Juicy Projects

Juice up your math curriculum with an optional project!

Each quarter I offer an optional project for students who would like the chance to bring up their grades. It is worth 100 points, the same as a full chapter test grade. Originally, the project was made optional for struggling students that are motivated to bring up their grade. However, I observed other encouraging outcomes of the optional projects:

·       Students are surprisingly motivated and positive when it is their choice going into a project. It is the only time of year when students applaud and cheer for an assignment!

·      Parents are grateful for an alternative assessment. It provides an opportunity for their son/daughter to be praised for work well done. Also, if a student chooses not to do the project their lack of motivation is clear.

·      For some students it is the only mathematical assessment that they will ever earn an A on. 100 points is significant and when students can take pride in this grade it can take some negativity and anxiety out of the math classroom. 

·       Students with high grades are rewarded because there is no need for them to participate (the optional grade will not change their average).

Interested in optional project ideas? I have several handouts available each with complete details and editable rubrics ready to use. Click on the link to find a list of applicable projects to juice up the secondary math classroom!
Link to Projects and Rubrics