What is Math Connections?

Math connections is a course for all sixth grade students. It is designed to be an opportunity for students to explore mathematical concepts in a more hands-on, project-based way with real world connections. There are certain concepts and skills that are taught specifically in the math connections course, so there are times when the class has a more traditional feel, but much of the work students will do in this class should allow for improved problem solving skills and opportunities for connecting the mathematics to everyday life.

Math Connections Concepts by Unit

Unit 1:

  1. Estimation

  2. Basic operations

  3. Order of operations

Unit 2 (explicitly taught in Connections):

  1. Statistical questions

  2. Measures of center (mean, median, mode)

  3. Measures of variation (range, interquartile range, outliers)

  4. Mean absolute deviation

Unit 3 (explicitly taught in Connections):

  1. Types of data displays (stem-and-leaf, histograms, box-and-whisker)

  2. Shapes of distribution

  3. Choosing appropriate data displays

  4. Recognizing misleading data displays

Unit 4 (links for specific operations available in unit 2 - 6th grade):

  1. Fraction operations

  2. Decimal operations

Unit 5 (explicitly taught in Connections):

  1. Random samples

  2. Sample bias

  3. Comparing populations

  4. Two-way tables

Unit 6:

  1. Composite figures (area and perimeter)

  2. Volume (prisms)

  3. Surface area (prisms and pyramids)

Unit 7 (explicitly taught in Connections):

  1. Probability

  2. Experimental and theoretical probability

  3. Compound events

  4. Simulations

Unit 8 (links for specific operations available in unit 2 - 6th grade):

  1. Fractions

  2. Decimals

  3. Percents