Math can seem like a dry subject at times, but not when students are engaged in fun, challenging, and creative projects! Here are a few examples from our class.
Math Vocab Icosihexagons: One section of our classroom wall is devoted to a math word wall. Some of the word cards are store-bought, while others have been created by the students. All the cards on the word wall include pictures to remind us of the word's meaning. Using the word wall and the textbook glossary as inspiration, 7th and 8th grade students designed icosihexagons with math vocabulary.
Scale Candy Boxes: When learning about ratios, scale factors, and scale models, I will often have my 7th graders complete this delicious project. They carefully measure and scale up a box of candy, determining an appropriate scale factor based on the amount of materials they are given. Later, we use these same boxes to explore the relationships between the areas of similar figures and the volumes of similar solids. For instance, you might think that tripling the dimensions of a candy box will triple the amount of candy it can hold. Not true! Crunch the numbers like our students do, and you'll discover the relationship, too.
Business Project: When 8th graders learn to solve systems of linear equations using graphs, they complete a project in which they design their own business. Students choose what they will sell (a good or service), research start-up costs and the costs to make the product or the provide the service, then write equations and use graphs to determine their business's break even point. The project also includes designing a logo and creating a basic marketing plan.
