By Tyler King
As the winter season thrives joyfully, it’s the perfect time to put mathematical magic into the festive cheer. While the air is cold and the aroma of seasonal treats fills the room, high schoolers can engage in math activities that blend the spirit of winter with the power of numbers. These three math activities are enjoyable projects and tools to form a deeper appreciation for the mathematical marvels nestled within our holiday celebrations. Read on as we unwrap these engaging mathematical journeys designed to bring high school students a sprinkle of educational joy during the festive season.
1. Winter Sports Statistics
In this activity, students utilize the excitement of winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, and skeletons to delve into statistics and probability. First, they can research and collect data on the performance of athletes’ scores, times, etc. Then, they can use this data to calculate averages, standard deviations, and probabilities. With statistics knowledge, students can even create graphs and charts to visualize the data through graphs and charts to analyze trends.
Example of data for activity (points throughout the years for a particular World Cup skier): Activity Data
2. Snowflake Symmetry
In this activity, students explore symmetry by creating snowflake designs. Students can design various unique snowflake patterns, starting with a basic template by applying rotational and reflective symmetry. Students can be encouraged to use protractors and rulers to measure angles and lines accurately and educationally. With this winter high school project, high schoolers can explore the concepts of angles, geometry, and symmetry while creating intricate snowflake designs.
Activity link: Snowflake Symmetry
Materials needed: construction paper, glue, scissors, and Q-tips.
3. Hot Cocoa Conundrum
Dive into the mathematics behind mixing hot cocoa. Students investigate the relationship between cocoa powder, sugar, milk, marshmallows, and temperature to create the perfect cup of hot cocoa. Task them with experimenting with different ratios of ingredients, recording temperature readings, and analyzing the data to determine the ideal combination for the tastiest hot cocoa. This activity integrates data analysis and some algebra to create a fun interactive math activity.
Here’s a basic recipe to get your students thinking: Hot Chocolate Recipe For One
Materials needed: paper cups, cocoa powder, sugar, milk, marshmallows, and hot water.
These three festive math activities for high schoolers offer an exciting mix of winter cheer and mathematical exploration. Blending seasonal themes with hands-on learning provides a dynamic way to grasp mathematical concepts while allowing students to be creative at the same time. Beyond the winter fun, these projects will emphasize the relevance of math in everyday scenarios. So, go ahead and try them!
Do you want more resources on the topic of winter high school projects? NSTEM’s vast resources database provides thousands of searchable STEM resources by category, school level, and state. This comprehensive library includes info on enrichment activities, curricula, internships, scholarships, and more. Check out a free sampling here. Or get an NSTEM membership today to unlock the complete list.
Project-based learning enrichment provides high school students with college and career readiness. It gives them real-world relevance, transforming students into collaborators and imaginative problem solvers. They will gain the upper hand in a global landscape, stemming from enhanced confidence and grit. NSTEM provides these young STEM enthusiasts with a close community of like-minded fellow students and educators. To start your 9-12 Chapter of the National STEM Honor Society, click here.
