6-8
In this lesson for grades 6‑8, students participate in activities in
which they focus on patterns and relations that can be developed from
the exploration of balance, mass, length of the mass arm, and the
position of the fulcrum. The focus of this lesson is the relationship
between the length of the arm and the mass of the objects.
3-5
Students determine the amount of each ingredient needed to make brownies, and then they figure out how to divide the brownies evenly among their classmates. This lesson helps students reinforce their measurement skills in a practical situation.
3-5
The activities in this lesson focuses on studying information displayed
in pictographs that report the sales of records, tapes, and compact
discs for one week at a music store. The students are asked to discuss
and then describe the information and to explain the numbers sold in
each category. They are asked to defend their explanation.
3-5
In this lesson, students read the book
Counting on Frank. They
use information in the book to make estimates involving volume. In
particular, students explore the size of humpback whales.
Pre-K-2
In this lesson, students read the book
How Big Is a Foot?, by
Rolf Myller. They then create non-standard units (using their own
footprints) and use them to make "beds." As a result, students explore
the need for a standard unit of measure.
3-5
Students participate in an activity in which they investigate data in connection with recyclable materials and develop plans to help the environment. Students collect data about aluminum can usage and graph that data in a line plot.
3-5
Students participate in an activity in which they investigate the data
in connection with recyclable materials and develop plans to help the
environment. Students discuss the pros and cons of using various types
of bags at the grocery store. Classmates are surveyed to determine
which type of bag is the "best".
3-5
A post office is a good example of a real-world environment in which numbers of different types can be found. Whole numbers and fractions are introduced. Numbers that occur in a greater variety of measurement situations can also be introduced. At this level, students should be encouraged to elaborate on the way numbers are used.
3-5
Students are familiar with sports and sporting events. Whole numbers
and fractions are used to represent the size of groups or collections
and measurements involving lengths, weights, and times in many sporting
and game situations. This knowledge can be used to give the students
another picture of numbers.
3-5
The following activities deal with patterns and the importance of
looking at data from more than a single perspective. Included are
explorations designed to encourage open-mindedness and to help students
develop alternative viewpoints. Students investigate a series of items
that appear to be ordered in some "obvious" ways. Students also explore
ways of sorting items into two disjoint groups on the basis of some
definable characteristic. This lesson was adapted from "What Comes
Nex_?", written by William R. Speer & Daniel J. Brahier. It
appeared in the October, 1995
Teaching Children Mathematics Vol. 2, no. 2.
