
Shot Put
3 Act Math Lessons involving solving equations using equivalence and algebraic substitution and elimination to solve systems of equations.
Below are problem based lesson, three act math tasks and activities I use with my classes. If you have never taught a lesson like these I suggest you start with Dan Meyer’s post or read through my Peek into My Classroom page. Feel free to use and edit these lessons. Click away and read about each lesson.
Download the 2-page printable 3 Act Math Tip Sheet to ensure that you have the best start to your journey using 3 Act math Tasks to spark curiosity and fuel sense making in your math classroom!
3 Act Math Lessons involving solving equations using equivalence and algebraic substitution and elimination to solve systems of equations.
In this Scavenger Hunt 3 act math style unit of lessons, students will explore data management, mean as the great equalizer and bar graphs
3 Act Math style unit of lessons involving represent, order, and compare fractional amounts based on the distances travelled by caterpillars
Dividing whole numbers through partitive division resulting in a fractional amount & dividing ratios to reveal a rate 3 Act Math Tasks
Problem Based Math Lessons focused on understanding Division of Whole Numbers and Percent 3 Act Math Task Style.
Number talk and practice problem BLM handout exploring the relationship between fractions and decimals using the money model.
Context leading students to multiply whole numbers by decimals in a 5 lesson, 3 Act Math Task series of lessons with resources
Explore multiplying fractions through a 3 act math task using the area model.
How do you create a culture of engagement and participation in your math class to ensure students are leaning in to learn?
Then, once students are leaning in, how are we going to tackle new mathematical ideas in a way that builds the necessary conceptual understanding and develops procedural fluency over time?
Finally, how can we craft our lessons in such a way that every student can access the mathematical content and don’t throw their arms up in frustration?
Students will use their understanding of pattering to bring about topics such as linear relations, rate of change, slope, and solving equations.
Let’s Build a 3-Act Math Lesson together. What could you do with this?
A yummy, belly aching activity that stretches proportional thinking across many grades levels.
In this 3-Act Task students will be presented with a puzzling video of 3 “hour glass” sand timers. Students will solve a brain-teaser like problem while ultimately learning about common multiples and the least common multiple (LCM).
This fall themed activity asks students to predict how many rubber bands will implode a pumpkin. Use data collected from over 120 exploded pumpkins and create scatterplots to make predictions.
Have your students experience similar triangles by getting them curious and out of their seats. Your students will prove and disprove why two people can or can’t see eye to eye in a mirror.
Things are warming up! Students will solve a proportion problem while you learn how to plan and ignite your moves!
A puzzling display of angles, polygons, and parallel lines. Can you determine that one angle?
Students break out their devices and text away to discover the relationship between the length of a message and how long it takes to text it.
This takes the classic maximizing the area of a rectangle problem and adds elements of curiosity and purposeful practice to help reveal the relationship.
How big are those holiday lights? How many lights will we need to string up. Use proportional reasoning to help answer these questions.
This flipping active activity blends volume of cylinders with rates of change and linear relations.
A Hands-on activity is blended with interactive technology. Students begin with puzzles but ultimately create algebraic expressions and solve equations.
A yummy lesson where students use volume of cylinders and spheres to determine how many energy bites are made from a recipe.
The classic two trains are approaching each other problem without the trains. Students will solve a system of equations to determine the answer to this 3-Act Math Problem.
Promote literacy while learning math! Students calculate and track over time their words/min reading rate. Students will also explore the relationship between fast reading and comprehension.
Let’s get a round of applause for this active lesson that asks students to use unit rates or proportions to see if they can beat the fastest clapper in the world.
Students explore properties of parallel lines & transversals. They will create parallel lines on the floor or outside with chalk, and finally use Explain Everything to answer problems.
In this multi-strand lesson students will use estimate and calculate how many paper balls fit in a bucket. They then will race to see who can make more shots into the bucket in a minute.
When will a water balloon explode? How much water does it hold? Use proportions to help!
Finally teach collecting like terms and the distributive property with context! Find the perimeter and area of a counter top using only Doras!
Teach the need for collecting like terms through problem solving. How much does this order cost?
Use unit rates to help make decisions in consumer gender issues. Is Lego charging more for Disney Princess kits vs. Star Wars kits?
A rope magically shrinks! How many knots will make the rope a specific thickness?
An all-time favourite 3-act task from Nora Oswald! How are the points distributed along the flag pole in Super Mario?
A rich area of rectangles problem with a sequel that extends into optimization.
Students experience rates of change in a race to see who will eat the most popcorn.
Crowd source the relationship between the volume of a box and the height of the box. Build boxes and use Desmos to investigate.
Use linear relations to determine how many cups to fill a jug of water with an object inside.
Does the cost of wait time in the game Clash of Clans follow a linear, quadratic, exponential, or other model?
How many juice boxes will it take to fill Minnie’s Cup! Use Volume of prisms and cylinders.
Students use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the length of rope.
A inquiry activity with a little competition. Who can get their car to the finish line closest without going over? Use lines of best fit
Download the 2-page printable 3 Act Math Tip Sheet to ensure that you have the best start to your journey using 3 Act math Tasks to spark curiosity and fuel sense making in your math classroom!