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Units & Lessons by Topic

Bacteria Growth

  • Are you faster than Bacteria? by Rupert Cox

    • Overview:
      This unit is designed to use the concept of bacteria growth to explore exponential equations. The students will analyze data on bacteria growth and determine the equation of the curve of best fit for different bacteria. There are three lessons in this unit. The first lesson focuses on developing an understanding of how bacteria reproduce and how to model this mathematically. Students will use TI Nspire graphing calculators to assist them with this task. In the second lesson, students will use the graphing calculator to determine the equation for bacterial growth from different sets of data. The students would then make predictions based on their findings. In the third lesson the students will examine the complete life cycle of a colony of bacteria and use a polynomial equation for medicine concentration in the blood over time to simulate an antibiotic sure to a sickness.

      Strand:
    • Algebra
    • Data Analysis
    • Probability

  • Transformational Graphing in the Real Word by Donna Deplazes

    • Overview:
      This unit specifically addresses the concept of transformational graphing. Absolute value, polynomial, and square root functions will be examined.

      Strand:
    • Algebra

Crime Scene Investigation

  • Catch Me If You Can! by Jennifer Sprouse and Lindsay Stacy

    • Overview:
      The purpose of this unit is to use random acts of disorderly conduct to connect geometry and algebra concepts to real world applications. These concepts include, but are not limited to, distance, equations of the curve of best fit, similar geometric objects in two or three dimensions, right triangle trigonometry, and evaluating functions.

      Strand:
    • Geometry
    • Algebra I
    • Algebra II

  • The Pythagorean Theorem in Crime Scene Investigation by Jason Burgard and Kari Frenz

    • Overview:
      Students are asked to solve a series of crimes using critical thinking, science and math skills. As they move through the coursework and complete exploration tasks and activities, they investigate and gradually discover who, what, when, where and how of this plotted series of crimes. Ultimately the students solve the case to see how it’s happening and who is involved.

      Strand:
    • Geometry

Culinary Arts

  • Fun with Solids by Laurie Blanks, Elizabeth Hume, and Levi Jaynes

    • Overview:
      The purpose of this lesson is to solve real-world problems related to surface area and volume of three-dimensional objects. Students will begin each lesson by "discovering" the formulas for surface area and volume of specific three- dimensional objects: rectangular prisms, cylinders, cones, spheres, and pyramids. After each formula has been found, students will then use those formulas to investigate real-world problems.

      Strand:
    • Geometry

Down on the farm

  • Down on Sue's Farm by Shauna Knarr, Julia Schiesser, and Monica Tomasik

    • Overview:
      On Sue's farm, she is presented with several real world scenarios that Sue needs to solve. She has been faced with different problems and needs solutions to each individual problem. This unit has five lessons that pose different real world situations that she needs to solve by making cost effective decisions. Students are going to be guided through the proposed scenarios using the handouts provided to solve the problems the way Sue wants. Each of the five lessons incorporates concepts of surface area, volume, or both for three-dimensional objects such as sheds, hay bales, storage boxes, silos, and pools. Each lesson gets more rigorous from one to the other. Prior knowledge gained from each lesson will be needed to help students work comfortably and successfully through each subsequent lesson.

      Strand:
    • Algebra
    • Geometry
    • Data Analysis

Engineering/Architecture/Home Improvement

  • Building Your Own Home by Abby Smith, Paul Reese, and Matthew Browning

    • Overview:
      This unit will focus on helping students understand what they need to know about building a house and what math is involved in the process.

      Strand:
    • Geometry

  • How to Build a Happy Home by Kelly Day, Scott Larimer, and Christina Perdue

    • Overview:
      The unit will couple a real-world application of designing a home and exterior landscape with the use of trigonometry including the Pythagorean Theorem and its converse. Students will use mathematical modeling and right triangle trigonometry to solve problems regarding this topic.

      Strand:
    • Geometry
    • Algebra
    • Measurement

  • Quadrilaterals by Terri Preston and Abby Smith

    • Overview:
      The goal of this unit is for students to understand the definition of special quadrilaterals and their properties. Students will learn the importance of constructing the quadrilateral accurately according the properties of the quadrilateral. Quadrilaterals are in our everyday life and are often relied up in construction and design. The application projects require students to think about manipulating the shapes to fit a design. In each application project, students must construct the shapes to reinforce construction skills. In this five-lesson unit, students will generate their own definitions of special quadrilaterals. Classroom definitions will be agreed upon to use for the rest of the unit. Students will next explore using Geogebra to list the properties of the quadrilaterals. We then have a design project where students must create an accurate diagram to apply shadowbox molding in a room and staircase. Finally, students will use the special quadrilaterals to design and create their own quilt.

      Strand:
    • The student will verify characteristics of quadrilaterals and use properties of quadrilaterals to solve real-world problems.

  • Subdivision Design and Quadrilaterals by Kelly Blackwell, Robin Malone, and Jennifer Sprouse

    • Overview:
      In the unit Subdivision Design and Quadrilaterals, the students will use the quadrilaterals and their properties to design a subdivision. The students will subdivide a given plot of land into multiple lots to make a neighborhood. In the following lessons, they will create model house plans for their subdivision, design a playground area and equipment using quadrilaterals and 3-dimensional figures, and use local economics to decide prices for the lots as well as the houses. The final product will be a full plan for a subdivision ready for marketing with realtors to begin development. As part of this unit, students will do multiple levels of research to identify design ideas, safety codes, and local property values. Collaboration with local developers, architects and realtors will also be encouraged in this unit.

      Strand:
    • Geometry
    • Measurement
    • Data Analysis and Probability

  • The Puppy's Empire by Leslie Cumbow and Lindsay Stacy

    • Overview:
      The purpose of this unit is to use the adoption of a new dog of the teacher's choosing to connect geometry and algebra concepts to real world applications. These concepts include, but are not limited to, distance, equations of a circle, area of regular polygons, right triangle trigonometry, and evaluating functions.

      Strand:
    • Geometry
    • Algebra I
    • Algebra II

  • The Ultimate Kitchen Renovation by Sarah Dulaney, Melissa Harnist, and Shannon Royall Harrell

    • Overview:
      This unit emphasizes the relationship among and real-world applications of quadrilaterals. It is essential that students explore practical applications of mathematics in the high school setting. This unit encompasses an overarching project that involves the student assuming the roles of both designer and contractor for a kitchen renovation. Throughout the process of the renovation, students will need to assess the area of the kitchen using scaled blueprints, design a tessellated tile pattern for the floor, and conduct a cost-analysis to determine a projected cost for the project.

      Strand:
    • Geometry

  • The Wheels on the Bus by Thomas Abernethy, Jr. and Hedy Keller

    • Overview:
      This unit will allow students to use their knowledge of proportional reasoning, specifically scale factor and scale drawing, and direct variation to devise an alternate school bus transportation proposal for the high school in our county.

      Strand:
    • Geometry
    • Measurement
    • Ratios & Proportions
    • Direct Variation
    • Logic & Reasoning
    • Statistics

  • Next Top Model by Christine Belcher, Stephanie Brady, and Hedy Keller

    • Overview:
      This unit will allow students to use their knowledge of proportional reasoning and similar geometric figures to explore how 2-dimensional models are used to represent 3- dimensional objects and spaces. They will then apply their knowledge of similarity to create their own 2-dimensional models. Students will then explore how 3-dimensional models are created to represent large objects, and how such models are interpreted and used to design and plan projects. Students will then explore how changes in dimension affect similar objects, and the models which represent them.

      Strand:
    • Geometry
    • Measurement

  • Google Earth Trip by Hannah Holmes and Sue Jenkins

    • Overview:
      Students will use pictorial representations of real life objects to investigate geometric formulas, relationships, symmetry and transformations.

      Strand:
    • Geometry

  • Parallel Lines, Transversals, and Angles: What's the connection? by Melinda Batalias, Vona Falls, and Levi Jaynes

    • Overview:
      This unit will review basic geometric vocabulary involving parallel lines, transversals, angles, and the tools used to create and verify the geometric relationships. This unit will investigate the relationship between angles formed when parallel lines are cut by a transversal. This unit will explore four methods for proving lines are parallel when given angle relationships.

      Strand:
    • Geometry

  • Fun with Solids by Laurie Blanks, Elizabeth Hume, and Levi Jaynes

    • Overview:
      The purpose of this lesson is to solve real-world problems related to surface area and volume of three-dimensional objects. Students will begin each lesson by "discovering" the formulas for surface area and volume of specific three- dimensional objects: rectangular prisms, cylinders, cones, spheres, and pyramids. After each formula has been found, students will then use those formulas to investigate real-world problems.

      Strand:
    • Geometry

  • Transformational Graphing in the Real Word by Donna Deplazes

    • Overview:
      This unit specifically addresses the concept of transformational graphing. Absolute value, polynomial, and square root functions will be examined.

      Strand:
    • Algebra

  • Real Life Parallels by Kimberly Emory

    • Overview:
      Each lesson uses the definition and properties of parallel lines cut by a transversal to explore real world problems and situations and create projects using these concepts. The first has students finding actual examples of real-life parallel lines, the second uses them to make an artistic creation using parallel lines and then uses them to solve real- world problems, and finally in the third parallel lines are used to create maps of make- believe cities and then their properties are used to create a tour of their city.

      Strand:
    • Geometry

  • Building a House by Kristina Green and Nancy Nelson

    • Overview:
      In this unit, Building a House using Geometry, the students will construct a house using geometric strategies. Students will incorporate constructions, quadrilateral and triangle properties, and technology. The main goal of this unit is to show students how geometry is intertwined in real world applications. This unit will build upon the fundamentals of geometry. This unit will show students how each topic spirals and connects to the previous topic learned in Geometry. This unit will begin with students learning to construct quadrilaterals and triangles. As the unit progresses the students will have an opportunity to interact with community architects and county and/or city housing officials. As the unit proceeds the students will build their house by applying the concepts of topics learned in the course. Once students have completed the foundational lessons of this unit, they will then build their own house.

      Strand:
    • Geometry

  • Ramp it Up by Lynn Miller-Jones

    • Overview:
      The purpose of this unit is to get students familiar with how rate of change is associated with slopes and how that rate of change is used to build ramps designed for wheelchair accessibility.

      Strand:
    • Algebra

  • Parallel Lines Cut by a Transversal by Darlene Walstrum

    • Overview:
      The goal of this unit is for students to understand the angle theorems related to parallel lines. This is important not only for the mathematics course, but also in connection to the real world as parallel lines are used in designing buildings, airport runways, roads, railroad tracks, bridges, and so much more. Students will work cooperatively in groups to apply the angle theorems to prove lines parallel, to practice geometric proof and discover the connections to other topics including relationships with triangles and geometric constructions.

      Strand:
    • Geometry

  • Are Kitchen Cabinets at the Correct Height? by Lauren LaVenture and Brandon Taylor

    • Overview:
      During this unit students will investigate the many aspects of the Normal Distribution using height data collected from females in the class. In the following six lesson plans students will compare normal data to data that is not normal; use percentiles and the Empirical Rule to make inferences about the height data; normalize the data using z scores; find various probabilities, regarding female height, using the area under the normal curve; discuss the need for the Central Limit Theorem; and apply the normal distribution to confidence intervals and hypothesis testing. By the end of the unit students will understand the "normal" range of female heights and then compare this to the height of kitchen cabinets. Finally, students will use the analysis of heights, and any other form of persuasion, to argue if kitchen cabinets should or should not be placed at a different height.

      Strand:
    • Data Analysis
    • Probability

  • Natural Disaster Recovery and Quadrilaterals by Jessica Newman

    • Overview:
      In this unit, students will apply their knowledge of quadrilaterals to solve mathematics problems concerning a tornado that struck a small town in Southwest Virginia. Students will verify the properties of quadrilaterals, incorporate the Pythagorean Theorem, and utilize area and perimeter formulas to solve real-world problems.

      Strand:
    • Geometry
    • Measurement

Environmental

  • Being Green - Minimizing the Surface Area of a Soda Can by Lauren LaVenture

    • Overview:
      This unit is designed for high school students to understand the relationship between surface area and volume through a social justice application. Students will work in teams as they are introduced to the calculus topic of optimization to minimize the surface area of a cylinder using the volume as a constraint. First, students will measure a soda can and calculate the volume and surface area. Then they will use an Excel spreadsheet to test new dimensions and choose the one which provides the minimum surface area. Students will design a model using their chosen dimensions. Finally, students will prepare an argument for why or why not soda companies should consider their new design.

      Strand:
    • Geometry

  • Green Acres is the Place to Be! by Amanda Lucas and Donna Deplazes

    • Overview:
      Geometry from a farm perspective! Students will help a farmer make some important decisions based on mathematics – determining how to harvest a crop, maximizing area and volume (storage), designing structures, deciding if figures are similar and realizing the similarity ratios that exist in similar figures. The economics of certain situations are also addressed.

      Strand:
    • Geometry – Three Dimensional Figures

  • Environmental Issues by Amanda Carter, Holly Kidd, and Allena Poles

    • Overview:
      This unit will involve a mathematical exploration of the environment, as well as environmental issues that the students will explore through various methods. They will be shown graphical displays of data and will create their own mathematical models to interpret and predict future environmental issues. Students will also research environmental issues to investigate if their "predictions" are correct.

      Strand:
    • Algebra
    • Geometry
    • Probability and Statistics
    • Problem Solving, Decision Making, and Integration
    • Understanding and Applying Functions

  • Pollution and Curves of Best Fit by Hannah Holmes

    • Overview:
      The purpose of this unit is to have students use curves of best fit to analyze data on pollution in the US.

      Strand:
    • Algebra

Finance

  • Percentages by Jessica Brevard

    • Overview:
      The unit has the purpose of students learning about percentages and its applications to personal finance. Students will be calculating net salaries, possible car payments, and developing and analyzing a personal budget.

      Strand:
    • Number and Operations

  • Buying a Car by Patsy Dickerson

    • Overview:
      In this lesson the student will be asked to search the Internet and find a car that he/she would like to purchase. The student will decide on a down payment and calculate the monthly payment (without interest). He/she will then transform the graph to determine how changing the down payment or changing the monthly payment will affect the life of the loan.

      Strand:
    • Algebra

  • Government Spending by Laurie Danielle Blanks and Levi Jaynes

    • Overview:
      This purpose of this lesson is to have students analyze where the government spends our tax dollars and have them make an informed decision about where the money should be allocated. An introductory activity analyzes where the government is actually spending the tax dollars. The first lesson investigates poverty, the second lesson examines educational spending, the third lesson explores defense spending, and the fourth lesson is on social security. A closing activity will ask the students for their opinion on where the tax dollars should be spent.

      Strand:
    • Algebra
    • Data Analysis and Probability

  • Money & Finance by Elizabeth Hume

    • Overview:
      The purpose of this unit is for students to learn how savings accounts, annuities, loans, and credit cards work. All students need a basic understanding of how to save and spend their money responsibly.

      Strand:
    • Exponential Functions

  • Surviving the Month by Kristina Green and Nancy Nelson

    • Overview:
      Pre-activity and lessons will introduce key components of making a budget. During these first lessons, students will be determining costs of various things, and looking at options from which to make decisions. Then, each student will be given a scenario. For which they will research, make decisions and calculations, and eventually create a monthly budget. This will give students an opportunity to see how mathematics they've learned in a classroom applies in the real-world, while reinforcing and extending skills and concepts they've learned in their Economics and Personal Finance class. This unit is comprised of lessons that build to the final product of creating a monthly budget.

      Strand:
    • Number and Operations

  • The Game of Life...Mathematics Style by Vonna Falls and Alisa Cartledge

    • Overview:
      While discussing graduation and prom plans with a group of juniors and seniors, it was determined that students were going to spend between five hundred to five thousand dollars for these two events. The teacher posed the question "Who is paying for all of this?" The students responded that their moms, dads, and/or grandparents were providing the funds. The next question that the teacher asked was "Do you plan on paying them back?" The majority of the students replied "NO, it is not my responsibility" and a few of them said they would get jobs to pay their own expenses. The comments from the students caused the teacher to realize that these students are not financially responsible. This project is a direct result of the conversation with the students and the realization that they needed to experience the process of making plans based on an established budget. There was a board game, "Life", that was designed to make the players think about family size, income, living spaces, buying cars to accommodate increased family sizes, expenses, career paths, adjusting for the unexpected and how to handle situations that adults experience in everyday life. The game allowed the players to receive pay checks of certain amounts to help them to develop a budget.

      Strand:
    • Algebra

Human Growth

  • Are Kitchen Cabinets at the Correct Height? by Lauren LaVenture and Brandon Taylor

    • Overview:
      During this unit students will investigate the many aspects of the Normal Distribution using height data collected from females in the class. In the following six lesson plans students will compare normal data to data that is not normal; use percentiles and the Empirical Rule to make inferences about the height data; normalize the data using z scores; find various probabilities, regarding female height, using the area under the normal curve; discuss the need for the Central Limit Theorem; and apply the normal distribution to confidence intervals and hypothesis testing. By the end of the unit students will understand the “normal” range of female heights and then compare this to the height of kitchen cabinets. Finally, students will use the analysis of heights, and any other form of persuasion, to argue if kitchen cabinets should or should not be placed at a different height.

      Strand:
    • Data Analysis
    • Probability

Land Development

  • The Science of Surveys by Brittany Blair

    • Overview:
      Students will apply previous knowledge and newly acquired knowledge to develop, distribute, and analyze a meaningful survey about a topic of social interest (Drilling in Alaska). These skills will be applicable in a broad range of fields of interest.

      Strand:
    • Data Analysis
    • Statistics

  • Land Development by Scott Larimer

    • Overview:
      Adding, Subtracting, Multiplying, and Dividing Rational Polynomials. In this lesson, students will develop a mathematical model using a given Land Development Situation. They will use their existing knowledge of operations with polynomials to create this mathematical model and solve the problem. In the mathematical model, they will list simplifying assumptions, discuss how sensitive/robust is the model and will discuss how the operations and resultant functions change if the assumptions change.

      Strand:
    • Algebra

Manufacture

  • Ping Pong Packing by Patsy Dickerson

    • Overview:
      Students will be asked to package ping pong balls in the most efficient packaging possible.

      Strand:
    • Geometry
    • Measurement
    • Problem Solving, Decision Making, and Integration

  • Surface Area and Volume of 3-D Objects by Helen Price

    • Overview:
      Throughout this unit, students will design and budget a fish tank for production focusing on the surface area (amount of glass needed) and volume (amount of water it will hold). Students will need to work within a budget and design requirements for the fish tank in order to not waste materials or funds while at the same time maximizing the space the fish have to move and the view the owner will have. The first lesson will review the understanding of surface area and volume.

      Strand:
    • Geometry

Media

  • How is Your Gender Represented? by Sue Jenkins

    • Overview:
      This unit explores issues of gender representation in the media and in parliamentary bodies worldwide.

      Strand:
    • Data Analysis and Probability

  • Marketing Mayhem: Advertising for Adolescents by Gary Johnson and Kasey Cantrell

    • Overview:
      Students will obtain knowledge of surveys and their applications and use this knowledge to develop, distribute, and analyze a survey of their own creation about marketing strategies and techniques that impact society.

      Strand:
    • Data Analysis and Probability

Natural Disaster

  • Fun with Solids by Laurie Blanks, Elizabeth Hume, and Levi Jaynes

    • Overview:
      The purpose of this lesson is to solve real-world problems related to surface area and volume of three-dimensional objects. Students will begin each lesson by "discovering" the formulas for surface area and volume of specific three- dimensional objects: rectangular prisms, cylinders, cones, spheres, and pyramids. After each formula has been found, students will then use those formulas to investigate real-world problems.

      Strand:
    • Geometry

  • Earthquake Problem by Gayle Jamison

    • Overview:
      The purpose of this unit is to use Earthquakes as a starting point to connect some geometry and algebra concepts to real-world applications. These concepts include distance, circle equations, logarithms, and regression equations.

      Strand:
    • Geometry
    • Algebra

  • Danger! - An analysis of the death toll of natural disasters by Jenny Keith

    • Overview:
      The student will represent data for the death toll of lightning, hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods to determine if there is a "most dangerous" natural disaster in terms of human life. The student will analyze graphical displays of the data including dot plots, stem plots, and histograms, to identify and describe patterns and departures from patterns using central tendency and spread, clusters, gaps, and outliers. Appropriate technology will be used to create graphical displays. The students will argue the importance of warning systems and education about natural disasters. In lesson one, students will investigate the total fatalities for each natural disaster during the years 1940-2009. Groups will analyze the data and decide which graphical representation would best represent their data and present their findings to the class. On day 2, groups will be redesigned to include at least one member from each natural disaster from the day before. Students will determine which graphical representation is best to compare data sets. Students will use technology to present graphical comparisons. On day 3, students will discuss the results to determine if there is a most dangerous storm. Students will use the curve of best fit, if a correlation exists, and use the equation of best fit to make predictions on the data. Students will generate possible explanations for patterns in the data and generate ideas for how to decrease the death toll for natural disasters. Students will also discuss if there is any way to predict the death toll for upcoming years.

      Strand:
    • Data Analysis
    • Probability

  • Right Triangle Applications by Victor Maciel

    • Overview:
      The unit will be covering properties of right triangles, Pythagorean Theorem, Converse of Pythagorean Theorem, special right triangles, and Trigonometry of right triangles. Pythagorean Theorem is covered in Standards for Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Geometry. Pythagorean Theorem and Trigonometry is also covered in College Algebra, Pre-calculus, and Calculus. The lesson also can encompass area of triangles as well.

      Strand:
    • Problem Solving, Decision Making, and Integration

  • Natural Disaster Recovery and Quadrilaterals by Jessica Newman

    • Overview:
      In this unit, students will apply their knowledge of quadrilaterals to solve mathematics problems concerning a tornado that struck a small town in Southwest Virginia. Students will verify the properties of quadrilaterals, incorporate the Pythagorean Theorem, and utilize area and perimeter formulas to solve real-world problems.

      Strand:
    • Geometry
    • Measurement

  • Got Slope? by Tina Nunley

    • Overview:
      The purpose of this unit is to allow students to graph linear equations in two variables from real world data involving tornados. Students will watch tornado videos, gather data, calculate slope, find the equation of the line, graph the equation of the line, perform same process for surrounding states, make predictions about future data, and construct a PowerPoint presentation.

      Strand:
    • Algebra

Nutrition

  • Sleep & Teen Obesity: Is there a Correlation? by Adrienne Ballin

    • Overview:
      In this unit, students will spend three days exploring and interpreting data through the use of tables, charts, and equations, using personally collected data. The amounts of sleep teens get, as well as the staggering rate of obesity in our country, are both important issues that this unit touches on. In addition, students are asked to find flaws in data and not except information at face value. Technology is another important feature of the unit; Excel and/or graphing calculators are used in every lesson.

      Strand:
    • Algebra and Functions

  • Corn and Popcorn by Sarah Whitaker

    • Overview:
      Students will investigate the popularity of corn and popcorn. They will use statistics of corn exports and popcorn sales to predict future sales. Through the use of popcorn, students will investigate the probability of getting all popcorn kernels to pop. Students will display the data in various rational numbers. The results of the popped kernels will be compared to a normal distribution. The confidence intervals will be determined using both types of popcorn. They will then investigate if a name brand of popcorn produces more popped kernels than a generic brand. Using this information, the students will make a decision on which product they would buy based on popped kernels. Lastly, students will determine which snacks are best for their figure and for their budget. They will compare nutritional facts about a variety of snacks and the cost of the snacks to determine the best choice for snacks.

      Strand:
    • Number and Operations
    • Data Analysis
    • Probability

Population Research of Plants and Animals

  • Mathematical Modeling by Cynthia Cowley

    • Overview:
      Students will gain a deeper understanding of the use of polynomial, exponential, and logarithmic functions by applying them to real-world situations including analyzing factors that contribute to automobile accidents in Virginia caused by deer, analyzing road speed and fuel economy, and analyzing the affects of raising the US debt ceiling. They will understand the meaning of the important features of the graphs of these functions, i.e. the intercepts, maximum and/or minimum points, and the asymptotes, and make interpretations in the context of the problems.

      Strand:
    • Data Analysis
    • Probability

  • A Little Devil in Need of Help by Kelly Robinson

    • Overview:
      In this unit students will investigate several fictitious populations of the endangered Tasmanian Devil population. Through the investigation students will focus on relating the solutions to the population equations they develop to the graphs of the equation, the x-intercepts of the graph, the zeros of the equation as well as the factors of polynomial equations as they relate to the Devil population.

      Strand:
    • Algebra

Shape It Up

  • 2 & 3 Dimensional Shapes by Michael Carrow

    • Overview:
      Students will analyze 2 and 3 dimensional shapes in order to solve real world math problems. The first lesson will review formulas for area and allow them to develop volume formulas. The second lesson will compare ratios of perimeter and area of similar figures. The third lesson will compare ratios of volume of similar solids.

      Strand:
    • Geometry
    • Measurement

  • Surface Area and Volume by Tracy Frazier

    • Overview:
      The student will use formulas for surface area and volume of three-dimensional objects to solve real-world problems. Students are going to assist Mr. Lee in determining the volume and surface area of an aquarium, ice-cream cones, and of pyramids. Students are going to be helping Mr. Lee decide which type of ice cream cone will be best for his store inside the aquarium and then will help him decide which type of pyramid is bigger while he is planning a vacation.

      Strand:
    • Geometry

Sports

  • Midsummer Classic's Homerun Derby by Patsy Dickerson

    • Overview:
      Students will be studying the path of a baseball after a major league slugger has hit it.

      Strand:
    • Algebra


  • What is Normal? by Amanda Lucas

    • Overview:
      The purpose of this unit is to allow students to analyze the normal distribution. Students will take a look at the heights of Major League Baseball players, their own heights and shoe sizes to determine percentiles, z-scores, area under the standard normal curve and probability.

      Strand:
    • Data Analysis
    • Probability

  • Right Triangle Sports by Allena Poles, Holly Kidd, and Amanda Mann

    • Overview:
      This unit will be involving the students in mathematical models relating sport ideas along with algebraic properties to understand the Pythagorean Theorem and its converse, properties of special right triangles, and right triangle trigonometry.

      Strand:
    • Geometry
    • Algebra

Society and Mathematics

  • A change in the weather by Christine Belcher and Stephanie Brady

    • Overview:
      This unit will allow students to research climate change and explore ideas regarding trends, causes, implications and recommended courses of actions through data collection, analysis and modeling.

      Strand:
    • Data Analysis
    • Probability

  • Big Future: How SAT scores play a role in college acceptance by Shauna Knarr and Julia Schiesser

    • Overview:
      "Where do you stand?" starts by presenting students with an article about local high school's SAT scores along with a few discussions to get the students to understand the objectives andd purpose of the unit. Next we quickly led into mathematical skills necessary involved to understand statistics and analyzing data. For a few lessons and classes, we will learn how to work with data sets to geta better grasp of what normal distribution means and what it tells us about data sets when comparing two completely different sets of normally distributed data. Once the students are confortable with skills necessary to master statisctics, we will find with an investigation on acceptable SAT scores for college entrance. Students will search for an appropriate school where acceptance based on SAT/ or ACT scores them achievake.

      Strand:
    • Data Analysis
    • Algebra

  • Budgeting your time and money by Mabel Deensie

    • Overview:
      This unit will be a review of statistics, algebra I and geometry materials to understand the benefits of budgeting their time and money so that the students can avoid getting into debt and wasting their time. The students will be using their past knowledge of statistics, equations and percentages to work on these lessons because they build up from their eight grade mathematics content knowledge.

      Strand:
    • Algebra
    • Geometry
    • Data Analysis and Probability

  • Feeding the World by Monica Tomasik

    • Overview:
      There are concerns about protein supplies for the world population and demand outgrowing supply within the next fifty years. This unit has two lessons where the student will analyze data regarding protein supply and population growth. Students are going to be guided through the data using provided handouts and will be using exponential regressions and growth equations to predict future populations and protein consumption.

      Strand:
    • Number and Operations
    • Algebra
    • Data Analysis

  • Fibonacci is All Around by Lynn Miller-Jones

    • Overview:
      The overall purpose of this activity is to explore the many wonders of the Fibonacci Sequence and see how the sequence is related to the Golden Ratio in our own natural habitat. The main focus group is for Algebra 1 or Geometry students to build a better understanding of finding patterns and relationships between patterns and how they can be used with real-world application.

      Strand:
    • Algebra
    • Geometry

  • Function Family Fun by Shannon Royall Harrell, Christina Perdue, and Brian Seely

    • Overview:
      This unit emphasizes the real-world applications of parent functions and their transformations. It is crucial for high school students to have the ability to analyze and interpret data in a practical real-world setting. This unit is comprised of lessons in which students will be given various information and data to use to investigate different parent functions. Students will use GeoGebra to explore and recall properties about the various parent functions (absolute value, square root, cube root, rational, polynomial, exponential, and logarithmic). Students will use this software to consider how each type of transformation affects each parent function to draw conclusions about these similarities (i.e. shifting left or right, or up and down). After reviewing properties of parent functions, students will be given real-world data in order to learn which type of function best models the data set. Then, students will learn how to make predictions and answer questions using their discovered function. These lessons lead to the final project in which students will gather information, determine the best type of function to model their data, and then present their findings to their class.

      Strand:
    • Algebra
    • Data Analysis and Probability

  • How Normal Are You? by Andrew Green and Paul Reese

    • Overview:
      This unit will focus on helping students understand and analyze normally distributed data and make predictions based on the results.

      Strand:
    • Data Analysis

  • Let's buy a car! by Tierny Barksdale, Sarah Dulaney, and Beth Swain

    • Overview:
      The student will analyze graphical displays of univariate data, including dotplots, stemplots, and histograms, to identify and describe patterns and departures from patterns, using central tendency, spread, clusters, gaps, and outliers.

      Strand:
    • Data Analysis and Probability

  • Parallel Lines Cut By a Transversal by Whitney Wall Bortz, Rachel Hall, and Adam Keith

    • Overview:
      The goal of this unit is for students to understand the angles and the properties related to parallel lines. Students will learn multiple methods for verifying that lines are parallel. They will also understand the relationship of parallel lines to transversal lines. It is important for students to see that mathematical concepts serve as useful means to solving problems that affect our everyday lives. Parallel lines are important to understand not only for a mathematics course, but also in everyday life such as in the design of airports, railways, bridges, buildings and many more geometric components of the real world.

      Strand:
    • Geometry

  • Real World Data by Melanie Haupt and Robin Malone

    • Overview:
      This unit will be about Real World Data and the graphs that can be created from them. The students will either use given data, gather their own data via surveys, etc., or use internet sources to collect data. In the five connected lessons in this unit, the students will then create various graphs using Excel, including linear, exponential, logarithmic, and quadratic. Students will use Excel to find lines and curves of best fit for the data as well as being able to answer questions about their graphs and to predict future outcomes given their lines and curves of best fit.

      Strand:
    • Data Analysis

  • SAT & ACT - How Equitable are They? by Amanda Lucas and Donna Deplazes

    • Overview:
      Have you ever wondered if gender or race causes significant changes to SAT or ACT test scores? How do students perform within different states? This unit allows students to explore both SAT and ACT data to answer the questions above. Calculations to produce box-and-whisker plots as well as normal curves are completed. Once students understand the implications of data that fits a normal curve they will be asked to compare scores on the SAT and ACT tests using z-scores. Probabilities will also be found using the normal curve.

      Strand:
    • Probability and Statistics

  • Super Survey! by Karen Burcham and Kelly Day

    • Overview:
      Upon completion of this unit students will be able to collect data using various methods including electronic collection, represent the data graphically, and   interpret and analyze collected data to solve real world problems.

      Strand:
    • Data Analysis

The Economy and You

  • Percentages by Jessica Brevard

    • Overview:
      The unit has the purpose of students learning about percentages and its applications to personal finance. Students will be calculating net salaries, possible car payments, and developing and analyzing a personal budget.

      Strand:
    • Number and Operations

  • Mathematical Modeling by Cynthia Cowley

    • Overview:
      Students will gain a deeper understanding of the use of polynomial, exponential, and logarithmic functions by applying them to real-world situations including analyzing factors that contribute to automobile accidents in Virginia caused by deer, analyzing road speed and fuel economy, and analyzing the affects of raising the US debt ceiling. They will understand the meaning of the important features of the graphs of these functions, i.e. the intercepts, maximum and/or minimum points, and the asymptotes, and make interpretations in the context of the problems.

      Strand:
    • Data Analysis
    • Probability

  • Understanding Local Economic Issues using Statistics by Brandy Fralin

    • Overview:
      This lesson is designed to apply prior knowledge to a real world situation by having students create their own experiments/studies and then use appropriate mathematical concepts to analyze the situation. The lessons in this unit are designed to make connections between the various statistical procedures learned in a classroom in such a way that students are able to see the relevance to what is being taught.

      Strand:
    • Data Analysis
    • Probability

  • Right Triangle Applications by Victor Maciel

    • Overview:
      The unit will be covering properties of right triangles, Pythagorean Theorem, Converse of Pythagorean Theorem, special right triangles, and Trigonometry of right triangles. Pythagorean Theorem is covered in Standards for Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Geometry. Pythagorean Theorem and Trigonometry is also covered in College Algebra, Pre-calculus, and Calculus. The lesson also can encompass area of triangles as well.

      Strand:
    • Problem Solving, Decision Making, and Integration

  • Business Ownership by Cathryn Stanley

    • Overview:
      This unit will give students an opportunity to deal with some aspects of owning a business. Students will look at employee salary, maximizing profit, and revenue growth of the business. Students will gain knowledge in this area while using linear, quadratic, and exponential functions. Students will gain experience in both mathematical verbal and content knowledge. Students will have experience using their mathematical skills through application of a real world problem.

      Strand:
    • Algebra

Traffic Control

  • Transformational Graphing in the Real World by Donna Deplazes

    • Overview:
      This unit specifically addresses the concept of transformational graphing. Absolute value, polynomial, and square root functions will be examined.

      Strand:
    • Algebra

Travel

  • Google Earth Trip by Hannah Holmes and Sue Jenkins

    • Overview:
      Students will use pictorial representations of real life objects to investigate geometric formulas, relationships, symmetry and transformations.

      Strand:
    • Geometry