Lesson Plans
Lesson Plan 1
Standard
The student represents numbers in decimal or fraction form and in scientific notation.
The student understands the structure of standard measurement systems, both SI and customary, including unit conversions and dimensional analysis.
Rationale
For students to be successful in working with Astronomical formulas and data, it is necessary to review Mathematics skills and to introduce new units of measurement that will be required in our work with the stars.
Launch
KWL – Students will be asked to work in groups and brainstorm what they know about the stars. After the work period, students will share their understandings with the rest of the class. No corrections will be made by the teacher. This is just to find where the students are in terms of their background knowledge. Students will be asked to return to their groups and decide what it is they would really like to find out. After the work period, students will share these with the class. There will probably be topics raised that will not be included in our discussion. These might be good topics for the writing that will be the concluding assignment of this unit.
Show the movie "The Life Cycle of Stars". Students are to listen carefully and make note of any information in the movie that differs from the knowledge they shared during the KWL. After the movie, there will be a large group discussion where they will share what they learned.
Explore
The teacher will conduct a brief review of scientific notation including two example problems. In groups, the students will work on 5 sample problems involving very large and very small numbers. Two problems out of the 5, one a large number and one a small number, should be entered into the TI-83+ Graphing Calculator. They are asked to write down what the screen says for each problem, and compare it to their hand calculated results. Students should take no more than 5 - 10 minutes to accomplish this task. Individual students will present their work for each of these problems. As needed, the teacher will discuss the calculator use of the E in place of the 10ˆ.
Using the first two problems, the students (in groups) will be asked to first multiply, and then divide the numbers. Calculators may be used for dividing the decimal numbers. However, the powers of 10 should be done by hand. This should take no more than 5-10 minutes. Students will present their findings. If other students disagree with their results, they will need to show the correct procedure to the class.
Review converting from one metric unit to another. Introduce conversions from customary units to metric units. Explain that conversion from one unit to another is really just multiplying by one. Emphasize the importance of writing units with each number as the conversion is done so that the units that cancel can be seen. Students work in groups to solve 6 problems. Selected students present their work to the class. Discuss the importance of writing the correct unit of measurement for the answer. Emphasize that answers are not just numbers. They represent quantities that must be correctly identified.
Introduce Astronomical units. Discuss which units represent large quantities and which represent small units. Relate them to metric units to give a frame of reference. Note the importance of scientific notation in simplifying the work. Work examples with the students. Give each group a different problem to work on. Be sure all the new units of measurement are included. Each group will be the "experts" in presenting their problem to the class.
Summarize
Using a series of questions, summarize all the Mathematics that has been done.
Homework
Students will be given 10 problems to practice the skills reviewed and taught. Individual problems would incorporate more that one skill.
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