Space Awareness
Making A Sundial
Can people really measure time just by using the sun? Scholars venture outside on a nice, sunny day to build sundials and learn how people measured time 600 years ago. The class builds two different sundials while gaining practice with...
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Close Enough?
Students examine how navigation is based on mathematics and how making a mistake in measuring an angle could have an impact on a target. They observe a teacher-led lecture, use a calculator to complete two worksheets, and participate in...
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One Size Fits All?
Students describe the differences between an estimate and a guess. They create reasonable estimates based on comparison and activities. Students explain how estimation is helpful in showing the relative size on a scale. They also...
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Measurement Scavenger Hunt
Students review estimation, measurement, fractions, decimals while familiarizing themselves with a new classroom at the beginning of the year.
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Portable Sundial
Middle schoolers work together to identify the accuracy of sundials. They track the position of the sun and create a shadow plot. They discover the difference between real time and clock time.
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Getting it Right!
Students investigate error. As shown in earlier activities from navigation lessons 1 through 3, without an understanding of how errors can affect position, one cannot navigate well. Students explore how computers can help in navigation....
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Joseph Stella Art: Line Designs
Students discover the focal point in pictures and create their own images using lines and space. In this art analysis lesson, students create a black dot on a white paper which becomes a focal point for the lines the student will paint...
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Measurement
Students experience a positive science experiment and study fundamental concepts of measurement.
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Hurricane Tracking
Students access the Internet to find information on current hurricanes. They get locations, speeds, and air pressures and then plot the location of the hurricane on a hurricane-tracking map. They also access the FEMA website to solve...
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Bubbles Everywhere!
Eighth graders use concrete and graphic models to derive formulas for finding perimeter, area, surface area, circumference, and volume of two- and three-dimensional shapes. This lesson is a fun way to practice measurement and circle and...
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The Average Atom - Isotopes
Seventh graders, in groups, complete an Isotopes model and notice that atomic masses are decimal numbers. These masses are an average of all the isotopes of that element.
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Geometry in Nature
Students examine how the circumference, diameter, and the relationship of Pi of a circle are related. They count the summer rings of a tree to determine its growth.
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How Do Your Students Measure Up?
Students participate in a paper folding activity that has them create a ruler for measuring to the closest 1/16th of an inch.
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Investigating Scale Factors with the Geometer's Sketchpad
Students use Geometer's Sketchpad to examine the scale factor when in is applied to the length of a figure's sides. They look at how the scale factor affects the side lengths, perimeter, and area of the figure that result. They work with...
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Reflections
Fifth graders create a reflection of a poygon using a Mira. They discover that a line connecting a vertiex of a polygon and the corresponding vertex of its reflection is perpendicular to the line of reflection. Students create a glide...
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Energy Choices
Students add and multiply decimals to complete gas choice worksheets. They discover which gas supplier has the best gas prices. Students collect and interpret data about local natural gas suppliers and use this information...
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Mapping A Stream
Students participate in mapping an actual waterway. They include reach lengths, transects, compass reading, and scale determinations. They include windfalls, plant cover, types of streambed composition, and landmarks such as trees and...
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Painter's Area
Students demonstrate geometric relationships of finding area of rectangles and squares. They apply determine the quantity of paint needed to cover the area by using the concept of quantity.
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Properties of Materials
Students describe how objects in the universe range from smaller than atoms to larger than galaxies. they explain how the metric system works and compare it to the English system of measurement.
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Properties of Matter
Third graders explore forms of matter through reading, hands-on science activities, and research using the Internet. Students create a booklet, directions given, that they title and decorate, to later serve as a review visualization...
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Schoolyard Bird Project
Young scholars observe and count bird sightings around their schoolyard throughout the school year.
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Snail Car
Students design and create robotic cars using Legos and the Robolab program. They hold a "snail race" where the slowest car that can be determined to be actually moving is the winner.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Properties of Minerals
High schoolers explore the basic building blocks of our planet. In this minerals activity students begin the process of forensics on the basis of investigation and drawing conclusions from observations.
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State Your Position
Students practice using a global positioning system. They discuss the use of celestial objects as navigation points and its problems. They list the advantages and disadvantages of GPS as well.