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
Autorentext
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.
Inhalt
About the Authors v
Acknowledgments xv
About This Book xvi
Alignment to National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Standards xvii
How to Use This Resource xix
Part One: Implementing Projects in the Math Class
Chapter One: Overview of Projects in the Math Class 3
Your Role 3
Supporting the Standards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics 4
The Teacher's Role During Math Projects 5
Strategies for Problem Solving 6
Problem-Solving Strategies 7
Helping Students Develop Problem-Solving Skills 8
Creating Your Own Projects 9
What It Takes to Become a Top Problem Solver 10
Sources for Developing Math Projects 11
Conclusion 12
Chapter Two: Managing Projects in Your Math Class 13
Structuring Your Class 13
Creating and Maintaining a Positive Environment 15
The Responsibilities of the Math Student 16
The Right Environment 17
Teaching Suggestions 18
Individual and Team Conferences 19
The Value of Cooperative Problem Solving 19
Organizing Teams 20
How to Set up Project Teams 21
Rules for Working in Math Teams 22
The Importance of Sharing 23
Writing in Math Class 24
Using Technology with Math Projects 24
The Writing Process and Math 25
Technology Training 27
Math Projects and the Internet 28
Conclusion 30
Chapter Three: Assessing Math Projects 31
Observation Logs 31
Individual Observation Log 32
Group Observation Log 33
Checklists 34
Possible Assessment Questions 35
Skills Checklist 36
Point Systems for Project Assessment 37
Evaluating Writing 37
Grading Projects Using a Point System 38
Suggestions for Grading Writing in Math Class 39
Self-Assessment 40
Conclusion 40
Student Self-Assessment 41
Teacher Self-Assessment 42
Part Two: The Projects
Section One: Math and Science
Project 1: The Benefits of Recycling 47
Student Guide 1.1, The Benefits of Recycling 50
Data Sheet 1.2, Some Facts About Recycling 52
Project 2: Endangered Species: Can They Be Saved? 53
Student Guide 2.1, Endangered Species: Can They Be Saved? 56
Data Sheet 2.2, Examples of Endangered Animals 58
Data Sheet 2.3, Some Facts About Endangered Species 59
Project 3: Charting Your Calories 60
Student Guide 3.1, Charting Your Calories 63
Worksheet 3.2, A Daily Calorie Chart 65
Project 4: How Many Calories Do You Burn Each Day? 66
Student Guide 4.1, How Many Calories Do You Burn Each Day? 69
Data Sheet 4.2, Caloric Expenditure and Physical Activities 71
Worksheet 4.3, A Daily Activity Chart 72
Project 5: It Is Only Natural 73
Student Guide 5.1, It Is Only Natural 76
Data Sheet 5.2, Math in Nature 77
Project 6: Designing a Flower Bed 78
Student Guide 6.1, Designing a Flower Bed 81
Data Sheet 6.2, Facts and Prices of Selected Plants 83
Worksheet 6.3, Centimeter Grid 85
Project 7: Buying a Class Aquarium 86
Student Guide 7.1, Buying a Class Aquarium 89
Data Sheet 7.2, Aquariums and Accessories 91
Project 8: The School's New Lunch Program 92
Student Guide 8.1, The School's New Lunch Program 95
Data Sheet 8.2, School Lunch Program 97
Worksheet 8.3, A Five-Day Menu 98
Project 9: What Is the Weather? 99
Student Guide 9.1, What Is the Weather? 102
Data Sheet 9.2, Weather Words 104
Project 10: A Flight to Mars 106
Student Guide 10.1, A Flight to Mars 109
Data Sheet 10.2, Information About the Red Planet 111
Section Two: Math and Social Studies
Project 11: A Great Mathematician 115
Student Guide, 11.1, A Great Mathematician 118
Data Sheet 11.2, Math Greats 120
Project 12: An Election Poll 121
Student Guide 12.1, An Election Poll 125
Data Sheet 12.2, Poll Points 127
Project 13: Landmarks 129
Student Guide 13.1, Landmarks 132
Data Sheet 13.2, Steps to Enlarging a Pattern 134
Project 14: Creating a Scale Map 135
Student Guide 14.1, Creating a Scale Map 138
Data Sheet, 14.2, How to Make a Map 140
Project 15: A Game: What Date Is That? 141
Student Guide 15.1, A Game: What Date Is That? 144
Data Sheet, 15.2, Ancient Number Systems 146
Project 16: An Interview to Math's Past 148
Student Guide 16.1, An Interview to Math's Past 151
Data Sh…