Source: Maya & Miguel
Explore the Mexican ritual of Dia de Los Muertos or the Day of the Dead, and make sugar skulls by using math measurements and artistic expression. Use conversational English and Spanish (or a student's own native language) vocabulary.
Grade Level: K-2, 3-5
Subjects: Math, Social Studies
Topics: Measurement. Cultural Studies: Latino American/Chicano Studies.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: The Democracy Project
Brainstorm ways to raise support for members of a political party and their platform. Map cross-country campaign stops, estimating arrival and departure times and distance between stops, and then validate the estimations.
Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8
Subjects: Math, Social Studies
Topics: Measurement. Problem Solving. Civics: Community & Citizenship. Civics: United States Government.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Mathline
Measure the diameter, approximate the circumference and determine the area of a soap bubble print.
Grade Level: 3-5
Subjects: Math
Topics: Geometry and Spatial Sense. Measurement.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: The Democracy Project
Identify features and characteristics of a desirable community, and examine city government, services and location. Create two brochures: one about a randomly selected city, one about the students' own city.
Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8
Subjects: Math, Social Studies
Topics: Measurement. Numbers and Operations. Civics: Community & Citizenship. Geography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Scientific American Frontiers
Explore the work of forensic scientists by inferring an individual's height from the length of certain long bones. Create bone/height relation charts and measure length using metric units.
Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8
Subjects: Math, Science & Tech
Topics: Measurement. Human Biology. Paleontology.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Scientific American Frontiers
Emulate the work of a forensic scientist by observing the relationship between scatter and distance. Assemble a projectile-hurling device called a potato cannon and analyze the spread pattern of paint soaked projectiles.
Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8
Subjects: Math, Science & Tech
Topics: Measurement. Patterns and Algebraic Thinking. Functions and Algebra. Human Biology. Paleontology.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Observe the relationship among volcanoes, earthquakes and lithospheric plates by collecting data and creating maps.
Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8
Subjects: Math, Science & Tech
Topics: Measurement. Geology & Natural Disasters. Motion & Forces.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Mathline
Estimate the size of one ounce to answer the question, "How much is an ounce of cereal?" Use computation and problem-solving strategies to determine the unit cost of one ounce of a particular cereal.
Grade Level: 3-5
Subjects: Math, Social Studies
Topics: Applied Mathematics. Measurement. Numbers and Operations. Economics.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Mathline
Review the importance and use of standard units of measure. Estimate and measure weight to the nearest gram, length to the nearest centimeter and volume to the nearest milliliter, and determine the area of a region.
Grade Level: 3-5
Subjects: Math
Topics: Measurement.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: WBGU: MathTek
Explore counting money and using resources for a problem-solving activity. Investigate the size of an acre of property using linear and area measurements.
Grade Level: K-2, 3-5
Subjects: Math
Topics: Geometry and Spatial Sense. Measurement.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: WBGU: MathTek
Explore estimation as a tool that can be used in mathematics and practice making good estimates.
Grade Level: K-2, 3-5
Subjects: Math
Topics: Applied Mathematics. Measurement.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: KERA: Math Can Take You Places
Use fractions, ratios, and measurement to make individual servings of ice cream. The catch? Students must use measurement tools that do not measure the exact amount of each ingredient needed.
Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8
Subjects: Math
Topics: Applied Mathematics. Measurement. Problem Solving.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: The Living Edens
Examine the physical characteristics of lemurs, collect data about lemurs and humans through measurement and compare the physical abilities of students and lemurs.
Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8
Subjects: Math, Science & Tech
Topics: Measurement. Animals: Mammals.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: The Living Edens
Compare the physical attributes of students and eagles using real data from measurements and linear measurement estimations.
Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8
Subjects: Math, Science & Tech
Topics: Measurement. Animals: Birds.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Mathline
Apply the use of measuring, multiplication, division and remainders to situations involving movie stunts. Investigate the size of airbags and ratios of jump height to airbag safety and inflation rates.
Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8
Subjects: Math, The Arts
Topics: Applied Mathematics. Measurement. Numbers and Operations. Film.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: KERA: Math Can Take You Places
Encourage students to use math at home and in everyday life. Explore activities that reinforce measurement, comparison, time, and estimation skills.
Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8
Subjects: Math
Topics: Applied Mathematics. Measurement.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Scientific American Frontiers
Use a scale drawing of the Hunley as a model from which to draw a full-scale version of the Confederate submarine, the CSS H.L. Hunley.
Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8
Subjects: Math, Science & Tech
Topics: Applied Mathematics. Measurement. Engineering. Transportation.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Understand how to determine latitude and locate specific stars in the night sky. Describe what an astrolabe is and determine latitude by using an astrolabe.
Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8
Subjects: Math, Science & Tech
Topics: Geometry and Spatial Sense. Measurement. Atmosphere & Space Science. Navigation.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Analyze caloric intake vs. caloric expenditure, understand the nutritional value of the explorer's meals, describe the trend in diet changes the explorers experienced and explain the physiological consequences these changes caused.
Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8
Subjects: Health & Fitness, Math
Topics: Body Systems & Senses. Nutrition. Measurement. Numbers and Operations.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Understand the scope of Shackleton's journey by tracing his intended and actual routes and estimating the trip miles using a map scale. Describe the altitude changes in the trek and compare basic facts about Antarctica to your home state.
Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8
Subjects: Math, Social Studies
Topics: Measurement. Numbers and Operations. Geography. Transportation.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Mathline
Compare three prototypes of paper towels using strategies to find the best value in terms of cost and quality. Determine the surface area of a water stain on a paper towel using a transparent grid.
Grade Level: 3-5
Subjects: Math
Topics: Applied Mathematics. Measurement. Numbers and Operations.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: The Democracy Project
Examine jobs that affect the entire community and potential impact if those jobs were eliminated. Create an edible map of the city that is designed to scale and includes correct placement of landmarks, schools and other features of the city.
Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8
Subjects: Math, Social Studies
Topics: Measurement. Problem Solving. Civics: United States Government. Geography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Scientific American Frontiers
Explore the "intelligent floor," which contains sensors that can track movements, and emulate the weighing technique associated with this technology. Explore the relationship between volume and mass.
Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8
Subjects: Math, Science & Tech
Topics: Measurement. Communications & Computing.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Cyberchase
Understand the needs for measuring with standard units to measure time between events in this online interactive avtivity.
Grade Level: 3-5
Subjects: Math
Topics: Measurement. Numbers and Operations.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Discuss the nature of time and the grandfather paradox. Examine time from different perspectives by plotting ages on a timeline, estimating how long a minute is and imagining going back in time to change something in the future.
Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8
Subjects: Math, Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Measurement. Functions and Algebra. Critical Thinking Skills. Organizing Information & Ideas.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: KERA: Math Can Take You Places
Explore how mathematics can be used to solve problems connected to everyday experiences. Calculate time and distance to plan a travel route between Texas attractions. Have students complete a travel log detailing the places they visit.
Grade Level: 3-5
Subjects: Math, Social Studies
Topics: Applied Mathematics. Measurement. Problem Solving. Geography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: KERA: Math Can Take You Places
Weigh one item and then estimate the weights and masses of other items to be packed for a vacation. Select a group of items that come closest to a specified weight limit without going over.
Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8
Subjects: Math
Topics: Measurement.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Mathline
Predict and determine the frequency of an event and measure to the nearest centimeter while constructing whirlybirds in a simulation of a parachute jump competition.
Grade Level: 3-5
Subjects: Math
Topics: Data Analysis/Probability. Measurement.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
