Get the Math!
Posted on December 30th, 2014 by Mary Lord
What do fashion designers, rock stars, and restaurant owners have in common? They all apply algebra in their work! Get the Math promotes algebraic thinking and problem-solving skills through video challenges that illuminate such real-world math.
Filed under: Web Resources | Comments Off on Get the Math!
Tags: algebra, applied mathematics, fashion, Get the Math, Internet Resources, Mathematics, music, Resources for Teachers, STEM education, Web Resources
In this activity, students in grades 7 to 9 will learn how to take a bearing with a compass and find an object in their classroom.
Are your students vexed by vectors or mystified by electricity? MIT’s Open Courseware offers a series of videos designed to help students learn these and other pivotal concepts in science, technology, engineering, mathematics that are the building blocks of many engineering curricula.
In this activity, students in grades 4 to 8 use LEGO spur gears to learn about different types of gears and how they are used in many engineering devices, including bicycles, to change the speed, torque, and direction of a power source.
In this activity, elementary students in grades 3 to 5 learn about reverse engineering and how to collect and represent data graphically by investigating different balls and their abilities to bounce.
In this quick, fun activity, pairs of students in grades 2 – 8 will learn about industrial engineering and measurement by estimating how many times a partner can complete a task in one minute, then checking the estimate against actual performance. Students then can discuss ways to improve their performance and try again.
In this activity, students working in pairs learn basic computer programming and software engineering concepts by building an obstacle course, then steering a blindfolded friend through it by using a series of commands. They re-run the maze to improve on their “program.”
Looking for a way to make probability come to life in your multicultural math class or give students a hands-on feel for fundamental calculus concepts? The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for for Astrophysics has compiled an extensive digital video library designed to enhance the understanding and teaching of K-12 STEM that includes with activities, assessment tools, and case studies – all developed by teachers for use in their classrooms. The 1,017 films are searchable by strand, national or state content standards, and instructional criteria such as engaging students in real-world problems.
Sustainability is the theme of this year’s Mathematics Awareness Month. Teachers will find plenty of activities, contests, and other free educational resources that link math with environmental applications, including the Energy Challenge, which teaches students the mathematics of their school’s energy use and then has them develop and implement an action plan to reduce energy consumption.
