Mathematics Standards

1. Number Sense - Students develop number sense and use numbers and number relationships in problem solving situations and communicate the reasoning used in solving these problems.

  • Teen Talk: Students will be able to do mental arithmetic and estimation and solve real world problems.
  • Examples in the classroom:
    • Students will demonstrate meanings for real numbers, absolute value, and scientific notation.
    • Students will justify reasonableness of solutions to problems.
  • Service Learning Activities:
    • Students will select students of various ages and record their height, weight and age. They will then produce a chart to send home to the parents.
  • Careers for Exploration:
    • Mathematician, Economist, Accountant, Retailer, Engineer Classroom Exploration: All Math Courses, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science, Business, Accounting, Economics

2. Algebra - Students use algebraic methods to explore, model, and describe patterns and functions involving numbers, shapes, data, and graphs in problem-solving situations and communicate the reasoning use in solving these problems.

  • Teen Talk: Students will describe patterns, compare and contrast functions, and manipulate numbers and shapes.
  • Examples in the classroom:
    • Students will model real world phenomena using functions, equations, inequalities, and matrices.
    • Students will solve problems involving functional relationships using graphing calculators and computers as well as paper and pencil techniques.
  • Service Learning Activities:
    • Students will conduct a study of the traffic flow around their school at different time periods during the day and on activity evenings. They will analyze the traffic patterns and parking lot areas to determine if there is a better design of the existing areas.
  • Careers for Exploration:
    • Statistician, Economist, Engineer, Architect, Landscaper, Surveyor
  • Classroom Exploration:
    • Algebra 1, Algebra 11, Chemistry, Physics

3. Probability and Statistics - Students use data collection and analysis, statistics, and probability, problem-solving situations and communicate the reasoning and processes used in solving these problems.

  • Teen Talk: Students will solve problems by systematically collecting, organizing, describing, and analyzing data using surveys, tables, charts, and graphs.
  • Examples in the classroom:
    • Students will draw conclusions about distributions of data based on analysis of statistical summaries.
    • Students will solve real world problems with informal use of combinations and permutations.
  • Service Learning Activities:
    • Students will count the number of cars that are used to drive students to school, and the number of students per car. They will set up a chart of their school and ask the students what area they live in. They will then create a graph of the number of cars per student in each area and send a report home with the students to encourage the parents to car-pool the students to school.
  • Careers for Exploration:
    • Statistician, Poll-Taker, Politician
  • Classroom Exploration:
    • Probability and Statistics, Physics, Earth Science, Journalism

4. Geometry - Students use geometric concepts, properties, and relationships in problem-solving situations and communicate the reasoning used in solving problems.

  • Teen Talk: Students will use the things you learned in geometry to solve problems and can tell others how you solved the problems.
  • Examples in the classroom:
    • Students will derive and use methods to measure perimeter, area, and volume.
    • Students will use trigonometric concepts of ratio, proportion, and similarity in problem solving situations.
  • Service Learning Activities:
    • Students will discuss problems in their building with school rules. They will then put school rules in different categories and create a geometric shape and color for each category. They will make signs for each rule and post them in the building.
  • Careers for Exploration:
    • Architect, Surveyor, Engineer, Mechanic, Sailor, Pilot, Cab Driver
  • Classroom Exploration:
    • Geometry, Probability and Statistics, Physics, Trigonometry, Earth Science

5. Measurements - Students use a variety of tools and techniques to measure and apply the results in problem-solving situations and communicate the reasoning and processes and in solving problems.

  • Teen Talk: Students will take measurements and use them to solve problems.
  • Examples in the classroom:
    • Students will determine the degree of accuracy of measurement.
    • Students will use techniques of algebra, geometry or trigonometry to measure quantities indirectly.
  • Service Learning Activities:
    • Students will identify a problem in their school, such as keeping the cafeteria floor clean, additional sidewalks for better flow of foot traffic around the school, new bark for decorative areas, etc. They will then measure these areas, determine costs for cleaning, repairing, replacing or creating, and write up a proposal for improving the school.
  • Careers for Exploration:
    • Architect, Landscape Designer, Mechanic, Graphic Artist, Surveyor, Art Work Framer, Photographer
  • Classroom Exploration:
    • All Math Courses, Earth Science, Chemistry, Technology Education, Design, Consumer and Family Studies

6. Computation - Students link knowledge of procedures and concepts (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) as they develop and use computational techniques. These techniques include the use of estimation, mental and written arithmetic, calculators and computers in problem solving situations.

  • Teen Talk: Students will link their math skills in computation to solving many problems.
  • Examples in the classroom:
    • Students will solve real world problems involving ratios, proportions, and percents.
    • Students will describe the limitations of estimation and assess the amount of error resulting from estimation within acceptable limits.
  • Service Learning Activities:
    • Students will create worksheets for the middle school or remedial classes in the high school. They will have to have a parameter such restricting answers to three digits or less. They will create the problems, work the problems by hand to give a time estimate for completing the worksheet, and check the problems with a calculator for accuracy to create an answer sheet.
  • Careers for Exploration:
    • Accountant, Economist, Retailer, Computer Technology, Food Service
  • Classroom Exploration:
    • All Math Courses, Consumer and Family Studies, Physics, Chemistry