Lessons Incorporating Information Literacy and Math

 

Standards K.3.1.1-3: Geometry & Measurement . . .

 

Lesson: MEASURING ME (grades K-2)

Overview: Students use yarn to measure their arm span and height. They then compare arm spans and heights with each other and discuss the similarities and differences.

Standards: Reading/Media Literacy, Research Process

 

Standards 1.1.2.1-4: Number & Operation . . .

 

Lesson: NUMBER TIC TAC TOE (grades 1-3)

Overview: Students play number tic tac toe against each other where the objective is to get a row, column, or diagonal where two of the three numbers add up to the other number. Number order does not matter, though the first move of the game can't be the center square.

Standards: Reading/Media Literacy

 

Lesson: TOY-SHOP NUMBERS (grades 1-3)

Overview: Using the linked activity sheet, students look at the toy shop picture and answer one question about the use of some of the numbers in the picture, like the price on toys, the number of balloons, and the time on the clock. They write the number down and then write a story about how that number was used in the picture.

Standards: Reading/Media Literacy, Research Process

 

Standards 3.1.2.1-5: Number & Operation . . .

 

Lesson: AREA CODE MATH (grades 3-5)

Overview: Students use Area Codes and a map to do addition, subtraction and multiplication practice, and it also incorporates map reading and time zone understanding, too. For instance: Western Nebraska minus Missouri equals? What are code does Mark need to dial if he lives in San Diego but is calling his friend Cindy in Chicago, and what is the time difference?

Standards: Research Process, Reading/Media Literacy

 

Lesson: MULTIPLICATION BINGO (grades 3-5)

Overview: Play Bingo in which the numbers on the students' cards are the answers to a simple multiplication problem the teacher calls out. For instance, 2 x 5 = what on the Bingo card.

Standards: Reading/Media Literacy

 

Standards 6.2.1.1-6.2.3.2: Algebra . . .

 

Lesson: BOUNCING TENNIS BALLS (grades 6-8)

Overview: Students get into groups of four to bounce tennis balls back and forth to each other to determine how many times each time member can bounce a tennis ball in two minutes. They have to record the data, graph the data, and discuss things like variables and how do you measure time, distance, and speed.

Standards: Reading/Media Literacy, Research Process

 

Standards 6.4.1.1-4: Data Analysis & Probability . . .

 

Lesson: PROBABILITY: THE STUDY OF CHANGE (grades 6-8)

Overview: Students will get in pairs to conduct an experiment using the game Rock Paper Scissors. They will play the game together, collect results, analyze the results, and answer probability questions based upon what they find.

Standards: Research Process, Reading/Media Literacy

 

Standards 9.2.1.1-9: Understand the Concept of Function . . .

 

Lesson: WORKING FAMILY VALUES (grades 8-12)

Overview: Students use the Bureau of Labor's web site to find typical rates of pay for ten different jobs, convert figures to dollars per hour, and create a bar graph of the results. Students may use the PBS and Census Bureau web sites for additional research and calculations to explore comparable worth, living wages, and quality of life issues.

Standards: Research Process, Technology Use

 

Standards 9.2.2.1-6: Linear, Quadratic, Exponential Functions . . .

 

Lesson: EXPLORING LINEAR DATA (grades 8-12)

Overview: Students model linear data in a variety of settings ranging from car repair costs to sports to medicine. Students construct scatterplots, interpret data points, and investigate the notion of line of best fit. Students will construct scatterplots of two-variable data, interpret individual data points and make conclusions about trends in data, and estimate and write equations of lines of best fit.

Standards: Research Process, Reading/Media Literacy

 

Lesson: FORECASTING THE FUTURE (grades 11-12)

Overview: Students will learn about population estimates and population projections. Students will compare population projections based on numerical growth and on geometric growth. Students research the Census Bureau website to obtain numbers for calculations.

Standards: Research Process, Technology Use, Reading/Media Literacy

 

Standards 9.2.3.1-7: Generate and Evaluate Algebraic Expressions . . .

 

Lesson: GRANDPA'S SOCIAL SECURITY (grades 9-12)

Overview: Students explore how algebra can be useful by determining whether Grandpa should start receiving his social security benefits at age 62 or age 64. Students make an equation of the situation, plot both scenarios, and consider a variety of circumstances. Students may survey people to determine real, rather than arbitrary, numbers.

Standards: Research Process

 

Standards 9.2.4.1-8: Solve Real-world and Mathematical Situations . . .

 

Lesson: NATIONAL DEBT AND WARS (grades 9-12)

Overview: Students collect information about the national debt, plot the data by decade, and determine whether an exponential curve is a good fit for the data. Students will compare common traits and differences, choose an appropriate scale, and compare percent changes in the debt between the Civil War, World War I, and World War II.

Standards: Research Process, Technology Use, Reading/Media Literacy

 

Lesson: SMOKEY THE BEAR TAKES ALGEBRA (grades 9-12)

Objective: Students explore the many factors that play a role in creating a forest-fire danger rating index including relative humidity and temperature. Using a real-world situation, students examine the meaning of slope, intercepts of a line, and summation notation. Students use graphing calculators to find equations modeling the relationship between the slope of the land versus rate of fire spread.

Standards: Research Process, Reading/Media Literacy

 

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Additional Math and Information Literacy Resources - use these to search for more lesson plans (grades K-12)

 

Free Math Help

Text and video lessons for math.

 

The Gateway to 21st Century Skills

The best way to find materials is to just use the search bar and search for a topic. Your results will state what type of material it is - collection, lesson plan, activity, etc. - and what grade level it is appropriate for.

 

Illuminations Math Lessons

Created by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, search for lesson plans from K-12 and in different areas of mathematics.

 

Math Forum

Offers lessons categorized by math subject areas.

 

New York Times Mathematics Lesson Plans

Use the Search This Blog search box on the right to search through the different lesson plans available. You can also click on the other lesson plans by category to search other categories because many lesson plans are multidisciplinary.

 

PBS

Choose a grade level and then look through the available lesson plans. All mathematical areas available.

 

PUMAS (Practical Uses of Math and Science)

A collection of one-page examples (written primarily by scientists and engineers) of how math and science topics taught in K-12 classes can be used in interesting settings, including everyday life.

 

TrackStar

TrackStar allows you to add your own lesson plans that you can then easily share with students, or search through thousands that have already been added by other educators. Use the search bar at the right to search TrackStar (and you can limit by subject and grade).

 

GOOD SITES FOR STUDENTS

Purple Math Algebra Lessons 

The Fun Works - Mathematics Careers

Interactive Mathematics Miscellany and Puzzles

MathWorld - best way to use it is to click the subjects on the left

MathMovesU