Welcome to Amplify Desmos Math California!
California educators, welcome to math that motivates. Introducing Amplify Desmos Math California, a curiosity-driven TK–12 program that builds lifelong math proficiency. Each lesson poses problems that invite a variety of approaches before guiding students to synthesize their understanding of the learning goals. Students encounter math problems they’re eager to solve, while teachers spend more time where it’s most impactful—creating a collaborative classroom of learners.
Explore the California Adoption Toolkit resources and discover more about the program in the sections below.
Request a sample or Scope and SequenceBuilt for California
The Amplify Desmos Math California program is designed around the vision articulated in the Mathematics Framework for California Public Schools: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve to enable all California students to become powerful users of mathematics. Our program incorporates the latest research in student learning, meaning that we:
- Focus on the Big Ideas: Amplify Desmos Math California’s courses, units, and lessons are centered around the Big Ideas. Big Ideas, like standards, are not considered in isolation. In addition to each unit and lesson’s focal Big Ideas, Amplify Desmos Math California also provides connections among the Big Ideas across units and lessons.
- Center on open and engaging tasks: Amplify Desmos Math California is grounded in engaging tasks meant to address students’ often-asked question: “Why am I learning this?” Students are invited into learning with low-floor, high-ceiling tasks that provide an entry point for all. Open tasks in Amplify Desmos Math California provide the space for students to try on multiple strategies and represent their thinking in different ways, and allow student explanation and discussion to serve as the center of the classroom. All lessons offer both print and digital representations.
- Provide enhanced digital experiences: Amplify Desmos Math California includes digitally-enhanced lesson activities, incorporating interactive digital tools alongside print materials. These purposefully-placed resources allow students to visualize mathematical concepts, receive actionable feedback while practicing, encounter personalized learning support from an onscreen tutor, and engage in discussions about their thinking and approaches.
- Treat core instruction and differentiation as integral partners: The Amplify Desmos Math California curriculum provides teachers with lessons, strategies, and resources to eliminate barriers and increase access to grade-level content without reducing the mathematical demand of tasks. Every activity has multiple entry points to ensure that all students are supported and challenged. Intervention and personalized learning activities are directly connected to lesson content and offer students individualized support as they dive into the mathematics.
California Adoption Toolkit resources
Program Description
Linked here is the Program Description for Amplify Desmos Math California.
Our Major Conceptual Ideas Strategy
The renowned mathematician William Paul Thurston said that mathematics is about understanding. The essence of this perspective is woven into the California Mathematics Framework. The Framework is clear that mathematics calls for “original thought and connections of concepts” and that mathematics teaching should “position students as thinkers and members of the classroom community…to support students in seeing themselves as young mathematicians.”
When Amplify developed Amplify Desmos Math California, we built it with one clear priority: grounding it in student understanding. The Framework provided a basis in the Big Ideas, of course, but also in the Drivers of Investigation (DIs), Content Connections (CCs), and Standards for Mathematical Practice (SMPs). Using those components of the Framework, we organized student learning around how students would make sense of the mathematics.
In addition to lessons and learning experiences specifically designated as Explore lessons or Investigations, we utilized the structure of the DIs, CCs, and SMPs in each lesson. Not only is every lesson in our program tied to one or more of the Big Ideas and their connections with one another, every lesson is also framed around these additional components. Each Lesson Overview centers around these questions:
Why? Why are students learning this content?
How? How are students grappling with the mathematical concepts?
What? What contexts encourage students to apply their knowledge?
Each of these questions maps to one of the additional aspects of the Mathematical Framework. Addressing the “Why?” grounds the lesson in one or more of the Drivers of Investigation. Focusing on “How?” encourages students to develop the habits of mind described by the SMPs, becoming explorers in mathematics rather than passive recipients. And maintaining attention on “What?” centers students and teachers on the precise mathematical topics that they are exploring aligned to the four Content Connections.
The Big Ideas and the conceptual and pedagogical shifts in the California Mathematics Framework reflect a shared goal to center education on student understanding. The Amplify Desmos Math California team is eager to support educators and students in their transition to conceptual understanding through our High-Quality Instructional Materials, professional development opportunities, and continued support.
Standards Maps
Evaluation Criteria Map
Linked here is the Evaluation Criteria Map for grades K–8. Please note that you will need to be logged into the digital platform to access the links in the Evaluation Criteria Map.
Standards for Mathematical Practice
Big Ideas
Amplify Desmos Math California’s courses, units, and lessons are centered around the Big Ideas. In addition to each unit and lesson’s focal Big Ideas, Amplify Desmos Math California also provides connections among the Big Ideas across units and lessons. Please refer to Keeping the Big Ideas at the Center (linked below) for specific lesson designs and alignment with the Big Ideas for each grade level.
Drivers of Investigation and Content Connections
Amplify Desmos Math California incorporates the Drivers of Investigation and Content Connection throughout the program. Throughout the year, students engage with open and authentic tasks of varying durations — from lesson activities to unit-level Explore lessons and longer course-level Investigations. Every lesson and investigation opportunity is grounded around the why, how, and what of the learning experience, and helps teachers bring mathematical concepts to life.
California English Language Development Standards
California Environmental Principles and Concepts
Select lessons, performance tasks, and investigations across grade levels in Amplify Desmos Math California are aligned to one or more of the California Environmental Principles and Concepts. Click the links below to view how the California Environmental Principles and Concepts are represented in each grade level.
Contact us
For questions, samples, or more information, please contact your local Amplify Account Executive:
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Erin King |
Northern CA |
Bay Area |
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Central Valley and Central Coast |
Ventura and L.A. County |
Orange and L.A. County |
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San Bernardino and L.A. County |
Riverside and L.A. County |
San Diego County |
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Under 2300 students in Bay Area, Sacramento Valley, and Northern Counties
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Under 2300 students in Southern CA, Central Coast, and Southern Central Valley Counties |