Real-World Math Activities for Grades 3–12

String design, ellipses, and orbital mechanics

Here's a different and somewhat artistic way to encourage understanding of a conic section. Participants physically build an ellipse by choosing two foci and sketching the figure through...

Number Sense Geometry Grades 6–HS

Fish tale, go figure!

This activity has been updated: https://www.yummymath.com/post/real-world-math-activities-pythagorean-theorem-fish/ With the subscription, you can still access the previous version of this activity by clicking solutions & supporting materials.

Algebra Geometry Grades 7–HS

Tiny vacuum with a huge reach

From the vacuum description and advertisement in the PDF, how long do you think its cord must be? Thanks to Brian Shoemaker, Newton, MA teacher, for the idea...

Algebra Number Sense Grades 5–HS

Mixing colors with food dye

I t' s t i m e t o d y e e g g s ! What do you wonder about these recipes (See the activity) for...

Number Sense Math and Food Grades 4–6

Pascal coloring and modular math

In this activity students have the opportunity to color as they investigate Pascal's triangle and the many useful patterns that it shows. The triangle is explored for patterns,...

Number Sense Geometry Grades 2–HS

K-Pop and BTS, how much can they earn from Youtube and Spotify?

Bring a little K-pop music to your class with this activity. Jason Kibbe, a terrific middle school math teacher in Chambersburg, PA , sent us an activity that...

Number Sense Math and Social Studies Grades 2–6

How many Smashburgers?

Egad! There must be a million ways to craft one of these burger! How many ways do you think that there are? Act I - Study the menu...

Algebra Number Sense Grades 6–HS

Stacking Jack

Act One : Check out the video slide show. What questions do you have? Suggested Question: How many different ways can I stack Jack? That is, how many...

3-act tasks Data and probability Grades 6–HS

Point of view

If you have a set of cubes for your classroom, this would make a great group hands-on project. Its an old puzzle but the activity deserves a revisit....

Geometry Math and Art Grades 3–HS

Spiraling squares - compass and straight edge

Can you see the many spirals in this design? Students calculate the size of each increasing round of squares and consider what sort of spirals these must be....

Algebra Number Sense Grades 6–HS

How long would it take to build this underground house and pool?

The building of this underground house and pool was presented by Cayote Person and his partner, Mark Lavins, on their youtube channel, "Brave Wilderness." At BraveWilderness.com the business...

Algebra Number Sense Grades 4–HS

Pythagorean Triples and coloring

Pythagorean triples are not only handy for students to recognize but produce some interesting and lovely patterns. We've combined a little coloring with our Pythagorean Triple pattern investigation...

Algebra Number Sense Grades 6–HS

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