Math curriculum materials for

Middle School

6 ≤ n ≤ 9

by Henri Picciotto

Number

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

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

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

Algebra

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

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)

Introduction using GeoGebra | Triangle paper

Pythagorean Theorem

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

Introduction using GeoGebra

Congruence and Similarity

Teaching

Homework and Assessment suggestions

Nothing Works (presentation on "how to teach")

More about teaching

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

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. It is also available as a PDF, which makes it easy to print, duplicate, or project pages.

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.

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

Related blog posts:: Story Tables in Middle School; Geometric Construction for Middle School; Lab Gear, the Great Connector; Another Use for the Lab Gear; Algebra Manipulatives; Manipulatives in Middle School; On the Desire to Push Kids Ahead; Calculation; Constant Sums, Constant Products; Proportional Relationships

Summer Workshops

Follow me on BlueSky, Mathstodon, Twitter: @hpicciotto