Virginia Department of Education
Linear Curve of Best Fit
Is foot length to forearm length a linear association? The class collects data of fellow scholars' foot length and the length of their forearms. They plot the data and find a line of best fit. Using that line, they make predictions of...
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Get a Leg Up
Traveling through space is an amazing experience, but it definitely takes a toll on the body. After reading an article and watching a brief video, learners perform an experiment that simulates the effects of zero gravity on the...
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How Big Is Your Smile?
Students measure their smile with a piece of string, which is then measured on a ruler (metric of course!). They take a piece of string and cut it to the length that matches their smile and then measure it with a ruler.
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Parachutes: What Affects a Parachute
Students create a simple paper parachute. In this parachute design lesson, students examine the effects of the wind and make napkin parachutes.
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Measurement: Lesson 2
Fourth graders find the perimeter of a geometric shape by adding the lengths of the sides. They find the area of a square or rectangle by counting square units. Students use multiplication to find the area of a rectangle. They estimate...
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Reaction Time
Third graders review important vocabulary to explain measures of central tendency and reaction time. In pairs, they measure reaction time of dropping and catching a ruler. Data is collected after repeated catches and information is...
Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX)
Sonar Mapping of the Ocean Floor
Eighth graders participate in an experiment that emulates a sonar signal bouncing off the ocean floor. They determine how the ocean floor is measured by the length of time it takes for the sonar signal to return. They work with a wooden...
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Jelly Bean Math
Students estimate, measure, compute, and create patterns using jelly beans. In small groups, they solve various calculations, place jelly beans into groups, invent a new flavor, create a pattern, and complete a worksheet.
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Seeing What You Cannot See--RADAR
Student imitate mapping the ocean floor using the basic concepts of radar. Then they explain what radar is and how it workds. All of their measurements are recorded on a data sheet. Then the data is entered into a spreadsheet program. A...
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Circles-Diameter, Circumference, Radius and the Discovery of Pi
Seventh graders measure the diameter, circumference and radius of a circle and find pi using the diameter and circumference. In this geometry lesson plan, 7th graders work in groups to find the diameter, radius, and circumference of...
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Moles, Moles, Moles
Students investigate moles and measure out a mole by mass and volume. In this mole lesson plan, students observe demonstrations of quantities of substances that measure 1 mole. Students use a solid aluminum block and ruler to measure the...
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Avalanche on Mars!
In this mars and scaling learning exercise, students use the given image to determine the dimensions of the image and the size of specific details on the image. They calculate the image scale in meters in order to determine specific...
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How Old Are the Stars?
Students determine the age of a star cluster by observing, measuring, and plotting astronomical data. They examine the Jewe lbox cluster, located within the southern constellation Crux and determine its age.
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Heating and Cooling a Really Large Lizard
Students investigate the effect of temperature on cold-blooded animals, using a 5 x 8 inch index card to represent a dinosaur as their model organism. Students measure temperature changes that occurs at different angles to a light...
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Surface to Volume Ratios
High schoolers measure the rate of diffusion and to calculate the surface area to volume ratios of varying cell sizes. The lesson is very clearly organized with a useful student worksheet provided. They perform a lab experiment which is...
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Volume of Gas
Eighth graders investigate the effect of temperature on the volume of a gas in a closed container. They measure the height of the water in their beaker/container, conduct their experiment, and create a graph to illustrate their data.
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What The Peanuts Say: Catabolism and Calories
Students investigate the energy released by a peanut and a piece of a walnut. In this catabolism and calories lesson plan, students burn a peanut and a piece of a walnut and measure the temperature of the water before burning and after...
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Density
Students find the mass, volume, and density of various objects. In this density measurement lesson, students observe how same-sized objects can have different masses, then use water displacement to find the density of each object and...
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"Math Curse" by Jon Scieszka & Lane Smith
Students use estimation and measurement skills to make predictions and solve problems involving length.
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Pumpkin Play
Have you ever examined a pumpkin and estimated the number of lines it has? In this math lesson, students count the actual number of lines, record and graph the results. They investigate the circumference, weight and buoyancy of the...
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Leaping!
Students properly leap and measure their distance. For this leaping lesson, students practice leaping for accuracy and proper form. Students estimate their leaps and measure with rulers. Students determine distance covered by the entire...
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By the Pound, Gram Liter or Gallon
Students participate in experiments at five stations to practice measurement. In this measuring lesson plan, students are presented different produce and objects and must measure with an appropriate tool. Students use metric and...
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How Long? How Wide?
Second graders distinguish between and use nonstandard and standard units of measurement, use appropriate tools and techniques to measure length and width, and record and interpret data using graphs.
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UFOs
Learners, in groups, construct a catapult. Then they conduct a series of experiments by catapulting a marshmallow, using different lengths of spoons, across the room. They predict, measure, and record the measured distance on a worksheet.