Assign students a specific topic to complete a survey on, or allow them to choose their own topic. Seniors might ask who their classmates plan to vote for in an upcoming election. Other students could see if their school is in favor of or against the idea of school uniforms. Once they have collected all of the surveys, require them to put the data into graphic form--a bar graph or pie chart, for example--and present the material to the class.
Students will be learning about angles, calculating the sizes of different geometric figures and measurements in high school. Assign them a model project where they have to build a bridge or a model of their dream house, for example. They will have to create a scale model, though. Therefore, they will need to look up measurements in a book and convert them, or measure the angles of the top of their house to the ground.
Have students contribute to some global data collection projects. For example, they could visit Global Grocery List to share grocery prices with students from all over the world, or the National Math Trail, where they will see and share pictures and stories of how students find math connections in their everyday lives. Ask students to look at the data on the websites, and figure out percentages or hypothesize about the implications of the data.
Show students the connections between math and other subject areas. For example, have them use books and encyclopedias to research statistics and data about previous centuries. You could also have them collect data about how many languages different students in the school speak. Introduce them to the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment, Global Sun Temperature Project or the Global Water Sampling Project to let them share scientific data with students from all over the world.