Math curriculum materials for

Middle School

6 < n < 9

by Henri Picciotto

Number

Number Pyramids (addition puzzles)
Signed Number Arithmetic games
Number Puzzles

Fractions

Percent
Powers (pre-algebra)
Powers (basic algebra)

All three units are related to each other.
They are based on Chapter 8 of Algebra: Themes, Tools, Concepts, lessons 5 to 11.

Scientific Notation

This unit is based on Algebra: Themes, Tools, Concepts, lessons 7.9-7.11

Negative Exponents, 8th Grade

This unit is based on Algebra: Themes, Tools, Concepts, lessons 8.11-8.12

Square Roots

This unit includes material from Algebra: Themes, Tools, Concepts, lesson 9.8
Dot Paper

Algebra

Functions

Functions, Teacher Notes
Dot Papers | GeoGebra files
Proportional Relationships (a subset of Functions, slightly edited)

Linear Functions

Make These Designs
Left or Right?

Quadratic Functions

This unit is based on Algebra: Themes, Tools, Concepts, lessons 7.2 and 13.1-13.3

Systems of Linear Equations

This unit is based on Algebra: Themes, Tools, Concepts, Chapter 10
Graph Paper
See also: Off and On / Add Till It's Plaid

Systems of Linear Inequalities

The Lab Gear (manipulatives for algebra)

The blocks, and two books (pre-algebra and algebra) are available from Didax.

Geometry

Introduction to pentominoes, area and perimeter (7th grade)

Geometry Labs, 4.1
Working with Pentominoes, select from pp. 4-16

Congruence (7th grade)

Working with Pentominoes, pp. 32-33
Geometry Labs, 6.1

Area of a circle

Angles

This unit includes material from Geometry Labs (1.1, 1.2, 1.5, 1.7)
Circle geoboard paper

Geometric Construction for Middle School

(using compass, straightedge, patty paper, and GeoGebra)

Isometries

Introduction using GeoGebra | Triangle paper

Pythagorean Theorem

Symmetry

Scaling

One-inch graph paper
This unit references lessons from Working with Pentominoes.
It also includes material from Algebra: Themes, Tools, Concepts, lesson 6.11.

Dilations

Introduction using GeoGebra

Congruence and Similarity

Teaching

Homework and Assessment suggestions

Nothing Works (presentation on "how to teach")

More about teaching

Project SEED


Tim Erickson's materials on modeling, sampling, area, and volume can be found on his site.

Top

Bibliography

Algebra: Themes, Tools, Concepts was co-authored by Anita Wah and Henri Picciotto. The book and all of its support materials are available here, free of charge for your non-commercial use. The Teachers' Edition includes extensive teacher notes and solutions. You may also be able to find additional problems for homework and assessments in the book itself and in its teacher resources.

Henri Picciotto's Geometry Labs can be downloaded here, free of charge for your non-commercial use. It includes teacher notes and solutions.

Henri Picciotto's Working with Pentominoes can be purchased from Didax (more info.) It includes teacher notes and solutions, and an e-book on DVD which allows you to project any page of the book, and manipulate virtual pentominoes right on the page.

Many of the activities on this page assume the availability of scientific calculators, and many require manipulatives:
CircleTrig Geoboards, Geometry Labs templates (more info)
Pattern blocks
Pentominoes
Many activities assume the teacher is able to project GeoGebra files, and would be enhanced if students have access to GeoGebra.
Many of my GeoGebra applets are useful for middle school.
Top

Many thanks to Vinci Daro, Ann Shannon, and Celia Stevenson
for their help in adapting some of these materials for middle school.

P icon

Summer Workshops

Follow me on Twitter: @hpicciotto

Top