Figure Me Out Teacher Guide Lesson Guide • Grades 5-8
Figure Me Out!
TIME: 50-60 MIN
A low-stress, community-building math icebreaker & soft diagnostic framework.
Instructional Goals
Reduce Anxiety: Frame math as a creative, personal language rather than a set of high-stakes calculations.Build Community: Spark meaningful peer interactions centered around shared interests and personal metrics.Diagnostic Value: Uncover baseline skills (operations, variables, expressions) without the stress of a formal test.
Materials Needed
• Printable Student Worksheet
• "Number Neighbors" Task Cards
• Interactive Presentation Slides
• Scissors (for task cards)
• Student Notebooks / Pens
Step-by-Step Facilitation Plan
10 min
Step 1: The Mindset Shift (Hook)
Introduce the concept of a "Math Identity." Address math anxiety directly: explain that mistakes are chemical sparks of brain growth, not indicators of low intelligence. Ask: "How can math tell a story about who we are?" Use presentation slides 1-2.
20 min
Step 2: Number Neighbors (Movement)
Distribute "Number Neighbors" Task Cards (one per student or pair). Students move around the room to find partners who satisfy specific mathematical criteria on their cards.
Cooperative Norms Check: Before students stand, establish the "Active Listening Rule." Partners must look each other in the eye, listen to the math strategy used, and offer a specific affirmation.
20 min
Step 3: "Figure Me Out" Profile Creation
Students design their personal infographic sheets. Instead of answering traditional math worksheets, they reverse-engineer equations. For example, if they have 3 pets, their clue might be "2x - 5 = 1". Encourage a range of difficulty levels to allow for low-floor, high-ceiling engagement.
Figure Me Out Lesson Plan Bundle Page 1 of 2
Pedagogical Framework
Classroom management, soft diagnostic guidelines, and community expectations.
Soft Diagnostic Focus: What to Observe
While students work on their profiles and tasks, circulate to gather anecdotal information about their operational fluency and math anxiety markers.
Operational Comfort
Do they stick exclusively to addition/subtraction? Challenge stronger students (Grades 7-8) to incorporate multi-step order of operations, fractions, exponents, or simple algebraic variables.
Anxiety Visual Indicators
Watch for eraser rub-out patterns, protective posture (covering worksheets), or hyper-focus on finding "correct" answers. Use scaffolding prompts: "What’s another way to express that?"
Establishing Behavioral Norms
Middle schoolers need explicit instruction in mathematical collaboration. Use these rules during the active card game:
Support Over Speed: The goal is to make sure your partner understands the connection, not just to solve the card first. Speed creates math anxiety; depth builds confidence.
Active Affirmation: Before moving to a new partner, students must offer a positive mathematical compliment (e.g., "I like how clearly you explained your order of operations").
No Copying, Big Sharing: Students must compare calculation steps out loud. Copying is passive; collaboration is verbal.
Differentiation & Support
For Hesitant Learners:
Provide a "Menu of Clues" with basic sentence starters (e.g., "My age is 3 times ___" or "My birth day minus 5 equals ___"). Avoid requiring multi-step formulas if it triggers frustration.
For Advanced Learners:
Challenge students to write clues with algebraic fractions or basic square roots, or include a system where they must use at least three different mathematical operations.
Figure Me Out Lesson Plan Bundle Page 2 of 2
Figure Me Out Handout FIGURE ME OUT!
Create a personal math profile. Replace your numbers with equations!
Name Placeholder
Date
The Challenge: Do not write the actual number answers! Instead, write a math clue (an expression or equation) that equals the true answer. Make it a challenge for your classmates!
My Age
Clue #1
Write your math expression here...
Birth Month (1-12)
Clue #2
Write your math expression here...
Letters in First Name
Clue #3
Write your math expression here...
Shoe Size
Clue #4
Write your math expression here...
Number of Pets
Clue #5
Write your math expression here...
Favorite Number
Clue #6
Write your math expression here...
Unit 1: Math Identity & Community Page 1 of 2
My Math Mindset
Reflect on how you think and feel about math. No pressure, just honest thoughts!
1. How I Feel About Math
Check the box that feels most true for you right now.
When I get a math problem wrong, I feel...
Frustrated Neutral Curious
Working with partners in math is...
Helpful Distracting Scaring
Math in everyday life is...
Everywhere Sometimes useful Hard to see
2. The Power of "Yet"
Think of a time you struggled with a concept (in math or a hobby like gaming or sports) and got better. What did you do to improve?
Write your reflection here...
3. Create-Your-Own Challenge!
Write a quick word-problem about your favorite sport, video game, or hobby. The answer should equal a number that has meaning to you. Solve it to show your mathematical strategy!
Your Problem:
Your Solution Strategy:
Unit 1: Math Identity & Community Page 2 of 2
Number Neighbors Task Cards Number Neighbors Task Cards (Cards 1-6)
Print, cut along dashed lines, and distribute one card per student for icebreaker rounds.
PAGE 1
CARD 1 DIAGNOSTIC: PRIME/COMPOSITE
Shoe Size Showdown
Multiply your shoe size by your age (round to the nearest whole number). Is your answer a prime or composite number? Explain how you know.
Neighbor Task:
Find a partner with a different shoe size and compare. Is their product also prime or composite?
CARD 2 DIAGNOSTIC: AVERAGE
Age Average
Calculate your age in months (e.g., if you are 11 years and 6 months: 11 × 12 + 6 = 138 months). Find a partner you don't know well.
Neighbor Task:
Calculate the mathematical average (mean) of your two ages in months. Show your steps out loud!
CARD 3 DIAGNOSTIC: MULTIPLES
Birth Month Match
Find your birth month number (January = 1, December = 12). Think of the first five multiples of that number (e.g., if 3, write 3, 6, 9, 12, 15).
Neighbor Task:
Find a partner whose birth month plus your birth month equals an even number. Celebrate with a high-five!
CARD 4 DIAGNOSTIC: PRE-ALGEBRA
Equation Exchange
Think of your favorite number. Double it, then add 10 to get a "mystery sum." Do not tell anyone your favorite number!
Neighbor Task:
Swap your mystery sums with a partner. Can you work backward to solve for each other's favorite number?
CARD 5 DIAGNOSTIC: DIFFERENCE
Height Check
Estimate your height in total inches (1 foot = 12 inches. If you are 5 feet tall, you are 60 inches tall). Write down your estimate.
Neighbor Task:
Find a partner. Subtract the smaller height from the larger height to find the difference in inches.
CARD 6 DIAGNOSTIC: PRODUCT
Pet Product
Count the number of letters in your first name. Count the number of pets you have (if you have 0 pets, use 1 instead!).
Neighbor Task:
Multiply your two numbers together. Share your product and pet details with a neighbor.
Unit 1: Figure Me Out Lesson Materials Task Cards 1 - 6
Number Neighbors Task Cards (Cards 7-12)
Print, cut along dashed lines, and distribute one card per student for icebreaker rounds.
PAGE 2
CARD 7 DIAGNOSTIC: ESTIMATION
Sleeping Giant
Estimate how many hours of sleep you got last night (rounded to the nearest half hour). Write down your estimate.
Figure Me Out Slides Connection & Community
Grades 5 - 8 Math
Figure Me Out!
Discovering our classroom community, math identities, and the power of mathematical thinking.
Ready to start? Grab your seat!
Slide 1 of 6
Our Mindset Philosophy
The Power of "Yet"
Mistakes = Brain Growth
Scientists found that when you make a mistake in math, your brain grows a new pathway. Making mistakes is literally how we get smarter!
Speed vs. Depth
Good mathematicians aren't the fastest. They are the ones who think deeply and look at patterns from different angles. Take your time!
"There is no such thing as a 'math brain.' Everyone can learn." Slide 2 of 6
Action & Icebreaker
Number Neighbors!
We are going to play a movement game to meet our new classmates through math.
1
Get Your Card
Read your challenge and compute your own secret number first.
2
Find a Neighbor
Walk calmly around the room to find a partner who fits your card's target constraint.
3
Solve & Share
Explain your calculations out loud and verify each other's answers.
Rules: Walking speed only, friendly voices, active support! Slide 3 of 6
Our Group Standards
Active Listening Norms
What It Looks Like:
• Looking at your partner when they explain their strategy.
• Nodding and asking: "How did you get that?"
• Offering encouragement: "That's super creative!"
What It DOESN'T Look Like:
• Grabbing a partner's paper to copy their answer.
• Shouting "I am done!" and ignoring your partner.
• Telling someone their solution is "wrong" without details.
Remember: A mathematician's strongest skill is collaboration! Slide 4 of 6
Creative Writing Project
Create Your Profile Page
Now, you are the math content creator! On your handout, replace the numbers of your life (age, shoe size) with math challenges.
Example (For Age 12):
" (4 × 5) - 8 "
Level-Up Challenges:
• Grade 5-6: Use at least two operations (+, -, ×, ÷).
• Grade 7-8: Use grouping symbols or variables (solve for x).
• All: Keep your final answers completely secret!
Figure Me Out Exit Ticket Lesson Wrap-Up
Classroom Exit Ticket
Name
Date
Please answer the questions below honestly. Your responses will help your teacher understand how you learn best!
1. The 3-2-1 Reflection
3 words describing how you feel about starting math this year:
1. _______________ 2. _______________ 3. _______________
2 mathematical strengths you possess (e.g., explaining, solving, drawing diagrams):
I am good at...
1 way your math teacher can support you when things get challenging:
It helps me when the teacher...
2. The Mystery Equalizer
Write one mathematical expression or equation that equals the number of siblings you have. (If you are an only child, your target is 0!).
Your equation clue...
3. Number Neighbor Shout-Out
Who is one "Number Neighbor" you partnered with during the task card game today? Write down their name and one compliment about how they collaborated or solved problems.
Partner's Name:
Your Compliment:
Figure Me Out Lesson Plan Bundle Exit Ticket
