Browse lesson plans

Resources on the web

Begin with buttons: Looking back and moving forward

This Illuminations lesson is the last of an eight-part unit titled “Begin With Buttons.” In this lesson, students review the work of the previous lessons through a variety of activity stations, one of which involves using an interactive website.... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

The clucking chicken

Students learn about data analysis and probability in this lesson, using a box plot to identify the mean, mode, median and range of the data set. As an introductory activity, students work in small groups to find the mode and range of the number of letters... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Eye to eye

In this Illuminations lesson, students learn to pose mathematical questions about themselves and their surroundings through class and small group discussion. They gather data about eye color from their classmates and another group of students within their... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

How to bag it?

Students participate in an activity in which they investigate the data in connection with recyclable materials and develop plans to help the environment. Students discuss the pros and cons of using various types of bags at the grocery store. Classmates... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Pizza at home

Students survey members of their community to determine preferences about pizza. Students compare their results with their classmates and create graphs of their data. Illuminations provides an activity sheet and detailed instructions for completing the... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

The pizza palace

In this activity, students will construct box plots independently and will identify the mean, median, mode, and range of a set of data. Illuminations provides a handout, a link to the box plot tool, and detailed instructions for completing the lesson.... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Plastic packaging

Students participate in an activity in which they investigate the data in connection with recyclable materials and develop plans to help the environment. Specifically, students explore recycling plastic containers. After engaging students in discussion... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Shirts full of buttons

This lesson is one of an 8-part unit from Illuminations titled “Shirts Full of Buttons.” In this lesson students explore subtraction in the comparative mode by answering questions such as “How many more?” and “How many less?”... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Spreadsheets and census data

Students organize the data collected about county populations into a spreadsheet and create a graph to help them better understand the data. Using information from activities completed in previous sessions, students explore different methods of displaying... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

State data

Students create graphs based on the characteristics of the names of the 50 States, and find measures of center and of spread. Illuminations provides grid paper, a link to a state data map applet, and detailed instructions for completing the lesson.... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations