Browse lesson plans

Percent problem solving

Students apply their knowledge of fractions, decimals, and percents to understand the relationship amongst the three. Students will solve basic percent number problems using the percent proportion or other methods and play a game using a resource of the Shodor Education Foundation, Inc. Permission has been granted to use the materials as part of the Interactivate Your Bored Math Students workshop. Students will also analyze and explain the results of their game by answering two exploration questions.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–7 Mathematics)

By Victoria Lunetta.

Reindeer boots

Children will use problem-solving techniques to answer the question, “How many boots will Santa need for his reindeer?”

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 Mathematics)

By Vanette Hann.

Rocket launch

Students will work individually and in collaborative pairs or groups to solve a rocket-launch problem. The pairs/groups will then present potential solutions to the class for discussion. Similar problems will then be solved and created by students.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4–5 Mathematics)

By Ron Hann.

See how they run!: The 100 meter dash

Middle level students will collect times as they run the 100 meter dash. These times will be depicted through various graphic representations (bar, circle, histogram). Times will be compared to current world records for the 100 meters. Students will decide which Math class ran fastest and support that choice in short essay form. They will also try to determine the faster gender based on the data collected.

This lesson plan is a unit filled with related lesson plans. One or two parts of this project could be completed as a stand-alone lesson, or the entire set of activities and extensions could be completed for an involved, integrated unit.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)

By Holly Smith.

Resources on the web

Giant story problems: Reading comprehension through math problem solving

This ReadWriteThink activity focuses on reading comprehension skills as they apply to mathematics story problems, as well as on written and verbal mathematics communication skills. Students use drawings, equations, and written responses to solve single... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 English Language Arts and Mathematics)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

K-12 Statistics Page

Innovative, standards-based, technology-intensive mathematics and science instruction at the K-16 levels. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: Office for Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Talking, writing, and reasoning: Making thinking visible with math journals

Students are encouraged to talk about and record their attempts at math problems as they work and record solutions, strategies, and other observations. As an opening activity, students explore their thoughts about math in journals and share them with classmates.... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts and Mathematics)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

What's the beat?

This lesson emphasizes the connections between science and mathematics by using a performance, or authentic, assessment format. Students explore applications involving their own heart. In this activity, students use the average adult's number of heartbeats... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations