Designing a restaurant provides a method of practicing multiplication, graphing and balancing a variety of attributes. To create a design product, provide a set of requirements and information on the restaurant. For example, explain that the restaurant is 5,000 square feet and must include a kitchen with three ovens, two stoves, a sink, two refrigerators and counter space. The seating area must include seats for at least 100 people and at least 15 groups. Students must use the information to graph and design a restaurant. You may wish to include prices of various items needing to be purchased and ask students to determine the total cost.
An understanding of probability helps children and adults understand when to engage in gambling and when to avoid the activity. To turn probability into a project, assign a casino-design project. During the project, students balance popularity and income potential of various gambling activities to create the most profitable casino. A teacher provides the information on the popularity and probability of each casino activity, from blackjack tables to slot machines. Students must balance each activity to assemble the best casino from a specific amount of items, such as 10.
A comic strip marries art and humor with math concepts. This project requires students to draw a minimum number of panels that feature clearly drawn characters. The messages within the panels explain a math concept using humor, irony or a dramatic situation. You may wish to include requirements on coloring the comic, creating multiple comics or explaining a minimum of three math concepts covered in the year's curriculum.
A demonstration offers an open-ended method of teaching math. During a demonstration, a student stands in front of the class and explains a concept or process that includes the principles of math covered in the curriculum. Possible demonstration activities include origami, model airplanes and games of chance. As an alternative to a demonstration activity, students may use graphs, charts and images to explain a mathematical concept to the class.