Independent Math Projects Menu

·      INTERVIEW

o     Interview at least three adults about how they use math on the job

§      Each interview must be typed.

§      Each interview must include:

·      The name, contact information, and profession of the adult

·      A description of the job he/she performs

·      A clear description of how they use mathematics on the job or for their job

·      Any advice or other information they have for you related to studying mathematics

·      LISTS

o     Make a list of all of the places a person sees or uses ratios/fractions, decimals, and percents. Also make note of the instances where one must convert from one form to another. (e.g. You may see a road sign that says ½ mile but to calculate this using the trip odometer, you must first convert ½ to decimal form or 0.5)

§      Must have at least an average of 25 items per category (ratios/fractions, decimals, and percents) as well as 10 items in the conversion list

§      Items in list must be described clearly so that readers understand what they mean

·      2D SCALING ART PROJECT

o     point by point

§      See me for greater descriptions and helpful worksheets

·      3D SCALING ART PROJECT

o     Object must be scaled as well as writing and art on object

·      TESSELATION ART PROJECTS*

o     A) Create one

§      See me for description, directions and examples

§      May be helpful to examine some works by M.C. Escher

o     B) Find and photograph and discuss at least 3 different examples

§      Need to include different shapes

§      Discussions should be at least ½ page each, typed

·      Include shape description, repeating patterns, and angle measurements

§      See me for description, directions and examples

 

·      FRACTALS

o     Finding fractals in nature, life. Discuss patterns.

§      Include typed introduction on description of fractals

·      GOLDEN RATIO EXPLORATION

o     Create a movie or computerized presentation on the golden ratio

§      Viewing video Donald in Mathmagic Land may be helpful

·      POOL

o     Discuss how banking balls off of the rails uses geometric angles.

§      Report can be written or computerized. Should include illustrations/visual aides

§      Viewing video Donald in Mathmagic Land may be helpful

·      ARCHITECTURE AND MATH

o     Design your dream fort/house. Create to scale designs from top, front and side. Draw inset drawings to focus on smaller details of the fort.

·      MATH RELATED SCIENCE PROJECT

o     Gather data, graph and analyze it        

·      PROBABILITY/STATISTICS PROJECTS*

o     A) Find various statistics; decide and discuss whether or not the information given is valuable and/or worthwhile

§      3 page typed minimum

o     B) Find the probability for a certain occurrence and then gather data to see if the probability is supported

§      May need to do more than one depending on choice of experiment

·      PROGRAMMING PROJECT

o     Write a program related to one of the math operations or procedures that you have learned

·      LOGIC PROJECT

o     Explain how you use one piece of information (preferably learned in a different area of study) to figure out another

§      Examples:

·      where to camp or ski based on what you know about the sun

·      why civilizations would choose to set up camp in a certain location

o     what signs/indicators would they look for

·      MUSIC AND MATH*

o     A) Discuss the use of ratios, fractions and decimals in music

o     B) Follow Daniel Cummerow’s recipe for making a song using pi (each digit represents a different note)…or create a song by translating famous quotes into music (each letter represents a different note).

§      Probably most easily completed using GarageBand.

·      STOCK PROJECT

o     Pretend you have $1000 to invest in the stock market

§      Choose a stock and follow it for a month

§      Discuss gains/losses and reasons for it

·      GRAPH PROJECTS*

o     A) Find at least 5 graphs in the paper or in a magazine and discuss the info given by them.

§      Must include graphs

§      Must be typed.

o     B) Find at least 5 graphs in the paper or in a magazine and think about what the group surveyed might look like. Explain

§      Must include graphs

§      Explanation must be logical, detailed, and typed.

·      GRAPHING PROJECT

o     Create a drawing on graph paper and then create the instructions (point by point) for drawing it

·      SPORTS*

o     A) Analyze statistics from any sport

§      Must follow sport daily for at least 2 weeks

§      Include analyzed statistics with report

§      2 page typed minimum

o     B) Analyze your own performance in a sport.

§      Make sure you use (and show evidence of using) the Scientific Method (Ask, Research, Hypothesize, Test, Analyze, and Report)

§      Type description of the method you used as well as your findings

§      3-week study minimum

o     C) Discuss various tricks performed in skateboarding, biking, skiing, boarding, diving, gymnastics, skating (or a similar sport) using mathematically/geometrically correct terms

§      Can be reported using Keynote and videos and/or pictures

§      Can be reported using Word and illustrations

·      MAPS

o     Learn how to read various maps including topographical maps and be able to report out on this as well as take an exam related to it.

§      Report may be oral or written

·      SYSTEMS OTHER THAN BASE 10

o     Learn how to read and write numbers in systems other than base 10. Be able to report out on this as well as take an exam related to it.

·      MATH DIARY

o     Write about what you noticed or learned in life that relates to math.

§      What struck you about this?

§      Observations must be very descriptive

§      May be one large or multi-faceted observation or many smaller observations

§      3 page typed minimum

·      WRITING

o     Write and illustrate a story for kids about a mathematical process.

§      Create a story that will make this process easier to learn.

§      Include title page.

·      READING

o     Read at least the first 9 chapters of Jacquard’s Web by James Essinger focusing in on the loom invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard*

§      A) Discuss how this loom relates to the binary number system.

§      B) Discuss its relationship to the current day computer.

·      PHOTOGRAPHY AND PERSPECTIVE*

o     A) Photograph letters seen by looking at various buildings/ works of architecture from different angles

§      Need at least one example of each letter

§      See me for examples

§      Experiment with taking pictures of one object from greatly and slightly different angles

·      Explain how changing the angle the picture is taken from changes the picture

·      Include typed description with project

§      Note: Can use letters to create words with themes (e.g. Create the word BICYCLE by photographing bike parts from different angles)

o     B) Photograph letters seen by looking at various works of nature from different angles

·      Follow same process as given in option A.

§      Note: Can use letters to create words with themes (e.g. Create the word TREE by photographing tree parts from different angles)

o     C) Photograph at least 15 geometric shapes found in the world around you.

§      Report out with appropriately titled photographs and descriptions of shapes.

§      Must be typed

·      MEASUREMENT*

o     A) Compare and contrast the metric system of measurement to the contemporary system of measurement.

§      Learn how to measure using both systems

§      Be able to calculate equivalencies within systems (e.g. be able to tell me how many pints equal 7 cups)

o     B) Learn how to use at least 12 different tools for measuring and report out on their use—will require you to stay after school some days

 

·      MATH PACKET

o     Complete Keys to Algebra Packets

§      See me for packets

·      COMPARING COSTS PROJECT (Best saved for 2^nd or 3^rd trimester.)

o     Compare the costs of at least 2 companies providing the same service or product (or one company providing the same product for different costs). Each company must have a variable cost (one that changes based on amount of time, distance, number of products, etc.) and a fixed cost (initial fee, entrance fee, etc.)

§      In doing this you must:

·      Pick at least two companies providing the same service

·      Provide a profile of each company

·      Summarize the cost comparisons being made

·      Translate the words into mathematic symbols by writing algebraic equations with one variable for each company

·      Set the equations equal to each other and solve for the variable

·      Form a numeric table for each company

·      Graph each equation making sure the graph is a complete graph

·      Label key points of intersections (lines with lines, lines with axes)

·      Translate the findings into words

·      Provide an explanation as to the best financial decisions for a consumer

·      Write about other factors besides cost that might affect a person’s decision to pick one company over the other

·      OTHER

o     Come up with your own independent project and discuss idea with me

 

*Includes more than one menu option