Project Based Learning - Math Activities

Posted by David Wetzel

Math Problem Based Learning

Project-based learning or Problem-Based Learning (PBL) is one of the best teaching strategies for engaging students in realistic learning activities. Students are not only interested, they are also learning math in the process.

Why?

Because their minds are engaged, critical thinking is taking place!

This is often referred to as critical thinking, minds-on, or inquiry-based teaching and learning.

PBL activities are designed to answer a real-world question or solve real-world problem. A good PBL problem provokes students to struggle with central concepts and principles in math.

These problems reflect the types of learning and work people do in the everyday world outside the classroom.

PBL is typically completed by groups of students working together to solve a problem, as they reflect upon their own ideas, prior knowledge and experiences, and communicate their recommendations based on findings.

Math Project Based Learning Activities

The following are examples of Problem Based Learning activities:

Repainting Tennis Courts

Students:

Determine the total cost of supplies.

The number of gallons of paint to cover all 8 courts if they apply two coats of green paint on each court, along with two coats of white paint on the lines of each court.

The cost of all the paint combined.

The grand total spent on paint and supplies.

Contextual information needed by students include:

Dimensions of a tennis court

Total number of lines, along with line dimensions on a tennis court.

How many square feet does a gallon of exterior paint cover.

Cost of a gallon of exterior paint.

Cost of a combo pack of roller frame, roller cover, and paint tray.

Cost of an appropriately sized paint brush.

Cost of any other materials they feel they need.

Additional Math PBL Activity Themes

Scavenger Hunt

Students:

Locate definitions of Tessellations on the Internet to compare with the real-world examples of tessellations (for example M. C. Escher’s work).

March Madness

Students:

Explore the many different areas of math found in the NCAA basketball tournament.

Use the NCAA bracket to determine which team or teams they want to follow in the tournament.

Find fractions, decimals, and percents; probability statistics; make predictions; and look for patterns within the basketball statistics of the team(s) they selected.

Make connections with and between the math contained within the NCAA tournament.

Explain the importance of mathematics in basketball.

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Math Problem of the Week - 01062010

Posted by David Wetzel

Problem solving in math helps student develop a better understanding of mathematical concepts.

This is true when making connects between math concepts and everyday objects that students look at everyday.

One thing students look at everyday is the clock, which can be used to make connections Geometry.

Geometry Math Problem

When looking a students sees that it is 3:15 PM.

What is the angle between the minute and hour hands? (It is not 0 degrees)

Geometry Problem

Answer:

7.5 degrees

Every minute on the clock represents 6 degrees (360 degrees/60 minutes)

Every hour, the hour hand moves from one number to the next (in this case, it is moving from 3 to 4) which represents 30 degrees.

Since it is exactly 1/4 past the hour, the hour hand is 1/4 of the way into its 30-degree trip or 1/4 or 30 degrees….which is 7.5 degrees.

Additional Math Problems

2 Problem Solving Activities in Math

7 Math Problem Solving Exercises