Printable Middle School Math Units for Phone-Free Classes in Minneapolis
Printable Middle School Math Units for Phone-Free Classes in Minneapolis
Middle school math does not need a phone, and the Middle School Math Core Units Bundle is built for exactly that kind of room. It gives Minneapolis Public Schools teachers six printable units for Grades 7–9: equations, linear functions, the Pythagorean theorem, quadratics, percentages and interest, and probability with dice. Students work through printed worksheets and activities, so nothing depends on a screen.
View the math core unitsThe Middle School Math Core Units Bundle ($89.99) contains six Grades 7–9 units: Terms and Equations, Linear Functions, The Pythagorean Theorem – Applications, Quadratic Functions and Parabolas, Percentages and Interest, and Chance & Events. For a Minneapolis classroom under the district's phone policy, students do the work on printed pages. It is a set of core topics, not a full-year course, and it is not written for Minnesota's math standards.
The resources
Middle School Math Core Units Bundle, Grades 7–9
6 resources in one download: $89.99 instead of $144.94 bought separately.
Start with the first resource; the others are optional add-ons. Open any cover for the full contents and price.
Middle School Math Core Units Bundle | Equations, Linear & Quadratic Functions, Pythagorean Theorem, Percentages & Probability | 6 Units | Grades 7–9
Middle School Math Starter Bundle | Growing Math Kit, Fractions, Compass Constructions & Algebraic Expressions | Grades 5–9
Algebra Foundations Bundle | Expressions, Equations, Real Numbers & Ratio | 4 Workbooks | Grades 5–9
Algebra 1 Pathway Bundle | Equations, Linear Functions & Systems, Quadratics | 3 Workbooks | Grades 7–10
The real problem
Math class under Minnesota's phone policy law
Minnesota Statutes section 121A.73 required every district and charter school to adopt a policy on student cellphone possession and use by March 15, 2025. Minneapolis Public Schools has its policy in place, and the details, such as where phones go and when, are set by the district and your building. For a math teacher, the policy removes a familiar crutch. Students used to reach for a phone calculator, a graphing app or a quick video when they got stuck. Now the work has to make sense on the page. That is a good thing for core topics like solving equations and reading a slope, but it also means practice sheets need more steps, worked examples and levels so that every student can start. Minneapolis classes add their own range. The district runs a Spanish Dual Language Pathway, a Hmong Dual Language Program, Somali Heritage Language classes and an English Language Development Program, so many math rooms include students still building academic English. Word problems with a clear structure and a glossary help them as much as the math itself. Teachers need material that is printable, differentiated and quick to grade.
Why it fits
Why these six units work on paper
Each unit is a printable set of worksheets and activities. Here is how that lines up with a phone-free Minneapolis math room.
- Terms and Equations builds algebra skills that students practice by hand, step by step.
- The Linear Functions unit covers slope and intercept with graphing done on paper.
- The Pythagorean Theorem – Applications unit uses real-world problems students sketch and solve on the page.
- Quadratic Functions and Parabolas prepares students for high school algebra without a graphing app.
- Percentages and Interest uses everyday money problems that suit students at every level.
- Chance & Events runs probability with dice experiments, so the data comes from the table.
Getting started
Spreading the units across a Minneapolis school year
One suggested order for a Grade 8 class. Rearrange it to match your district pacing guide.
- Fall: Terms and EquationsOpen the year with Terms and Equations. Phone-free work starts well with clear algebra routines, and it shows you early which students need the more supported practice pages.
- Late fall: Linear FunctionsMove to slope and intercept. Students draw graphs on grid paper, and the paper graphs make a good display for discussing what the slope means in a word problem.
- Winter: Pythagorean theoremUse the applications unit during the darker months when students need hands-on work. Sketching right triangles and measuring around the room keeps the class active without screens.
- Spring: quadratics and percentagesQuadratic Functions and Parabolas prepares Grade 8 or 9 students for high school algebra. Follow it with Percentages and Interest to connect math to prices and savings.
- End of year: Chance & EventsClose with the dice experiments. Groups collect their own data, compare results and write up what they found, which is a calm, hands-on unit for the last weeks.
What to buy
Which math bundle to choose
The Middle School Math Core Units Bundle at $89.99 fits a Grades 7–9 teacher who wants the main topics before high school; the six units bought separately would cost $144.94. If your students are earlier in middle school, the Middle School Math Starter Bundle ($54.99) covers fractions, compass constructions and algebraic expressions. For extra algebra practice, the Algebra Foundations Bundle ($59.99) has four workbooks on expressions, equations, real numbers and ratio. Teachers moving students toward Algebra 1 may prefer the Algebra 1 Pathway Bundle ($44.99) with linear functions, systems and quadratics.
Honest limits
Before you plan with it
These units are not written for Minnesota. They do not carry Minnesota math standards codes and are not tied to any Minneapolis Public Schools curriculum or pacing guide, so check them against the Minnesota academic standards in mathematics and your district's scope. The bundle is a set of six units, not a complete year of math. You print the pages yourself; no calculators or dice are included. Use across a math team needs a short message to Teach Lessons first. If it does not fit, you can exchange it within 7 days for store credit of equal value.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Is it aligned to Minnesota's math standards?
No. The bundle is not aligned to the Minnesota academic standards in mathematics, which the state adopts by rule, and it is not approved by Minneapolis Public Schools. It covers common middle school topics. Compare each unit with your grade's benchmarks and your district pacing before you build a sequence around it.
What does Minnesota's phone law actually require?
Minnesota Statutes section 121A.73 required every district and charter school to adopt a policy on student cellphone possession and use by March 15, 2025. The exact rules come from each district's policy. For Minneapolis, check the district's policy and your building's version rather than relying on a summary.
Can students without strong English use the word problems?
The units are in English and include word problems. There is no Spanish, Hmong or Somali version of any unit, so plan your language supports alongside them. In a class with English learners, pair the word problems with your ELD supports and pre-teach key terms before each unit.
Do students need calculators?
The bundle does not include or require any device. Some percentage and interest problems are easier with a basic calculator, and whether students use classroom calculators is up to you and your school. Nothing in the units depends on phones or apps, and students can show every step of their work on paper.
Is it enough for a full Grade 8 year?
No. It is six units on core topics, which can fill a large part of a year, but it is not a complete course. Use it next to your district's main curriculum or combine it with another bundle such as Algebra Foundations for more practice.
Can our math department share one copy?
One purchase is for your own teaching. If your department wants to use it across classes, send Teach Lessons a short message before sharing. Questions about school purchasing, such as buying for a whole grade-level team at Minneapolis Public Schools, can be sent before you buy.
Get six printable math units ready for class
The product page lists each unit and what comes with it. Download right after checkout.
View the math core units