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Figure This Math Challenges: Averages
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Activity Description
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics sponsors this, Take a Challenge Web site that has 80 problem-solving challenges that can be used for algebra and geometry students. The site is also available in Spanish.
For this activity, we will be working on figuring out averages.
Preparation
- Go to the Example Web Site (above).
- Work through the problem, exploring the features at the bottom of the page including:
- Getting Started
- Try These
- Answer
- Print copies of Example Document - Figuring Averages and a single copy of the Answer Key.
How-To
- Review with the class the steps in solving averages problems.
- Review any skills needed.
- Visit the site and show the problem.
- Hand out the worksheet on Figuring Averages. Use the problem as the basis for discussion as a whole class, or in small groups or pairs.
- Have students work on the other problems. Gather students together and check answers as a class.
- Remind students they can access the site at home, maybe as a family project.
Teacher Tips
If you want a printed copy of the challenges/problems, follow the link at the bottom labeled Printing the Challenges .
More Ways
- Go through the Teacher Corner materials and assign "family homework."
- Show your students the Family Corner area that has tips on how they can help their children in school, especially in the area of math.
Program Areas
- ASE: High School Diploma
Lesson Plan
- Begin with a brief interactive quiz on the smartboard or through a digital platform like Kahoot to assess students’ prior knowledge about averages. Questions can include basic calculations and real-life scenarios using averages (e.g., calculating average scores, average temperatures, etc.).
- Introduce a quick brainstorming session where students think of areas in everyday life where averages are commonly used, encouraging them to share their ideas.
- Explain the objective of the lesson: to learn how to calculate averages and apply this knowledge to solve real-world problems.
- Introduce the "Figure This!" website sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, highlighting its purpose and the resources available in both English and Spanish.
- Demonstrate navigating to the "Figure This!" website and locating the specific challenge on averages.
- Project the website on the screen and explore the different features such as "Getting Started," "Try These," and "Answer." Discuss how each section can aid in understanding the problem-solving process.
- Distribute printed copies of the "Figuring Averages" worksheet and direct students to work through the problem as outlined on the website.
- Organize the class into small groups or pairs to foster collaborative problem-solving. Allow them to discuss and work through the problems together, utilizing the "Try These" suggestions on the website for additional practice.
- Regroup as a whole class and use the answer key to review the solutions to the problems on the worksheet.
- Conduct a follow-up quiz or digital exit ticket to assess understanding, focusing on the ability to accurately calculate averages and interpret results.
- Assign a practical homework task where students must calculate the average of various data points relevant to their daily life (e.g., weekly grocery spending, daily steps tracked by a fitness device, grades from different subjects).
- Encourage students to engage their families by visiting the "Figure This!" website at home and attempting other challenges together, promoting the Family Corner area as a resource for parents to support their child's learning in mathematics.
Documents
- Figuring Averages.png - Screenshot of Take a Challenge site
- figuring-averages_FINAL.docx - Figuring Averages
- figuring-averages-answer-key_FINAL.docx - Figuring Averages Answer Key
Subjects
- Math
- Algebra
- Consumer Math
- Geometry
Tags
Creative Commons License
