Hands-On Math Projects With Real-Life Applications

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