
Structuring Your Class	11	(1)
Creating and Maintaining a Positive Environment	12	(1)
Teaching Suggestions	13	(1)
Individual and Team Conferences	14	(3)
The Responsibilities of the Math Student	15	(1)
The Right Environment	16	(1)
The Value of Cooperative Problem-Solving	17	(1)
Organizing Your Teams	17	(1)
The Importance of Sharing	18	(3)
How to Set Up Project Teams	19	(1)
Rules for Working in Math Teams	20	(1)
Writing in Math Class	21	(2)
The Writing Process	22	(1)
Using Calculators and Computers	23	(1)
A Final Word	23	(1)
Assessing Math Projects	24	(11)
Observation Logs	24	(3)
Individual Observation Log	25	(1)
Group Observation Log	26	(1)
Checklists	27	(1)
Point Systems for Project Assessment	27	(4)
Possible Assessment Questions	28	(1)
Skills Checklist	29	(1)
Grading Projects Via a Point System	30	(1)
Evaluating Writing	31	(1)
Self-Assessment	31	(4)
Suggestions for Grading Writing in Math Class	32	(1)
Student Self-Assessment	33	(1)
Teacher Self-Assessment	34	(1)
Part III The Projects	35	(2)
SECTION 1 MATH AND SCIENCE	37	(62)
The Benefits of Recycling	39	(5)
``The Benefits of Recycling''	41	(2)
``Some Facts About Recycling''	43	(1)
Endangered Species--Can They Be Saved?	44	(6)
``Endangered Species--Can They Be Saved?''	46	(2)
``Examples of Endangered Animals''	48	(1)
``Some Facts About Endangered Species''	49	(1)
Charting Your Calories	50	(6)
``Charting Your Calories''	53	(2)
``A Daily Calorie Chart''	55	(1)
How Many Calories Do You Burn Each Day?	56	(6)
``How Many Calories Do You Burn Each Day?''	58	(2)
``Caloric Expenditure and Physical Activities''	60	(1)
``A Daily Activity Chart''	61	(1)
A Mathematical Scavenger Hunt Through the Human Body	62	(4)
``A Mathematical Scavenger Hunt Through the Human Body''	64	(2)
It's Only Natural	66	(4)
``It's Only Natural''	68	(1)
``Math in Nature''	69	(1)
Designing a Flowerbed	70	(7)
``Designing a Flowerbed''	72	(2)
``Facts and Prices of Selected Plants''	74	(2)
``Centimeter Grid''	76	(1)
Buying a Class Aquarium	77	(5)
``Buying a Class Aquarium''	79	(2)
``Aquariums and Accessories''	81	(1)
The School's New Lunch Program	82	(6)
``The School's New Lunch Program''	84	(2)
``The National School Lunch Program Requirements''	86	(1)
``A Five-Day Menu''	87	(1)
What's the Weather?nn	88	(6)
``What's the Weather?''	90	(2)
``Weather Words''	92	(2)
A Flight to Mars	94	(5)
``A Flight to Mars''	96	(2)
``Information About the Red Planet''	98	(1)
SECTION 2 MATH AND SOCIAL STUDIES	99	(52)
An Election Poll	101	(7)
``An Election Poll''	104	(2)
``Poll Points''	106	(2)
Flags	108	(4)
``Flags''	110	(1)
``Steps to Enlarging a Pattern''	111	(1)
Creating a Scale Map	112	(4)
``Creating a Scale Map''	114	(1)
``How to Make a Map''	115	(1)
A Game: What Data Is That?	116	(5)
``A Game: What Date Is That?''	118	(1)
``Ancient Number Systems''	119	(2)
An Interview to Math's Past	121	(5)
``An Interview to Math's Past''	123	(2)
``Tips for Conducting Effective Interviews''	125	(1)
Rating Consumer Products	126	(5)
``Rating Consumer Products''	128	(2)
``Tips for Comparing Some Everyday Products''	130	(1)
Lands of Ethnic Origin--A Statistical Potpourri	131	(5)
``Lands of Ethnic Origin--A Statistical Potpourri''	133	(1)
``Tips for Creating a Country's Fact Profile Sheet''	134	(2)
A Land of Immigrants	136	(4)
``A Land of Immigrants''	138	(1)
``Researching Immigration''	139	(1)
The Games People Play	140	(6)
``The Games People Play''	142	(2)
``Games from Around the World''	144	(2)
Back to the Past	146	(5)
``Back to the Past''	148	(1)
``An Outline to Organization''	149	(2)
SECTION 3 MATH AND LANGUAGE	151	(60)
Becoming the Experts	153	(5)
``Becoming the Experts''	155	(1)
``A Student Sample Lesson Plan Guide''	156	(1)
``A Sample Lesson Plan''	157	(1)
Great Debates	158	(6)
``Great Debates''	161	(2)
``An Informal Debate Structure''	163	(1)
The Mathematics Publishing Company	164	(4)
``The Mathematics Publishing Company''	166	(1)
``Possible Ideas for a Mathematics Magazine''	167	(1)
Great Mathematicians--A Play	168	(7)
``Great Mathematicians--A Play''	170	(2)
``A Play Structure''	172	(1)
``A Sample Play''	173	(1)
``Some Famous Mathematicians''	174	(1)
Fictional Numbers--Writing a Story	175	(5)
``Fictional Numbers--Writing a Story''	177	(2)
``A Revision Checklist for Stories''	179	(1)
A Mathematical Autobiography	180	(4)
``A Mathematical Autobiography''	182	(1)
``Organizing Your Autobiography''	183	(1)
It's Puzzling	184	(6)
``It's Puzzling''	186	(1)
``Puzzles, Puzzles, Puzzles''	187	(3)
Lending a Math Hand	190	(6)
``Lending a Math Hand''	193	(2)
``Creating a Math Booklet''	195	(1)
Sharing the Math Word	196	(5)
``Sharing the Math Word''	198	(2)
``A Sample Query Letter''	200	(1)
Keeping a Math Journal	201	(4)
``Keeping a Math Journal''	203	(1)
``Possible Entries for Math Journals''	204	(1)
Math Portfolios	205	(6)
``Math Portfolios''	207	(2)
``Portfolio Assessment Criteria''	209	(2)
SECTION 4 MATH AND ART AND MUSIC	211	(52)
Making a Math Poster	213	(5)
``Making a Math Poster''	215	(2)
``Pointers About Posters''	217	(1)
Creating a Logo	218	(5)
``Creating a Logo''	220	(2)
``Creating an Effective Logo''	222	(1)
I Wanna Be Like Escher	223	(6)
``I Wanna Be Like Escher''	225	(1)
``Polygon Patterns''	226	(1)
``Steps to Making an Escher-like Drawing''	227	(1)
``Isometric Dot Paper''	228	(1)
The Plus and Minus Comic Strip	229	(4)
``The Plus and Minus Comic Strip''	231	(1)
``Comic Tips''	232	(1)
Numbers and Songs	233	(5)
``Numbers and Songs''	235	(1)
``Tips for Writing a Song''	236	(1)
``Music Sheet''	237	(1)
The Math in Music	238	(4)
``The Math in Music''	240	(1)
``Tips for Essay Writing''	241	(1)
Making 3-Dimensional Octahedra and Classroom Decorations	242	(4)
``Making 3-Dimensional Octahedra and Classroom Decorations''	244	(1)
``Constructing a 3-Dimensional Octahedron''	245	(1)
Creating a Greeting Card for Math Education Month	246	(4)
``Creating a Greeting Card for Math Education Month''	248	(1)
``Tips for Creating Math Greeting Cards''	249	(1)
The Geometry and Art of Architecture	250	(6)
``The Geometry and Art of Architecture''	252	(2)
``Famous Architecture Around the World''	254	(2)
Designing a Quilt Pattern	256	(7)
``Designing a Quilt Pattern''	258	(1)
``Creating a One-Patch Quilt Design''	259	(2)
``Quilt Design''	261	(2)
SECTION 5 MATH AND SPORTS AND RECREATION	263	(56)
Choosing a Membership Plan at a Health Club	265	(5)
``Choosing a Membership Plan at a Health Club''	267	(2)
``Power Health Club--Membership Plans''	269	(1)
Equipment for the School's Workout Room	270	(7)
``Equipment for the School's Workout Room''	272	(2)
``The Cost of Exercising''	274	(2)
``Gym Equipment Order Form''	276	(1)
Comparing Sports Superstars	277	(5)
``Comparing Sports Superstars''	279	(2)
``Sport Superstars''	281	(1)
Math and the Big Game	282	(4)
``Math and the Big Game''	284	(1)
``Tracking the Stats''	285	(1)
Your Unique Exercise Program	286	(7)
``Your Unique Exercise Program''	288	(3)
``Finding Your Training Range''	291	(2)
The Big Dance	293	(6)
``The Big Dance''	295	(2)
``The Costs of a Big Dance''	297	(1)
``The Big Dance--Cost/Revenue Tally Sheet''	298	(1)
The Numbers Game	299	(7)
``The Numbers Game''	302	(1)
``Number Phrases''	303	(3)
Planning a Sundae Party	306	(7)
``Planning a Sundae Party''	309	(2)
``Prices for a Sundae Party''	311	(1)
``Tallying the Costs of a Sundae Party''	312	(1)
Going on Vacation	313	(6)
``Going on Vacation''	315	(2)
``The Costs of a Great Vacation''	317	(1)
``Calculating Vacation Costs''	318	(1)
SECTION 6 MATH AND LIFE SKILLS	319	(47)
Making a Budget	321	(5)
``Making a Budget''	323	(1)
``Tips for Making a Budget''	324	(1)
``Working on Your Budget''	325	(1)
A Floor Plan of My Room	326	(6)
``A Floor Plan of My Room''	328	(2)
``How to Measure a Room''	330	(1)
``A Grid for a Floor Plan''	331	(1)
The Costs of Pets	332	(4)
``The Costs of Pets''	334	(1)
``Cost Factors to Consider in Choosing a Pet''	335	(1)
Shopping by Mail	336	(5)
``Shopping by Mail''	338	(1)
``Ordering Merchandise by Mail''	339	(1)
``Buying by Mail''	340	(1)
Numbers Around Town	341	(5)
``Numbers Around Town''	344	(1)
``Math and Indicators''	345	(1)
Buying a Car	346	(6)
``Buying a Car''	348	(2)
``Car Costs''	350	(1)
``A Car Buyer's Cost Sheet''	351	(1)
What's on the Test?	352	(5)
``What's on the Test?''	354	(2)
``Elements of a Good Math Test''	356	(1)
Checks and Balances	357	(7)
``Checks and Balances''	359	(1)
``Keeping a Balanced Checking Account''	360	(1)
``Debits and Credits''	361	(1)
``Practice Checks''	362	(1)
``A Check Register and Deposit Forms''	363	(1)
Math in My Life--An Assessment	364	(2)
``Math in My Life--An Assessment''	366