In this lesson, students learn how to determine location by triangulation. We describe the process of triangulation and practice finding your location on a worksheet, in the classroom, and outdoors.

Students learn about weight by building a spring scale and observing how it responds to objects with different masses.

Students use a hurricane tracking map to measure the distance from a specific latitude and longitude location of the eye of a hurricane to a city. Then they use the map's scale factor to convert the distance to miles. They also apply the distance formula by creating an x-y coordinate plane on the map. Students are challenged to analyze what data might be used by computer science engineers to write code that generates hurricane tracking models. Then students analyze a MATLAB® computer code that uses the distance formula repetitively to generate a table of data that tracks a hurricane at specific time intervals. Students come to realize that using a computer program to generate the calculations (instead of by hand) is very advantageous for a dynamic situation like tracking storm movements. Their inspection of some MATLAB code helps them understand how it communicates what to do using mathematical formulas, logical instructions and repeated tasks. They also conclude that the example program is too simplistic to really be a useful tool; useful computer model tools must necessarily be much more complex.

In this video segment from Cyberchase, the CyberSquad must scale down a large boat to escape the land of Proporciona, a land of giants.

The CyberSquad creates a bar graph representing the amount of bugs that are infecting the Cybrary in this video from Cyberchase.

Students think about how fractional measurements relate to scale models, learn about alternate ways of expressing scale ratios, and demonstrate understanding of fractions and scale in this interactive from KET. After watching video clips, students use the Notes tool in the interactive to comment on the peer's reasoning, answer questions about scale ratios, and determine the heights of real objects based on scale ratios and models.

Students think about how fractional measurements relate to scale models, learn about alternate ways of expressing scale ratios, and demonstrate understanding of fractions and scale in this interactive from KET. After watching video clips, students use the Notes tool in the interactive to comment on the peer's reasoning, answer questions about scale ratios, and determine the heights of real objects based on scale ratios and models.

Watch a student think through a problem about how the area of a rectangle changes when both sides are increased by the same scale factor and use online tools to demonstrate understanding of concepts related to area and scale factors in this interactive from KET. Students use the Notes tool to respond to the video. They then complete a Visualize It! activity, a quiz, and a Chart It! activity to demonstrate their learning.

Investigate data on changes over time in where our apparel is made and how much we spend on it in these images from KQED. In the accompanying classroom activity, students use the interactive and graph the data. They also look for patterns and relationships.

Students learn about the difference between temperature and thermal energy. They build a thermometer using simple materials and develop their own scale for measuring temperature. They compare their thermometer to a commercial thermometer, and get a sense for why engineers need to understand the properties of thermal energy.

In this lesson, students create a class mural by using scale, ratio, and proportion. Media resources and teacher materials are included.

Zooming In On Figures

Unit Overview

Type of Unit: Concept; Project

Length of Unit: 18 days and 5 days for project

Prior Knowledge

Students should be able to:

Find the area of triangles and special quadrilaterals.
Use nets composed of triangles and rectangles in order to find the surface area of solids.
Find the volume of right rectangular prisms.
Solve proportions.

Lesson Flow

After an initial exploratory lesson that gets students thinking in general about geometry and its application in real-world contexts, the unit is divided into two concept development sections: the first focuses on two-dimensional (2-D) figures and measures, and the second looks at three-dimensional (3-D) figures and measures.
The first set of conceptual lessons looks at 2-D figures and area and length calculations. Students explore finding the area of polygons by deconstructing them into known figures. This exploration will lead to looking at regular polygons and deriving a general formula. The general formula for polygons leads to the formula for the area of a circle. Students will also investigate the ratio of circumference to diameter ( pi ). All of this will be applied toward looking at scale and the way that length and area are affected. All the lessons noted above will feature examples of real-world contexts.
The second set of conceptual development lessons focuses on 3-D figures and surface area and volume calculations. Students will revisit nets to arrive at a general formula for finding the surface area of any right prism. Students will extend their knowledge of area of polygons to surface area calculations as well as a general formula for the volume of any right prism. Students will explore the 3-D surface that results from a plane slicing through a rectangular prism or pyramid. Students will also explore 3-D figures composed of cubes, finding the surface area and volume by looking at 3-D views.
The unit ends with a unit examination and project presentations.

Students further explore scale, taking a scale drawing floor plan and redrawing it at a different scale.Key ConceptsStudents explore change from one scale to another, focusing on the ratios. Students will draw a scale model of a house.GoalsRedraw a scale drawing at a different scale.Find measurements using a scale drawing.

Lesson OverviewStudents will work on the final portion of their project which includes creating the nets for the sides, making a slice in one of their buildings, and putting their buildings together. Once their two model buildings are complete, they will find the surface area and volume for their models and the full-size buildings their models represent.Key ConceptsThe second part of the project is essentially a review of the second half of the unit, while still using scale drawings. Students will find the surface area of a prism as well as the surface area of a truncated prism. The second prism will require estimating and problem solving to figure out the net and find the surface area. Students will also be drawing the figure using scale to find actual surface area.GoalsRedraw a scale drawing at a different scale.Find measurements using a scale drawing.Find the surface area of a prism.SWD: Students with disabilities may have a more challenging time identifying areas of improvement to target in their projects. It may be helpful to model explicitly for students (using an example project or student sample) how to review a project using the rubric to assess and plan for revisions based on that assessment.Students with fine motor difficulties may require grid paper with a larger scale. Whenever motor tasks are required, consider adaptive tools or supplementary materials that may benefit students with disabilities.Students with disabilities may struggle to recall prerequisite skills as they move through the project. It may be necessary to check in with students to review and reinforce estimation skills.

Students deepen their understanding of multiplication and division, including their properties and extending their study of factors to include all units from 0 to 10, as well as multiples of 10 within 100.

A terrific reference for music students and teachers! Explains the fundamentals of the major scale, provides diagrams, and audio clips to help children recognize this piece of music theory.

This interactive game has students apply skills in estimation, measurement, and basic addition using pearls. Students are asked to estimate the number of pearls in a treasure chest by making predictions and using number sense. The skills are appropriate for students in grades th3-5. Additional features include links to related history, lesson plans, and articles on pearls. CCSS.Math.Content.3.MD.A.2 Measure and estimate liquid volumes and masses of objects using standard units

Use this information to build a scale model of the Great Pyramid. Explore the information available about the height, base and angles of this pyramid. Great opportunity to apply the principles of using a scale model.

Students expand on and apply their understanding of percentages by studying percent increase and decrease, percent applications such as tax and simple interest, and scaled geometric drawings.