Source: Ken Burns American Stories
Explore historical and modern materials and construction of baseballs and perform calculations using various methods to discover the volume and surface area of a sphere.
Grade Level: 6-8
Subjects: Health & Fitness, Math
Topics: Sports. Geometry and Spatial Sense. Measurement.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Wonders Of The African World
Construct a three-dimensional model of a geometric pyramid using measurement and engineering skills. Explore the different theories of how the Egyptian pyramids were constructed, and test the practical application of the multiple ramp theory.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Math, Social Studies
Topics: Geometry and Spatial Sense. Measurement. Archeology. World History: 4000-1000 BCE.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Mathline
Describe symmetry of reflection, rotation and translation. Examine nine corporate logos for symmetry, and create an original logo using geometric shapes and symmetry.
Grade Level: 6-8
Subjects: Math, The Arts
Topics: Applied Mathematics. Geometry and Spatial Sense. Visual Arts.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Mathline
Investigate the way early mathematicians reasoned about mathematics, and research the discovery of the existence of irrational numbers. Examine three historical methods of proving the theorum.
Grade Level: 6-8
Subjects: Math, Social Studies
Topics: Geometry and Spatial Sense. World History: 1000 BCE-300 CE.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Define perimeter, circumference, radius, diameter and area and demonstrate how to draw polygons that are inscribed in a circle and circumscribed around a circle. Estimate the value of pi by duplicating the method Archimedes used.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Math, Social Studies
Topics: Geometry and Spatial Sense. Measurement. World History: 1000 BCE-300 CE.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Mathline
Identify and construct the five regular polyhedra (tetrahedron, hexahedron, octahedron, dodecahedron and icosahedron), and describe basic characteristics, including the number of faces, vertices and edges, about each.
Grade Level: 6-8
Subjects: Math
Topics: Geometry and Spatial Sense.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Investigate the meaning of some of the components represented in the Chenrezig mandala, understand that symmetry is an essential quality of mandalas and create a mandala-style piece of art.
Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8
Subjects: Math, The Arts
Topics: Geometry and Spatial Sense. Patterns and Algebraic Thinking. Visual Arts.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Mathline
Prove the Pythagorean theorem using the method developed by President James A. Garfield, a former public school math teacher.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Math, Social Studies
Topics: Geometry and Spatial Sense. United States History: 1870-1900.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Mathline
Explore the mathematics of architecture by investigating the unusual shapes of some of the rooms in the White House, such as the Blue Room's elliptical shape. Use a graph to plot, draw and determine the equation of an ellipse.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Math, The Arts
Topics: Applied Mathematics. Functions and Algebra. Geometry and Spatial Sense. Architecture.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Mathline
Represent numbers in scientific notation, and use geometry to solve problems related to three-dimensional figures. Explore distance and capacity problems about planets in the solar system.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Math, Science & Tech
Topics: Applied Mathematics. Geometry and Spatial Sense. Numbers and Operations. Atmosphere & Space Science.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Mathline
Construct a tangram puzzle from paper and use geometric terms to name and describe the seven shapes that have been formed. Determine the fractional values of the parts to the original whole, and compare their relative sizes.
Grade Level: 6-8
Subjects: Math
Topics: Geometry and Spatial Sense. Numbers and Operations.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Mathline
Apply the Pythagorean Theorem and analyze a scale drawing to determine the number of bundles of shingles needed to roof a house.
Grade Level: 6-8
Subjects: Math
Topics: Applied Mathematics. Geometry and Spatial Sense. Measurement.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Mathline
Read a diagram and determine the minimum cost of each of the three deck designs, using prices and information about lumber from a chart. Apply the Pythagoreum theorum to calculate nonstandard shapes.
Grade Level: 6-8
Subjects: Math
Topics: Applied Mathematics. Geometry and Spatial Sense. Problem Solving.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: South Carolina ETV: Artopia
Explore the genre of op art through the works of Victor Vasarely and M. C. Escher. Apply aspects of color theory to create hues from primary colors and place them in a tessellation.
Grade Level: 6-8
Subjects: Math, The Arts
Topics: Geometry and Spatial Sense. Art History. Visual Arts.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Mathline
Determine the surface area of various leaves by tracing and measuring their shadows. Determine a formula to find the surface area of the leaves, create a table of values, graph the plots and use it to determine the surface area of other leaves.
Grade Level: 6-8
Subjects: Math
Topics: Geometry and Spatial Sense. Measurement.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Give a basic definition of a fullerene, construct a paper model of the 60-carbon-atom buckyball and discuss findings that there may be other types of fullerenes based on hexagons and pentagons.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Math, Science & Tech
Topics: Geometry and Spatial Sense. Chemistry. Design & Invention. Atomic.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Mathline
Apply mathematical modeling to solve a real-world problem in which a manufacturing company is given two options for storing oil barrels. Decide which size and shape of storage unit will provide the most inexpensive space to store the containers.
Grade Level: 6-8
Subjects: Math
Topics: Applied Mathematics. Geometry and Spatial Sense. Numbers and Operations.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Understand how to determine latitude and locate specific stars in the night sky. Describe what an astrolabe is and determine latitude by using an astrolabe.
Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8
Subjects: Math, Science & Tech
Topics: Geometry and Spatial Sense. Measurement. Atmosphere & Space Science. Navigation.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Nature
Examine the similarities between crocodiles and humans by comparing skeletal structure and body parts. Estimate the height of a person based on the ratio of height to armspan, then create a supersize croc image using grids to replicate proportions.
Grade Level: 6-8
Subjects: Math, Science & Tech
Topics: Geometry and Spatial Sense. Numbers and Operations. Animals: Reptiles & Amphibians. Human Biology.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Define the geometric principle "perspective," assemble a distorted room using a template and investigate how geometry plays a role in perspective.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Math
Topics: Geometry and Spatial Sense.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Understand how string theory supports the idea that the universe is made up of more than the four commonly experienced spacetime dimensions and consider how more than three spatial dimensions could exist in the universe.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Math, Science & Tech
Topics: Geometry and Spatial Sense. Chemistry. Motion & Forces. Atomic.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Determine a common definition for the term "curve," construct a simple curve, explain the patterns students notice among the segments that make up each curve and determine if the definition should change based on what is now known.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Math
Topics: Geometry and Spatial Sense.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Mathline
Create a tessellation and examine geometric patterns using pattern blocks. Create original designs for a tiled plaza.
Grade Level: 6-8
Subjects: Math
Topics: Applied Mathematics. Geometry and Spatial Sense.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Examine the geometric process known as triangulation and simulate the Global Positioning System by using triangulation to locate a target.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Math
Topics: Geometry and Spatial Sense. Measurement.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Mathline
Devise procedures for using a protractor to measure the number of degrees in an angle, and use inductive reasoning to develop "angle sense." Describe circumstances and careers that require a working knowledge of angles and their measurements.
Grade Level: 6-8
Subjects: Math
Topics: Applied Mathematics. Geometry and Spatial Sense.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
