Hands-on math projects with real-life applications

Hands-On Math Projects with Real-Life Applications , Second Edition offers an exciting collection of 60 hands-on projects to help students in grades 6--12 apply math concepts and skills to solving everyday, real-life problems! The book is filled with classroom-tested projects that emphasize: cooperative learning, group sharing, verbalizing concepts and ideas, efficient researching, and writing clearly in mathematics and across other subject areas. Each project achieves the goal of helping to build skills in problem solving, critical thinking, and decision making, and supports an environment in which positive group dynamics flourish.

Each of the projects follows the same proven format and includes instructions for the teacher, a Student Guide, and one or more reproducible datasheets and worksheets. They all include the elements needed for a successful individual or group learning experience. The projects are easily implemented and can stand alone, and they can be used with students of various grade levels and abilities.

This thoroughly revised edition of the bestseller includes some new projects, as well as fresh information about technology-based and e-learning strategies and enhancements; No Child Left Behind standards; innovative teaching suggestions with activities, exercises, and standards-based objectives; reading and literacy connections; and guidelines and objectives for group and team-building projects.

Hands-On Math Projects with Real-Life Applications is printed in a lay-flat format, for easy photocopying and to help you quickly find appropriate projects to meet the diverse needs of your students, and it includes a special Skills Index that identifies the skills emphasized in each project. This book will save you time and help you instill in your students a genuine appreciation for the world of mathematics.

"The projects in this book will enable teachers to broaden their instructional program and provide their students with activities that require the application of math skills to solve real-life problems. This book will help students to realize the relevance and scope of mathematics in their lives."
-- Melissa Taylor , middle school mathematics teacher, Point Pleasant Borough, New Jersey

Author Notes

Judith A. Muschla has taught mathematics in South River, New Jersey, for over twenty-five years. She was a recipient of the 1990 - 1991 Governor's Teacher Recognition Program award in New Jersey and was named 2002 South River Public School Teacher of the Year.

Gary Robert Muschla , prolific author and classroom teacher, taught reading and writing for more than twenty-five years in Spotswood, New Jersey. Including this edition, this is the seventh math resource coauthored by Judith A. Muschla and Gary Robert Muschla. Their earlier books include The Math Teacher's Book of Lists ; Math Starters! ; Geometry Teacher's Activities Kit ; Math Smart! ; Algebra Teacher's Activities Kit ; and Math Games , all published by Jossey-Bass.

About the Authors	p. v
Acknowledgments	p. xv
About This Book	p. xvi
Alignment to National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Standards	p. xvii
How to Use This Resource	p. xix
Part 1 Implementing Projects in the Math Class
Chapter 1 Overview of Projects in the Math Class	p. 3
Your Role	p. 3
Supporting the Standards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics	p. 4
The Teacher's Role During Math Projects	p. 5
Strategies for Problem Solving	p. 6
Problem-Solving Strategies	p. 7
Helping Students Develop Problem-Solving Skills	p. 8
Creating Your Own Projects	p. 9
What It Takes to Become a Top Problem Solver	p. 10
Sources for Developing Math Projects	p. 11
Conclusion	p. 12
Chapter 2 Managing Projects in Your Math Class	p. 13
Structuring Your Class	p. 13
Creating and Maintaining a Positive Environment	p. 15
The Responsibilities of the Math Student	p. 16
The Right Environment	p. 17
Teaching Suggestions	p. 18
Individual and Team Conferences	p. 19
The Value of Cooperative Problem Solving	p. 19
Organizing Teams	p. 20
How to Set up Project Teams	p. 21
Rules for Working in Math Teams	p. 22
The Importance of Sharing	p. 23
Writing in Math Class	p. 24
Using Technology with Math Projects	p. 24
The Writing Process and Math	p. 25
Technology Training	p. 27
Math Projects and the Internet	p. 28
Conclusion	p. 30
Chapter 3 Assessing Math Projects	p. 31
Observation Logs	p. 31
Individual Observation Log	p. 32
Group Observation Log	p. 33
Checklists	p. 34
Possible Assessment Questions	p. 35
Skills Checklist	p. 36
Point Systems for Project Assessment	p. 37
Evaluating Writing	p. 37
Grading Projects Using a Point System	p. 38
Suggestions for Grading Writing in Math Class	p. 39
Self-Assessment	p. 40
Conclusion	p. 40
Student Self-Assessment	p. 41
Teacher Self-Assessment	p. 42
Part 2 The Projects
Section 1 Math and Science
Project 1 The Benefits of Recycling	p. 47
Student Guide 1.1 The Benefits of Recycling	p. 50
Data Sheet 1.2 Some Facts About Recycling	p. 52
Project 2 Endangered Species: Can They Be Saved?	p. 53
Student Guide 2.1 Endangered Species: Can They Be Saved?	p. 56
Data Sheet 2.2 Examples of Endangered Animals	p. 58
Data Sheet 2.3 Some Facts About Endangered Species	p. 59
Project 3 Charting Your Calories	p. 60
Student Guide 3.1 Charting Your Calories	p. 63
Worksheet 3.2 A Daily Calorie Chart	p. 65
Project 4 How Many Calories Do You Burn Each Day?	p. 66
Student Guide 4.1 How Many Calories Do You Burn Each Day?	p. 69
Data Sheet 4.2 Caloric Expenditure and Physical Activities	p. 71
Worksheet 4.3 A Daily Activity Chart	p. 72
Project 5 It Is Only Natural	p. 73
Student Guide 5.1 It Is Only Natural	p. 76
Data Sheet 5.2 Math in Nature	p. 77
Project 6 Designing a Flower Bed	p. 78
Student Guide 6.1 Designing a Flower Bed	p. 81
Data Sheet 6.2 Facts and Prices of Selected Plants	p. 83
Worksheet 6.3 Centimeter Grid	p. 85
Project 7 Buying a Class Aquarium	p. 86
Student Guide 7.1 Buying a Class Aquarium	p. 89
Data Sheet 7.2 Aquariums and Accessories	p. 91
Project 8 The School's New Lunch Program	p. 92
Student Guide 8.1 The School's New Lunch Program	p. 95
Data Sheet 8.2 School Lunch Program	p. 97
Worksheet 8.3 A Five-Day Menu	p. 98
Project 9 What Is the Weather?	p. 99
Student Guide 9.1 What Is the Weather?	p. 102
Data Sheet 9.2 Weather Words	p. 104
Project 10 A Flight to Mars	p. 106
Student Guide 10.1 A Flight to Mars	p. 109
Data Sheet 10.2 Information About the Red Planet	p. 111
Section 2 Math and Social Studies
Project 11 A Great Mathematician	p. 115
Student Guide, 11.1 A Great Mathematician	p. 118
Data Sheet 11.2 Math Greats	p. 120
Project 12 An Election Poll	p. 121
Student Guide 12.1 An Election Poll	p. 125
Data Sheet 12.2 Poll Points	p. 127
Project 13 Landmarks	p. 129
Student Guide 13.1 Landmarks	p. 132
Data Sheet 13.2 Steps to Enlarging a Pattern	p. 134
Project 14 Creating a Scale Map	p. 135
Student Guide 14.1 Creating a Scale Map	p. 138
Data Sheet, 14.2 How to Make a Map	p. 140
Project 15 A Game: What Date Is That?	p. 141
Student Guide 15.1 A Game: What Date Is That?	p. 144
Data Sheet, 15.2 Ancient Number Systems	p. 146
Project 16 An Interview to Math's Past	p. 148
Student Guide 16.1 An Interview to Math's Past	p. 151
Data Sheet 16.2 Tips for Conducting Effective Interviews	p. 153
Project 17 Rating Consumer Products	p. 154
Student Guide 17.1 Rating Consumer Products	p. 157
Data Sheet 17.2 Tips for Comparing Some Everyday Products	p. 159
Project 18 Lands of Ethnic Origin: A Statistical Potpourri	p. 160
Student Guide 18.1 Lands of Ethnic Origin: A Statistical Potpourri	p. 163
Data Sheet 18.2 Tips for Creating a Country's Fact Profile Sheet	p. 164
Project 19 A Land of Immigrants	p. 166
Student Guide 19.1 A Land of Immigrants	p. 169
Data Sheet 19.2 Researching Immigration	p. 170
Project 20 The Games People Play	p. 171
Student Guide 20.1 The Games People Play	p. 174
Data Sheet 20.2 Games from Around the World	p. 176
Project 21 Back to the Past	p. 177
Student Guide 21.1 Back to the Past	p. 180
Data Sheet 21.2 An Outline to Organization	p. 181
Section 3 Math and Language
Project 22 Becoming the Experts	p. 185
Student Guide 22.1 Becoming the Experts	p. 188
Data Sheet 22.2 A Student Sample Lesson Plan Guide	p. 190
Worksheet 22.3 A Sample Lesson Plan	p. 191
Project 23 Great Debates	p. 192
Student Guide 23.1 Great Debates	p. 195
Data Sheet 23.2 An Informal Debate Structure	p. 197
Project 24 The Mathematics Publishing Company	p. 198
Student Guide 24.1 The Mathematics Publishing Company	p. 201
Data Sheet 24.2 Possible Ideas for a Math Magazine	p. 203
Project 25 Rating Math Web Sites	p. 204
Student Guide 25.1 Rating Math Web Sites	p. 206
Data Sheet 25.2 Tips for Rating Math Web Sites	p. 208
Project 26 Fictional Numbers: Writing a Story	p. 209
Student Guide 26.1 Fictional Numbers: Writing a Story	p. 211
Data Sheet 26.2 A Revision Checklist for Stories	p. 213
Project 27 A Mathematical Autobiography	p. 214
Student Guide 27.1 A Mathematical Autobiography	p. 217
Data Sheet 27.2 Organizing Your Autobiography	p. 219
Project 28 Puzzling	p. 220
Student Guide 28.1 Puzzling	p. 223
Data Sheet 28.2 Puzzles, Puzzles, Puzzles	p. 225
Project 29 Lending a Math Hand	p. 228
Student Guide 29.1 Lending a Math Hand	p. 231
Data Sheet 29.2 Creating a Math Booklet	p. 233
Project 30 Sharing the Math Word	p. 234
Student Guide 30.1 Sharing the Math Word	p. 237
Data Sheet 30.2 A Sample Query Letter	p. 239
Project 31 Keeping a Math Journal	p. 240
Student Guide 31.1 Keeping a Math Journal	p. 243
Data Sheet 31.2 Some Ideas for Math Journals	p. 244
Project 32 Math Portfolios	p. 245
Student Guide 32.1 Math Portfolios	p. 248
Data Sheet 32.2 Portfolio Assessment Criteria	p. 250
Section 4 Math and Art and Music
Project 33 Making a Math Poster	p. 253
Student Guide 33.1 Making a Math Poster	p. 255
Data Sheet 33.2 Pointers About Posters	p. 257
Project 34 Creating a Logo	p. 258
Student Guide 34.1 Creating a Logo	p. 261
Data Sheet 34.2 Creating an Effective Logo	p. 263
Project 35 I Wanna Be Like Escher	p. 264
Student Guide 35.1 I Wanna Be Like Escher	p. 267
Data Sheet 35.2 Polygon Patterns	p. 268
Data Sheet 35.3 Steps to Making an Escher-Like Drawing	p. 269
Worksheet 35.4 Isometric Dot Paper	p. 270
Project 36 The Plus and Minus Comic Strip	p. 271
Student Guide 36.1 The Plus and Minus Comic Strip	p. 274
Data Sheet 36.2 Comic Tips	p. 276
Project 37 Numbers and Songs	p. 277
Student Guide 37.1 Numbers and Songs	p. 280
Data Sheet 37.2 Tips for Writing Lyrics and Music	p. 282
Worksheet 37.3 Music Sheet	p. 283
Project 38 The Math in Music	p. 284
Student Guide 38.1 The Math in Music	p. 286
Data Sheet 38.2 Tips for Essay Writing	p. 287
Project 39 Making Three-Dimensional Octahedra and Classroom Decorations	p. 288
Student Guide 39.1 Making Three-Dimensional Octahedra and Classroom Decorations	p. 291
Data Sheet 39.2 Constructing a Three-Dimensional Octahedron	p. 293
Project 40 Creating a Greeting Card for Math Awareness Month	p. 294
Student Guide 40.1 Creating a Greeting Card for Math Awareness Month	p. 297
Data Sheet 40.2 Tips for Creating Math Greeting Cards	p. 299
Project 41 The Geometry and Art of Architecture	p. 300
Student Guide 41.1 The Geometry and Art of Architecture	p. 303
Data Sheet 41.2 Famous Architecture Around the World	p. 305
Project 42 Designing a Quilt Pattern	p. 307
Student Guide 42.1 Designing a Quilt Pattern	p. 310
Data Sheet 42.2 Creating a One-Patch Quilt Design	p. 312
Worksheet 42.3 Quilt Design	p. 313
Section 5 Math and Sports and Recreation
Project 43 Choosing a Membership Plan at a Health Club	p. 317
Student Guide 43.1 Choosing a Membership Plan at a Health Club	p. 320
Data Sheet 43.2 Power Health Club Membership Plans	p. 322
Project 44 Equipment for the School's Workout Room	p. 323
Student Guide 44.1 Equipment for the School's Workout Room	p. 326
Data Sheet 44.2 The Cost of Exercising	p. 328
Worksheet 44.3 Gym Equipment Order Form	p. 330
Project 45 Comparing Sports Superstars	p. 331
Student Guide 45.1 Comparing Sports Superstars	p. 334
Worksheet 45.2 Sports Superstars	p. 336
Project 46 Math and the Big Game	p. 337
Student Guide 46.1 Math and the Big Game	p. 340
Worksheet 46.2 Tracking the Stats	p. 342
Project 47 Your Unique Exercise Program	p. 343
Student Guide 47.1 Your Unique Exercise Program	p. 346
Data Sheet 47.2 Your Training Range	p. 349
Project 48 The Big Dance	p. 351
Student Guide 48.1 The Big Dance	p. 354
Data Sheet 48.2 The Costs of a Big Dance	p. 356
Worksheet 48.3 The Big Dance Cost/Revenue Tally Sheet	p. 357
Project 49 The Numbers Game	p. 358
Student Guide 49.1 The Numbers Game	p. 361
Worksheet 49.2 Number Phrases	p. 362
Project 50 Planning a Sundae Party	p. 365
Student Guide 50.1 Planning a Sundae Party	p. 369
Data Sheet 50.2 Prices for a Sundae Party	p. 371
Worksheet 50.3 Tallying the Costs of a Sundae Party	p. 372
Project 51 Going on Vacation	p. 373
Student Guide 51.1 Going on Vacation	p. 376
Data Sheet 51.2 The Costs of a Great Vacation	p. 378
Worksheet 51.3 Calculating Vacation Costs	p. 379
Section 6 Math and Life Skills
Project 52 Making a Budget	p. 383
Student Guide 52.1 Making a Budget	p. 386
Data Sheet 52.2 Tips for Making a Budget	p. 388
Worksheet 52.3 Working on Your Budget	p. 389
Project 53 A Floor Plan of My Room	p. 390
Student Guide 53.1 A Floor Plan of My Room	p. 393
Data Sheet 53.2 How to Measure a Room	p. 395
Worksheet 53.3 A Grid for a Floor Plan	p. 396
Project 54 The Costs of Pets	p. 397
Student Guide 54.1 The Costs of Pets	p. 400
Data Sheet 54.2 Cost Factors to Consider in Choosing a Pet	p. 402
Project 55 Maintaining a Math Class Web Site	p. 403
Student Guide 55.1 Maintaining a Math Class Web Site	p. 407
Data Sheet 55.2 Tips for Building a Web Site	p. 409
Project 56 Selecting a Sound System Using the Internet	p. 410
Student Guide 56.1 Selecting a Sound System Using the Internet	p. 413
Worksheet 56.2 The Best Sound System	p. 414
Project 57 Buying a Car	p. 415
Student Guide 57.1 Buying a Car	p. 418
Data Sheet 57.2 Car Costs	p. 420
Worksheet 57.3 A Car Buyer's Cost Sheet	p. 421
Project 58 What Is on the Test?	p. 422
Student Guide 58.1 What Is on the Test?	p. 425
Data Sheet 58.2 Elements of a Good Math Test	p. 427
Project 59 Checks and Balances	p. 428
Student Guide 59.1 Checks and Balances	p. 431
Data Sheet 59.2 Keeping a Balanced Checking Account	p. 433
Data Sheet 59.3 Debits, Credits, and ATMs	p. 434
Worksheet 59.4 Practice Checks	p. 435
Worksheet 59.5 A Check Register and Deposit Forms	p. 436
Project 60 Math in My Life: An Assessment	p. 437
Student Guide 60.1 Math in My Life: An Assessment	p. 440

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