A lesson in estimating and scale

The lesson has students discussing statements to determine if they are fact or fiction. This is effective if students are engaged in trying to determine the answer. Then, students are prov... See More

The lesson has students discussing statements to determine if they are fact or fiction. This is effective if students are engaged in trying to determine the answer. Then, students are provided an opportunity to estimate an answer.

Essential Concepts and A+++ Activities

These lesson activities successfully explore the essential science concepts of scale, number and error. Acquiring these skills is vital to the understanding of many aspects of life in genera... See More

These lesson activities successfully explore the essential science concepts of scale, number and error. Acquiring these skills is vital to the understanding of many aspects of life in general, not just science, as the authors point out. The students question each other, gather data, and evaluate the likelihood of their results. The students work on estimating :scale and number, error in measurement, and order of magnitude. The concepts of mass and volume are introduced.These activities are engaging and can be completed in only 30 minutes. The lesson includes critical thinking questions and lesson extensions. The lesson is well-written and has a technology component.The challenge questions include calculations on volume and area. The only improvement I would suggest to this lesson activity is the inclusion of a model building activity, which can easily be added at your own discretion.