NBA Math Hoops
10 Activities
Grades 3 - 8
9 Hours 10 Minutes
Overview
NBA Math Hoops uses the excitement of basketball and the NBA/WNBA brands to engage students in grades 3-8 while teaching math and social-emotional skills. The program begins with preseason activities where students draft teams, analyze player data, and commit to shared values through a Sportsmanship Contract. This initial phase helps students build a foundation of teamwork and data literacy.
The regular season introduces essential gameplay rules, strategies, and mathematical concepts, allowing students to practice and apply their skills. As the season progresses, students develop their understanding of gameplay and enhance their strategic thinking.
The program culminates in the Playoffs, where students put their strategies to the test and demonstrate sportsmanship in a competitive setting. NBA Math Hoops boosts algebra readiness and fosters self-regulation and executive function skills, all while being adaptable to in-school, out-of-school, and home learning environments.
The regular season introduces essential gameplay rules, strategies, and mathematical concepts, allowing students to practice and apply their skills. As the season progresses, students develop their understanding of gameplay and enhance their strategic thinking.
The program culminates in the Playoffs, where students put their strategies to the test and demonstrate sportsmanship in a competitive setting. NBA Math Hoops boosts algebra readiness and fosters self-regulation and executive function skills, all while being adaptable to in-school, out-of-school, and home learning environments.
Educators should request their NBA Math Hoops games when preparing for Lesson 1 to ensure that they receive them before reaching Lesson 3. Requests can be placed at this link or using the link found in Lesson 1.
Quality Instructional Practices
Continue Your Journey
1
1
NBA Math Hoops Lesson 1: Demonstrating Sportsmanship
To start the NBA Math Hoops experience, all students are asked to sign a Sportsmanship Contract! Just like an NBA or WNBA player, this affirms their commitment to their team and league. An additional curriculum spotlight on sportsmanship asks them to reflect on the skills necessary to be a great competitor.
Grades 3 - 8
45 Minutes
2
2
NBA Math Hoops Lesson 2: Field Goal Percentages
Understanding percentages is the first fundamental math skill in NBA Math Hoops. In this activity, students use basketball statistics to develop an understanding of the relationship between fractions, decimals, and percentages.
Grades 3 - 8
1 Hour
3
3
NBA Math Hoops Lesson 3: The NBA Math Hoops Draft
In this activity, students apply their knowledge of percentages and decimals to the NBA Math Hoops player cards. Then, they form teams and draft their roster for the NBA Math Hoops season.
Grades 3 - 8
1 Hour 30 Minutes
4
4
NBA Math Hoops Lesson 4: Choosing a Shooter
In this interactive NBA Math Hoops activity, students act as coaches, utilizing the "Shot Planner" as their canvas for their basketball plays. Students will create "plays" by performing the correct mathematical operation, ultimately allowing them to unlock shots on the NBA Math Hoops game board.
Grades 3 - 8
1 Hour
5
5
NBA Math Hoops Lesson 5: Steals & Strategy
In this activity, students review the “steal rule” and practice identifying incorrect calculations while reinforcing computational accuracy. Then, they work through various gameplay scenarios in teams, discussing different strategies and decisions.
Grades 3 - 8
45 Minutes
6
6
NBA Math Hoops Lesson 6: Shooting a Free Throw
In this activity, students explore free-throw percentage data and learn to take free throws using the coordinate plane. Then, students discuss when to “foul,” considering various scenarios and reasons for calling fouls.
Grades 3 - 8
45 Minutes
7
7
NBA Math Hoops Lesson 7: The Shot Clock
In this activity, students review the purpose and use of the shot clock. They then work in teams, focusing on optimizing task sequencing and strategy during their turns. The activity concludes with group collaboration and individual reflection, supplemented by class discussions on the concept of grit.
Grades 3 - 8
45 Minutes
8
8
NBA Math Hoops Lesson 8: Maximizing Shot Options
In this activity, students learn the importance of division and rounding in the context of NBA Math Hoops, where certain division results can unlock valuable shot options. Students then work in teams, ensuring accuracy through collaboration. This activity aims to reinforce division and rounding skills while highlighting their strategic application in the game.
Grades 3 - 8
30 Minutes
9
9
NBA Math Hoops Lesson 9: Trade Deadline
In this activity, students revisit their NBA Math Hoops roster, assess team performance, and decide how best to improve their team before the playoffs begin. This activity aims to enhance data analysis, strategic decision-making, and teamwork through the trading process.
Grades 3 - 8
1 Hour 15 Minutes
10
10
NBA Math Hoops Lesson 10: NBA Math Hoops Championship Week
In this activity, students collaborate to build a tournament bracket for the in-class NBA Math Hoops Championship. Along the way, they develop an understanding of how math contributes to the development of sports tournaments.
Grades 3 - 8
50 Minutes
NBA Math Hoops
Overview
Quality Instructional Practices
Continue Your Journey
1
1
NBA Math Hoops Lesson 1: Demonstrating Sportsmanship
To start the NBA Math Hoops experience, all students are asked to sign a Sportsmanship Contract! Just like an NBA or WNBA player, this affirms their commitment to their team and league. An additional curriculum spotlight on sportsmanship asks them to reflect on the skills necessary to be a great competitor.
Grades 3 - 8
45 Minutes
2
2
NBA Math Hoops Lesson 2: Field Goal Percentages
Understanding percentages is the first fundamental math skill in NBA Math Hoops. In this activity, students use basketball statistics to develop an understanding of the relationship between fractions, decimals, and percentages.
Grades 3 - 8
1 Hour
3
3
NBA Math Hoops Lesson 3: The NBA Math Hoops Draft
In this activity, students apply their knowledge of percentages and decimals to the NBA Math Hoops player cards. Then, they form teams and draft their roster for the NBA Math Hoops season.
Grades 3 - 8
1 Hour 30 Minutes
4
4
NBA Math Hoops Lesson 4: Choosing a Shooter
In this interactive NBA Math Hoops activity, students act as coaches, utilizing the "Shot Planner" as their canvas for their basketball plays. Students will create "plays" by performing the correct mathematical operation, ultimately allowing them to unlock shots on the NBA Math Hoops game board.
Grades 3 - 8
1 Hour
5
5
NBA Math Hoops Lesson 5: Steals & Strategy
In this activity, students review the “steal rule” and practice identifying incorrect calculations while reinforcing computational accuracy. Then, they work through various gameplay scenarios in teams, discussing different strategies and decisions.
Grades 3 - 8
45 Minutes
6
6
NBA Math Hoops Lesson 6: Shooting a Free Throw
In this activity, students explore free-throw percentage data and learn to take free throws using the coordinate plane. Then, students discuss when to “foul,” considering various scenarios and reasons for calling fouls.
Grades 3 - 8
45 Minutes
7
7
NBA Math Hoops Lesson 7: The Shot Clock
In this activity, students review the purpose and use of the shot clock. They then work in teams, focusing on optimizing task sequencing and strategy during their turns. The activity concludes with group collaboration and individual reflection, supplemented by class discussions on the concept of grit.
Grades 3 - 8
45 Minutes
8
8
NBA Math Hoops Lesson 8: Maximizing Shot Options
In this activity, students learn the importance of division and rounding in the context of NBA Math Hoops, where certain division results can unlock valuable shot options. Students then work in teams, ensuring accuracy through collaboration. This activity aims to reinforce division and rounding skills while highlighting their strategic application in the game.
Grades 3 - 8
30 Minutes
9
9
NBA Math Hoops Lesson 9: Trade Deadline
In this activity, students revisit their NBA Math Hoops roster, assess team performance, and decide how best to improve their team before the playoffs begin. This activity aims to enhance data analysis, strategic decision-making, and teamwork through the trading process.
Grades 3 - 8
1 Hour 15 Minutes
10
10
NBA Math Hoops Lesson 10: NBA Math Hoops Championship Week
In this activity, students collaborate to build a tournament bracket for the in-class NBA Math Hoops Championship. Along the way, they develop an understanding of how math contributes to the development of sports tournaments.
Grades 3 - 8
50 Minutes

