3-5, 6-8
Studying the behavior and motion of dinosaurs is obviously a
challenge since these creatures are extinct. If researchers wish to examine the
running velocity of a dinosaur, they must instead consider other evidence of
dinosaur motion and make an indirect estimate. In this lesson, students will
play the role of researchers who field test the Alexander Formula—a formula that uses paleontology data to estimate dinosaur running
velocities. Students will serve as human analogues, making measurements on
themselves, computing predicted running velocities using the Alexander Formula,
and calculating their actual running velocities. They will then evaluate the
accuracy of the formula by comparing estimated and actual running velocities
for the class.
Pre-K-2, 3-5
This kinesthetic lesson involves using models to practice
regrouping and to reinforce place value understanding. Students work together
to play games involving bases 10 and 5. Students will also interpret models as
numbers.
3-5, 6-8
In this lesson, students use their previous knowledge of
multiplication to identify factors and form products. Students will use Illuminations’
Times Table to identify various patterns in a multiplication table. They will then
play the Multiple Factors Game and Times Square to reinforce their
understanding of factors and multiples.
3-5
“Where’s
the math?” This is a question that can be answered by students as they examine
pictures from a virtual math trail. Expanding a student’s awareness of the
world is emphasized throughout this activity. As students share thoughts and
verbally express ideas, they are able to grow and communicate with other mathematically.
3-5
In this lesson students create rectangular arrays to
represent sizes of chocolate boxes. They find all of the factors of each number
up to 36 and learn the difference between prime and composite numbers. Then
they play an online game to practice finding factors for each product up to 36.
3-5
In this lesson, students use fraction bars to explore
how to compare sizes of fractions. They conclude with an online Calculation
Nation
® game
called Fraction Feud.
3-5, 6-8
Students discover the
relationships between area and perimeter as they prep for playing Square Off, a
wonderful Calculation Nation
®
game. This lesson helps students understand the math of area and perimeter, which
will help to maximize their scores when playing the game. Creating human-sized
rectangles and working with geoboards provide concrete experiences before
moving on to pictorial and abstract work with area and perimeter of rectangles.
3-5
This hands-on lesson uses the book,
A Remainder of One, by Elinor J. Pinczes, to introduce division with remainder. Students will enjoy the story context as they explore different remainder situations and model division with arrays.
3-5
Students will use
base ten blocks to model decimal multiplication. They will assign different
values to the different base ten blocks to explore the consistent relationship
between the types of blocks. They will also discover different factors for the
same product. These activities will help students develop a conceptual
understanding of decimal multiplication.
3-5
In this lesson, students are presented with a design
challenge: a company that produces egg cartons wants to create a package for 24
eggs. The company wants to know all of the possible ways to arrange 24 eggs
into rectangular packages. Students work together to find the arrays and
respond to the egg company.
