EDU 415 Resource Collection John Vorberger

Standard 1: CC.2.3.HS.A.14: Apply geometric concepts to model and solve real world
problems.
Topic 1: Using geometry for real world problems.
A. Four Trade Books
1. Neuschwander, C., & Geehan, W. (2003). Sir Cumference and the Sword in the
Cone. United States: Charlesbridge.
This book is about King Arthur issuing a challenge to his knights to find his sword. In order to
find the sword, the knights must use geometry. This real-world (or rather, fantasy world) use of
geometry makes geometry more fun for student, and in a fantasy-world-way, helps students
understand how geometry is useful in real life. I think sometimes geometry and math in general
be boring or hard to relate to, so this makes it more appreciable for students.
2. Neuschwander, C., & Geehan, W. (2012). Sir Cumference and Viking’s Map.
United States: Charlesbridge.
In this fantasy story, characters mnust use geometry to locate places on a map. This involves the
use of coordinates, triangulation, and many uses of the Pythagorean theorem to find distances
and angles. This provides an engaging way to learn about the real-world uses of geometry. Once
again, I think this is an important resource, especially for students entering high school who
might be struggling with geometry concepts.
3. Walmsley, B. (1999). Construction geometry. Wellington, New Zealand: CC
Press.
This book teaches about the application of geometry in carpentry and other skilled labor. The
book has chapters on specific projects – like carpentry projects, milling projects, drafting
projects, etc. – that all require geometry. I think this is the perfect book for this standard because
it directly connects geometry to real world topics. I think this book would be most useful for
older students who are more advanced, because it requires a solid understanding of basic
geometry. I also think this book could be good for generating in-class projects.
4. Mercer, B. (2018). Junk drawer geometry. Chicago, IL: Chicago Review Press.
This book presents 50 different project ideas involving geometry. Projects including building
various polygons, modeling the Pythagorean theorem, and making Mobius strips. All of these
projects tie geometry to the real world, which is exactly what this standard calls for. I think this
would be useful for any skill-level student, and this could also provide ideas for in-class projects.
B. Teacher Website:
https://www.teachersfirst.com/spectopics/geometry912.cfm
This website provides teachers with many different ideas for lessons, how to explain topics, and
how to teach geometry to students who may be learning English or need different
accommodations. I think this is valuable to teachers who want to go beyond just teaching straight
from a single textbook. These resources also help teachers meet standards for their students,
which can be tricky for new teachers. This website contains a wide range of information for
students of all skill levels.
C. Student Website
https://www.mathplanet.com/education/geometry
This website contains many lessons about geometry and includes examples. This can be great
supplemental instruction for students who don’t understand a topic, or it could also be useful for
students to see further examples of what they see in class. Compared to a traditional textbook,
this is more interactive and gives students the freedom to learn what they need to. Also, this
could be a great way for students to study for tests using another resource rather than just notes.

D. Other Media Sources

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUpW9RcM2kI
This is a video discussing how geometry shows up in the real world. It gives the example of the
Pentagon building in Washington, DC, and shows how geometry played a very important role in
its construction. I think this can be valuable to students because it shows them real world
examples of geometry and makes it seem more relevant. Also, I think the topic of the Pentagon
building is especially interesting to many students.
2. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pyramids-of-Giza
This is an encyclopedia article about the pyramids in Egypt. The most important part of this
article from a geometry perspective is that it lists the actual sizes of several pyramids. This could
give students the option to perform calculations with numbers that have real world significance.
For students who are interested in history, this provides a fun connection. However, for all
students, it’s a good way to see how geometry is important and has been important for millennia.

Standard 2: CC.2.4.HS.B.1: Summarize, represent, and interpret data on a single count or

measurement variable.
Topic 2: Understanding and using data from a single variable.
A. Four Trade Books
1. Neuschwander, C., & Geehan, W. (2013). Sir Cumference and the Off-the-Charts
Dessert. United States: Charlesbridge.
This story revolves around figuring out how to collect data about which dessert is the most
popular. In advance of a celebration, two bakers are competing to see which dessert is best.
However, difficulty in counting votes means both bakers come up with their own system of
recording. This represents the mathematical concept of collecting and analyzing data of a single
variable. This is an important trade book to use because it shows the importance of accurate data
collection, rather than just solving math problems with no real world connection. This would be
good to introduce to students struggling with this concept since it is fun and engaging.
2. Szpiro, G. (2020). Numbers rule. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
This a slightly more advanced book that deals with how math – specifically counting and
collecting numbers involved in voting and other government systems – has impacted world
political history. The book has several chapters that each deal with different political minds
(Thomas Jefferson, Plato, etc.) and how mathematics was used. Furthermore, the book discusses
mathematical counting problems like how a simple majority may not always clearly decide a
winner. I believe this book would be an excellent resource for more advanced students who have
an interest in history and who want to see how variable counting in math has important effects in
the real world. I think this can engage motivated students and prompt them to learn even better
since it shows real-world importance of counting.
3. Foley, E. (2019). Ballot battles. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
One of the most common and easily understandable usage of data and counting statistics is
elections. This interesting books talks about the history of close elections in the United States,
and it talks in detail about the methods used for counting and how data is collected. This book
also talks about controversies around counting votes, and I think that shows students how
important this topic can be. I think this book would be very good for students who have a passion
for history, because it ties the otherwise bland subject of statistics in with interesting history.
However, even for students not interested in history, this book provides a useful real world
connection to the material. This book is slightly more advanced, but I think it still would be
useful especially for higher-level students or students who show an interest in history.
4. Four
Harford, T. (2022). The data detective. New York, NY: Riverhead Books.
This book talks about statistics in general and how to understand them, in more of a big picture
way. The book offers specific rules and tips for understanding statistics, and these rules can be
applied to all areas of statistics. I think the common core standard is focused on teaching students
what statistics are and how to collect them, whereas this book talks about some of the nuances
and things to watch out for. As a whole, this book builds a deeper understanding of statistics, so
it would be a useful tradebook. I think this would be useful for students at various skill levels
because different selections from the book can be chosen to match student need.
B. Teacher Website
https://www.almyeducation.com/blog/teaching-students-to-analyze-data
This webpage is specifically designed for educating teachers about the best methods for teaching
data collection. This webpage actually has a section dedicated to teaching why it’s important,
which may help teachers have a deeper understanding of their methods. The website also talks
about why its important to use authentic data sets, and how students can find more motivation if
they’re using actual data instead of made up scenarios. All in all, this website is a great resource
for teachers and is designed specifically for this standard.
C. Student Website
https://www.varsitytutors.com/hotmath/hotmath_help/topics/interpreting-data
This is a simple and easy to use website for students to get an effective visual on data collection.
I think this would be a great supplemental resource to give to students who may not be
understanding the lessons. Sometimes, just having a different mode of instruction helps students,
so giving students the ability to use something other than the textbook to learn may help them get
past a hurdle in learning. Also, this is a great resource for studying because it shows important
highlights.
D. Other Media Sources
1. One
https://guides.loc.gov/census-connections/census-history
This is a great article from a reputable government resource that discusses the history of the U.S.
census. The census is perhaps the most obvious example of counting and collecting data on a
large scale, so this introduces students to real-world uses of those topics. This webpage includes
astounding figures as to the scale of the census, and it talks about how involved of a process it
was. I think this can give students an appreciation for math, and it hopefully would give them
some motivation to learn more about this topic.
2. Two
https://usafacts.org/articles/how-are-votes-counted/
Another real-world connection for collecting and analyzing data is voting. This webpage presents
facts about how votes are collected and analyzed, and since it’s the USA, it is extremely relevant
for students I would be teaching. I think this website is interesting for students because it shows
how analyzing variables and numbers can have dramatic effects on the world. It also shows that
the concepts I would be teaching in this standard are useful to adults/the government, and I think
it might motivate students to pay attention a little bit more.
Standard 3: CC.2.2.HS.D.4: Understand the relationship between zeros and factors of
polynomials to make generalizations about functions and their graphs.

Topic 3: Zeros and factors of polynomials and their relationship with functions and graphs.

A. Four Trade Books

1. Fernandez, O. (2019). The calculus of happiness. Princeton, NJ: Princeton
University Press.
This book talks about many real-world applications of math, specifically with figuring out ideal
values and using equations to find numbers. This book includes topics like weight loss (or gain)
calculations, money calculations, and even mathematical ways of finding a soul-mate. These
interesting topics give students new ideas of how to use math. The idea behind finding solutions
to all of these equations is finding the zeros of the polynomials, which ties directly to this
common core standard. I think this book would be great for showing students the importance of
knowing how to find zeros and factors. Also, this book shows visually what zeros mean and how
they relate to graphs crossing the x-axis.
2. Sumpter, D. (2021). The ten equations that rule the world. Flatiron Books.
This book ties mathematics, and specifically some polynomial equations (with factors and
zeroes) to the big questions and fundamental concepts in our world. This book talks specifically
about these equations’ importance in the world of finance, social media, and computer science.
For students entering those fields after school, this is especially interesting. However, for all
students, this is an important book because it shows the reason behind learning these equations.
It also gives real-world examples for why you need to find zeroes and factors of equations (to
solve equations).
3. Zaccaro, E. (2002). Real World Algebra. Hickory Grove Press.
Algebra is a very abstract topic that is tough for students to grasp, so this book can be very
helpful for translating abstract algebra into more recognizable and relatable terms. This book has
chapters on algebra’s importance with percent, money, time, speed, and other useful real world
applications. This book is also specifically geared toward high school students, so the
sophistication of the content in this book is grade-level appropriate. I think this book is especially
important because it highlights the process as well as the final result, which is crucial for
understanding algebra.
4. Orlin, B. (2018). Math with bad drawings. New York, NY: Black Dog &
Leventhal.
This is another book that seeks to tie the abstract ideas of algebraic equations to real-world
examples. This book also talks about the symbols used in math, which is an important topic to
address for students. The book also talks about math and the economy, which a topic where
polynomial equations are important. Since polynomial equations are important, the factors and
zeros of those equations are also important, so this book can give students real world practice
with those topics. Overall, this book is very useful for students learning algebra because it
connects abstract ideas to real world scenarios and does it in a non-traditional educational
manner.
B. Teacher Website
https://www.theedadvocate.org/activities-to-teach-students-to-factor-polynomials/
This website gives lots of ideas for how to teach factoring and zeroes of polynomials. It includes
ideas like factor puzzles, a factoring relay race, and a human number line. I think all of these
ideas could be beneficial depending on the class make-up, so this is very good for giving
teachers ideas. I think this would be a good resource to reference when designing lessons, as
there are many option depending on student levels.
C. Student Website
https://www.mathportal.org/calculators/polynomials-solvers/polynomial-factoring-
calculator.php?val1=X%5E2-4x%2B4
This is an online calculator that solves polynomials and shows you the steps. I have mixed
feelings about online calculators for algebra, but I think students will inevitably try ways to make
it easier on them, so getting out ahead of it and trying to utilize the benefits of these calculators is
good. I think I could create worksheets that involve the use of the calculator, and by making
students still write stuff down, they will hopefully still learn. I also think this could be a valuable
resource for students checking their work. Since I would always require students to show their
work, this calculator still requires students to think as they show their work. This would just
allow them to see if they’re correct.
D. Other Media Sources
1. One
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sie6jmqZMrw
This is a great video overview of factors and zeros and shows their connections. I have
personally used this video before to touch-up on this topic, so I know it can be effective. I’m a
believer than giving students multiple exposures to a concept is beneficial, so I think this video
would greatly complement my in-class lesson. Also, this video allows students to pause and take
more time where needed. I think this would be useful to show in class at the beginning of the
lesson and also make it available to students online.
2. Two
https://polynomialshistory.weebly.com/history.html
This is a fun history website that talks about the history of polynomials, their zeroes, and factors.
When I was in math classes in high school, I always enjoyed learning about the history. I think
most other students in my classes also enjoyed the history, especially because it meant a mental
break from difficult math. This webpage is fun (it has pictures), is easy to follow, and could even
inspire students in the realm of math. I think this would be a great way to finish up a chapter or
be something to share with students as a fun activity. This webpage also includes a video at the
end which goes more in depth, and is something that could be shown in class if time allows.

Standard 4: CC.2.1.HS.F.2: Apply properties of rational and irrational numbers to solve

real world or mathematical problems.
Topic 4: Applications of properties of rational and irrational numbers.
A. Four Trade Books
1. New Scientist. (2022). How Numbers Work. London, England: John Murray
Learning.
This book explores the beauty of mathematics and the complexities of irrational and rational
numbers. Numbers and concepts like Pi are discussed in detail, as is the number 0. This book
also talks about important relationships involving irrational numbers and how this numbers have
an elegance to them that connects to the physical world. I think this book is personally very
fascinating, and I’m confident that it would be a valuable resource for students to dig deeper into
numbers. For advanced students, they may enjoy learning the deeper concepts of these topics.
For regular or struggling students, passages of this book could be used to highlight important
concepts. I think all students can benefit from seeing the big picture and appreciating the beauty
of mathematics.
2. Blatner, D. (1999). The Joy of Pi. New York, NY: Walker.
Pi is one of the most important irrational numbers in all of mathematics. This books talks about
the history of Pi, its applications, and other important facts. Rather than a traditional textbook,
this book is written more with fun facts and historical trivia in mind. It generally consists of facts
that do not directly relate to math problems, but rather an understanding of Pi itself. For this
reason, it would be a great resource to use alongside a traditional book to build students
appreciation of Pi. I think this book would be good for any high school aged math student who is
learning about Pi in class. Pi is an essential part of understanding irrational numbers.
3. Maor, E. (2015). E: The story of a number. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University
Press.
Another extremely important irrational number in mathematics is “e”. It is useful in modeling
equations for things like interest, architecture, and natural things like sunflower seeds. This book
talks about the history of “e”, as well as applications and fun facts. This book is designed for
readers who are not mathematicians, and thus, it takes a more entry-level approach when talking
about the number “e”. Therefore, I think this book would be an excellent resource in a classroom
of students learning about “e”, which is a crucial part of high school mathematics. “e” is essential
for understanding the value of irrational numbers and their relationship with rational numbers.
4. Posamentier, A. S. (2015). Numbers. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.
This book takes a big picture look at numbers in general and the amazing impact they’ve had on
human history. Beginning why how and why humans began using numbers, this book talks about
the history of numbers. It also talks about special numbers like Pi and “e” – and speaks on the
differences between rational and irrational numbers. I think this book fits perfectly within this
common core standard, and it would be an excellent resource for painting the big picture in
students’ minds. This book seems appropriate for all high school age students, especially if
certain selections are chosen for class.

B. Teacher Website
https://ideagalaxyteacher.com/rational-vs-irrational-numbers/
This websites gives a teacher many options for teaching irrational and rational numbers. It
presents fun activities for students, including mazes, jeopardy, and other games. I think this is
very useful because it gives ways to make an otherwise bland topic engaging. Also, for me in
particular, I think it’s useful because I’ll be a beginner teacher and seeing different options for
lesson additives is important.

C. Student Website
https://flexbooks.ck12.org/cbook/ck-12-conceptos-de-matemáticas-de-la-escuela-secundaria-
grado-8-en-español/section/7.5/related/lesson/square-roots-and-irrational-numbers-bsc-alg/
This is a good resource for students because it includes all of the important information in an
accessible and well organized website. It includes all of the important concepsts of rational and
irrational numbers. I think just re-reading the textbook may not help some students, especially if
they did not understand how the textbook explained it. By presenting students with another way
to learn, it can promote a more robust understanding. Also, this can be a great way for students to
review.
 D. Other Media Sources
1. One
https://www.angio.net/pi/
Pi is the most well known irrational number, and this interactive website gives students the
ability to explore Pi. Students can type in strings of integers and the website will tell them how
many times they occur in the first 200 million digits of Pi. I think this is very interesting, and it
also reinforces the idea of an irrational number that continues forever and without any pattern.
This could even be incorporated into an activity.
2. Two
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbGjr_awePE
Irrational numbers are hard to understand, and this video does a great job of simplifying the idea
and trying to make it more understandable. This video includes a history of irrational numbers,
and it is very visually appealing. It also uses lots of visuals and examples to reinforce the idea. I
think this would be a great way to introduce the topic.

Standard 5: CC.2.1.HS.F.5: Choose a level of accuracy appropriate to limitations on

measurement when reporting quantities.
Topic 5: Choosing levels of accuracy in measurements (significant figures).
A. Four Trade Books
1. Neuschwander, C., & Geehan, W. (2015). Sir Cumference and the Roundabout
Battle. United States: Charlesbridge.
This story revolves around using rounding and counting techniques to record values. When the
castle in the story comes under siege, the characters must figure out ways to accurately and
quickly count food rations. They also must know how to count bows and arrows, and how to do
so quickly without counting each individual one. This story teaches how to use rounding,
significant figures, and counting to make accurate measurements. This is an important thing for
students to learn because it is often very abstract and difficult to understand the importance of. In
this case, students see the importance of accurate counting and rounding of significant figures.
2. Carroll, J. (2003). Measuring, marking and layout. Newtown, OH: Taunton Press.
One of the most common applications of measurements and the importance of accuracy in the
real world is construction and carpentry. When designing projects, being accurate is essential.
This book talks about ways to promote accuracy in measurement, the importance of
measurement, as well as many different disciplines that require accuracy. This book also talks
about specific measurement tools and how to guarantee accuracy with those tools. I think this is
a great book for showing the real-world importance of accuracy in measurements. Furthermore,
some students will likely become architects or carpenters or contractors, among other jobs, that
would require this skill. This book could tie into their interests and give them a preview for what
jobs would be like.
3. Swanson, J. (2021). The Secret Science of Sports. Philadelphia, PA: Running
Press Adult.
This book goes into detail about all the math involved in sports. Specifically, this book talks
about the importance of accuracy in sport, and it details how even small errors can have big
effects in sports, such as hitting a homerun or gymnastics moves. This book seems to do a great
job of tying together measurements and general math with sports. Obviously, many students love
sports, so I think this book would be very popular with high school kids. Hopefully, this book
could even motivate students to learn math. Either way, I think this book is an excellent resource
and would probably be great for coming up with some class projects or in-class activities.
4. O’Rourke, M. (2020). Architectural Drafting For Beginners: A Primer For The
Novice Drafter
(Independently published)
This book goes into more detail about the skill of architectural drafting. It talks about beginner
techniques, processes for construction, and general information about construction that is
necessary to know when drafting. While drafting, accuracy is absolutely essential because even a
tiny discrepancy could result in big mistakes during construction. As such, this book does a great
job of showing the importance of accuracy in measurement. I think this would be good for
students because it shows how important accuracy and measurements are in the real world. This
seems appropriate for all high school age students, and it might even be a good idea for a project.

B. Teacher Website
https://mylearningspringboard.com/why-teaching-both-estimation-and-accuracy-is-important-in-
math-instruction/
This is a good resource for informing a teacher on the necessity of teaching this topic. I think if a
teacher can understand why a topic is important, they’ll do a better job of understanding it. Also,
this topic can be confusing even for teachers, so getting a refresher on accuracy and estimation is
good for me as a teacher. This website also ties estimation and accuracy to other concepts, so
when I’m teaching, I can explain to students how this topic relates to other topics they have
learned or will learn.
C. Student Website
https://chemquiz.net/sig/
This is an interactive quiz where students need to choose the correct amount of significant
figures in a number. When measuring from a ruler or any instrument, it is imperative to know
how to round. Also, once you have measurements, multiplying them or manipulating them
otherwise is difficult because you have to maintain the right amount of significant figures. This
quiz game builds student strength on it, and giving instant feedback can also help build
confidence once they’ve learned it well.
D. Other Media Sources
1. One
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNfWIGTRVi4
This video visualizes rulers and how to accurately make measurements from them based on the
degree of precision on the ruler. I think showing students visually is very important, and trying to
hold a tiny ruler in front of the class is almost impossible, so using this video can be a great
substitute. Also, this video teaches about significant figures as well, so it ties in this whole
common core standard very well. This video is also very well made and easy to understand.
2. Two
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/news/2016/3/16/how-many-decimals-of-pi-do-we-really-need/
This is a very interesting article from NASA about how precise and accurate measurements need
to be. I think many students are fascinated by NASA, and seeing how this common core standard
relates to NASA work might engage students in the content more. Plus, this article has actual
quotes and interview questions from NASA engineers, so students are getting to hear directly
from people who actually work in the field. Overall, I think this is a great resource for showing
the importance of accuracy in measurement and trying to build student interest in the topic.