Resource Library

Students will examine data about garbage production and graphically represent it in a scatter plot. Students will use the data to make predictions of future trends. They will also develop an understanding of the environmental impact of trash accumulation and the need for a plan to deal with potential garbage problems. The activity is written for use with a graphing calculator.

Fractals are found extensively in nature, from tiny snowflakes to towering mountains. Because of this, fractal geometry has many practical applications. Geologists can model the meandering paths of rivers. Botanists can model the branching patterns of trees. In this activity, students will investigate fractals, learn how fractals can be used to determine the length of a coastline and explore the expression of mathematical principles in art.

This lesson examines temperature data over ten years.  Students use a statistical analysis technique, the moving average, to search for meaningful trends in the raw temperature data.

This lesson plan uses growth rate data from countries around the world.  In the exercise, students graph population growth, calculate how long it takes a country's population to double in size and investigate factors affecting global growth rate.

Although our personal use of energy is very small when compared to the total used in the United States, we all have a stake in all levels of energy use and production. When the small amounts used by individuals are added up, they become a very significant value for a large population.

This lab exercise allows students to explore an ecosystem's plant diversity and to mathematically determine the dominant vegetation, and to estimate the relative presence of the invasive species in the study area.

Try new ways of incorporating environmental education in math and statistics classes. Random sampling is a technique used by scientists and statisticians alike. This activity shows students how ecologists and wildlife managers use random sampling to scientifically estimate population levels within a designated area.

In this lesson, students will learn about boundaries as they apply to matters of pollution, disease, and conflict within the continent of Asia, between Asian nations, and between Asian nations and members of the international community.

Explore the history of the Fibonacci sequence and its applications.  Examine how the sequence is expressed in pine cones, flower petals, cauliflower, and apples.

This activity is correlated to National Mathematics content standards.

These lesson plans explore the use of matrices and graphing calculators to solve a linear programming problem with six variables, presented as community land use planning issue. The lesson plans include lead-up assignments where students relate the solvability of a system of linear equations to the invertibility of the coefficient matrix.