I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…Tests are not the only way to effectively assess a student’s understanding. Teachers want their students to think more critically and actually apply what they know to real life scenarios. The best way to do this is through math projects.
Don’t get me wrong, tests can be a great tool and will show you exactly what your students understand on the surface level. But, times are changing and teachers aren’t just looking for their students to memorize processes and rewrite them on paper.
Tests are a great way to get surface level information about a student’s understanding. Sure, they know how to solve an equation, but can they create an equation and explain what each number/variable represents? Are they justifying their solutions by using examples from the problem?
This is where math projects can fill in the gaps. Projects challenge students to think critically about a real life scenario which leads to more student buy in and engagement. Giving students relevant and interesting real world applications can make all the difference.
Projects are also a great way to get your students working together and figuring out problems on their own. These are the skills they are actually going to need once they leave high school and it’s never too early (or late) to start!
The best times to use math projects
End of Year Project
The end of the school year is a struggle to get students to stay engaged and keep your class meaningful when most of the curriculum is completed and students have finished state testing.
If you’re looking for an alternative to a final exam, projects are a great option! Also, many college and university classes have changed to final projects instead of exams.
Alternative Assessment
Add a project to the end of the unit (either before or after the test). Sometimes a project works great as a study strategy for students. Other times it is perfect for giving your students another way to show they understand the material. Only you know what is best for your students, curriculum, and teaching style!
Sub Plans
One or two day projects are my go to for sub plans. If there is a day that I know I will be out of the classroom, I have my students start the project the day before while I’m still in class. This way I can give them the directions and by the time they are in class the next day with a sub they will know exactly what they need to do!
Early Finishers
I hate assigning busy work. I truly just don’t believe in it and think it’s effective. There is something to be said for rewarding students who are on task and complete their work early. I will either give them free time or an opportunity to earn extra credit through extension projects.
6 Must Have Algebra 1 Projects
This landscape design project is my students’ favorite year after year! Students are tasked with creating and solving multi step inequalities to budget and build a backyard landscape design for their client. Depending on your class’s skill level, you can choose between two differentiated versions with verbal prompts and planning templates.
In this types of slope project, your students will find real-life examples of positive, negative, zero, and undefined slopes. They will then create a table and graphical representation of each type of slope and present their final draft to the class!
This slope project is perfect for group work and collaboration. It can also be used as a stand-alone summative assessment.
This math project challenges Algebra 1 students to create their own food truck and sustain a profitable business using systems of equations to prove their decisions.
They will conduct market research, create a business plan, define their equations, and analyze their solutions. This Algebra 1 project is complete with organizational templates along with critical think and reflection questions.
In this real-world application of systems of inequalities, your students are tasked with creating an equitable process for distributing donated canned goods to community members in need using systems of inequalities. They will create and graph linear inequalities, find the feasible region, and defend their decisions using mathematical evidence.
This Algebra 1 project covers writing and graphing equations in slope-intercept, point-slope, and standard forms. I have assigned this math project in small groups at the end of a unit and at the beginning of a unit for early finishers to work on whenever they have time at the end of class. I found that either way worked really well and kept my students engaged!
Here’s the scenario:
You are tasked with the responsibility of planning your family’s vacation for next summer. You will need to use your knowledge of linear functions to budget and plan your trip. Each of the following sections will help you organize your trip, but it is up to you to figure out the details.
In this real world math project, your Algebra 1 students will recreate a map from their favorite fictional book or movie! They will use their creative judgment to design their best representation of the map using a variety of horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines.
This project is the perfect length for sub plans. It usually takes about three class periods, so I can assign it on a day I am in class and my students can continue to work on it with no issues while the sub is there!
Open-ended math projects can be challenging for students, so clear directions and an example map are included if your students need extra guidance to get started.
Final thoughts about math projects in Algebra 1
Real life applications are an essential part of any curriculum, but can often intimidate students. The built in scaffolds in each of these math projects makes them feel much more manageable for many students. The differentiation in these makes word problems and building critical thinking skills more accessible to more students.
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