Curated OER
Measuring the Earth
High schoolers use principles of geometry to measure the circumference of the Earth. In this applied geometry lesson plan, students use mathematics to determine scientific information. They make measurements, calculate the central angle,...
Open Oregon Educational Resources
Forest Measurements: An Applied Approach
Geometry—it's not just for the math classroom! Learners explore the field of forestry through a mathematical lens. An instructional resource explains how forest workers collect data about trees such as height, diameter, and age using...
Curated OER
Geometry In Space
How can we identify shapes in the Universe? High schoolers will compare and contrast elliptic and hyperbolic geometry. They will also explore one possible way to measure the curvature of the Universe, namely, by measuring the sum of the...
CK-12 Foundation
Latitude, Longitude, and Direction: Angle from the Equator
Which has the higher IQ, latitude or longitude? Longitude because it has 360 degrees! The interactive introduces the way latitude is measured and why it can never have more than 90 degrees. A handful of challenge questions encourage...
Curated OER
Symmetry in Paper Airplanes
Young scholars explore symmetry. For this geometry and scientific inquiry lesson, students design paper airplanes with middle line symmetry, as well as right, obtuse, and acute angles. Young scholars measure the plane's angles using a...
Captain Planet Foundation
Frog Garden Party! Toads and Triangles in the Math Garden
It's frog party time! With frog banners, frog juice, and a triangle hunt, your garden party is sure to be both entertaining and educational. The instructional activity connects geometry, earth science, and delicious snacks to teach kids...
Curated OER
Mr. Bo Jangle, What's Your Angle?
Third graders explore angles. In this geometry activity, 3rd graders identify and define acute, obtuse, and right angles. Students form angles with their bodies, find angles in picture books, and record angles found outside in their...
Curated OER
Mirror Symmetry/Mirror Images
Young scholars explore lines of symmetry in geometric shapes. In this geometry lesson, students construct angles using mirrors and rubberbands, then predict the number of images that will appear in the reflection. Young scholars...
Las Cumbres Observatory
The Cosmic Distance Ladder: Parallax
Scientists don't have a ruler long enough to measure to the stars, so they rely on math. Scholars learn to calculate the distance from Earth to a star using the parallax method. They use angle measures from different perspectives to...
Curated OER
Angles: Angles, Angles, Everywhere
Middle schoolers estimate and accurately measure the size of angles communicate with the appropriate geometric terms and symbols to describe and name angles, lines, line segments, rays
NASA
Foam Rocket
When going for distance, does it make a difference at what angle you launch the rocket? Teams of three launch foam rockets, varying the launch angle and determining how far they flew. After conducting the series of flights three times,...
Curated OER
Geometry of Exploration: Eyes Over Mars
Students research how engineers and scientists generate linear and angular measurements with geometry to survey the Earth and Mars. They assess how geometric shapes affect navigation. A surveyor comes to the classroom and explains how he...
Curated OER
Perfection on Ice!: Math, Geometry, Fibonacci Numbers, Olympics
Learners use the human body as a foundation for gaining practice in measuring angles and calculating ratios and proportions.
Curated OER
Seeing Solar Storms in STEREO-II
In this solar storms learning exercise, students use a diagram given the location of two STEREO spacecraft satellites, a coronal mass ejection, the sun and the Earth to solve 2 problems about the coronal mass ejection. Students use...
Curated OER
Lesson Plan Outline for Rainbow Science
Young scientists study light reflection and refraction as they determine the critical angle, the rainbow angle, and color separation in rainbows. Teams record the data they collect in a shared spreadsheet and discuss results with the class.
Curated OER
The Anti-Gravity Machine
Students examine physics by completing a bicycle experiment in class. In this gravity lesson, students measure the characteristics of different bicycles and compare their different race times. Students utilize a shoebox, pencil, tape,...
Curated OER
Measuring The Earth
Students use their geometry and trigonometry skills to determine the distance between their school and another school.
Curated OER
Sled Kites and Trigonometry
Students study the history of kites and their fundamental properties. In this kites lesson students divide into teams and build and fly kites.
Curated OER
Shadows and Skyscrapers
Eighth graders explain the relationship between the position of the sun, a city's latitude and shadow length. Ratio's, geometry, and algebra are used to determine the shadow lengths and building heights. A sun angle (altitude) charts to...
Curated OER
Measurement via Triangulation
Students utilize triangulation techniques to determine altitudes of objects. An altitude locator is constructed and used to determine the height of a building or a tree. Tangent tables and formulas provide the ratio for the formula to...
Curated OER
Aurora Borealis
In this Aurora Borealis worksheet, students read about how early scientists used triangulation to measure the height of the Aurora Borealis. Students solve 3 problems using triangulation.
Curated OER
An application of the Parallax Effect
In this parallax effect instructional activity, students observe 2 photographs taken of an active area of the sun by 2 STEREO satellites and 1 photograph taken of the same active area of the sun by the SOHO satellite. Students observe...
Curated OER
Navigating by the Numbers
Students observe how math is important in navigation and engineering. They study how surveyors use math and science to calcute, count, measure, label, and indicate distances on a map. They estimate specific distances.
Cornell University
Resolution—Not Just for the New Year
Experiment with optical resolution using an inquiry-based lesson. Young researchers calculate fellow classmates' optical resolutions. They apply the information to understand the inner workings of optical instruments.