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Unit Plan
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NASA

The Science of the Sun

For Teachers K - 6th Standards
There's more to that glowing ball of light in sky than most children realize. From the overall structure of the solar system, to the changing of the seasons, these hands-on lessons open the eyes of young scientists to...
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Performance
Radford University

How do I Create a Scaled Model of a Full-Sized Basketball Court?

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Take mathematics to the hoop! Pairs first measure the linear distances on a basketball court. Using those measurements, they determine the scale lengths to create a scaled model. To finish the activity, learners create models of the...
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Instructional Video3:48
PBS

Math with Jake: Frequencies and Pitch

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
Be an octave above the rest. A musician explains how to write music in different time signatures. An interesting resource continues to demonstrate ratios using the pitch of musical notes and hertz. Pupils use a pitch table and determine...
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Instructional Video4:00
PBS

Math with Jake: Transposition Using Ratios

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
The star of the show is ratios. The informative resource explains how to transpose music using ratios. Individuals transpose the song "Twinkle, Twinkle" in the activity by applying their ratio skills. The activity challenges class...
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Lesson Plan
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network

The Pinch Test

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Test your pupils' understanding of the scale from macro to atomic. While displaying images of different materials, learners identify what they would need to make that material visible. Their choices range from the human eye to an...
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Interactive
Shodor Education Foundation

Ordered Simple Plot

For Students 6th - 10th Standards
Open your imagination to make algebra-inspired creations. An interactive lesson has scholars graph images from a set of parameters. Users can practice minimum values, maximum values, and scale as well as key features.
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Assessment
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Balanced Assessment

Shirts and Flags

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Learn the importance of geometry to tailors. Given a shirt sewing pattern, scholars determine the actual size of the shirt. After which they answer questions that require problem solving and extending their understanding of scale.
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Assessment
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Balanced Assessment

Multi-Figures

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Apply concepts of scale and ratio to determine relationships in irregular figures. Learners determine the ratio of the perimeters of two figures composed of rectangles and circles. After, they apply similar concepts to find the ratio of...
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Lesson Plan
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Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

A Classroom Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Create a scaled model of our solar system in your classroom! Scholars work collaboratively to build paper mache planets and hang them in their proper position to showcase each planet's location in the solar system.   
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Lesson Plan
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Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

Planetary Distances on the Playground

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
There's no need to stay inside; get out of the classroom and create a scaled map of the solar system on your playground field! In collaborative groups, scholars identify the distance between the sun and other planets, place planet...
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Lesson Plan
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Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

Charting the Progress of New Horizons

For Teachers 2nd - 6th Standards
In 2006, New Horizons began its mission to fly to Pluto. As it continues its journey, scholars track its progress with the help of an informative website, all the while reinforcing measurement concepts with the construction of a scaled...
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Lesson Plan
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Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

The Planets and Scale

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Scholars gain an insight into the relative size of planets and distance between inner and outer planets with the help of informational text, a data table, and a series of four questions.  
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Scaling Principle for Volumes

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
Review the principles of scaling areas and draws a comparison to scaling volumes with a third dimensional measurement. The exercises continue with what happens to the volume if the dimensions are not multiplied by the same...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

The Scaling Principle for Area

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
As they investigate scaling figures and calculate the resulting areas, groups determine the area of similar figures. They continue to investigate the results when the vertical and horizontal scales are not equal. 
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Lesson Plan
Kentucky Educational Television

The Road to Proportional Reasoning

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Just how big would it really be? Young mathematicians determine if different toys are proportional and if their scale is accurate. They solve problems relating scale along with volume and surface area using manipulatives. The...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Solar System - Comparing Planetary Travel Distances

For Teachers 7th - 8th
NASA presents a mini-unit on distances in our solar system. It incorporates scientific concepts of gravity, mass, density, and payload while your aspiring astronauts also employ mathematics skills. They calculate speed, they determine...
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Lesson Plan
Math Can Take You Places

Picture This

For Teachers 6th - 7th Standards
Engage scholars in a ratio lesson that employs real-world scenarios. Learners will compare the length and width of pictures and use a table to identify ratio patterns. They watch "Math Can Take You Places" and discuss jobs that use math...
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Activity
Wake Forest University

Authentic Activities for Connecting Mathematics to the Real World

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Check out the handout from a presentation that contains a collection of high school algebra projects connecting a variety of mathematics to the real world. Activities range from simple probabilities to calculus. The activities...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Essential Elements of Habitat

For Teachers 1st
First graders compare their local area with the Belize landscape. They construct maps of the school area, adding descriptive information. They write haiku poems about their favorite outside places.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Customized Topographic Maps and Models

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the information depicted on topographic maps. They construct a 3-D topographic map of a local area. They go on a field trip to the depicted area and compare the 'real world' with their models.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scale Drawing Lesson Plan

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Pupils calculate actual building measurements from a village map using concepts of ratios and scale in this ten lesson mini-unit. They practice measuring angles, multiplying decimals, estimating height and length, and converting metric...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's All About Scale

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate scale models of toys.  In this scale models of toys lesson plan, 6th graders bring in toys from home to measure.  Students discuss scale and what scale is used with their toys.  Students determine...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Using Tables

For Students 9th
In this using tables instructional activity, 9th graders solve and complete 10 various types of problems that include using tables to determine information. First, they write an equation to determine the total amount. Then, students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making It Balance

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students listen to story, "The 100-Pound Problem," compare their weight with character in story, and weigh different classroom items using nonstandard units and standard units. They experiment with different items that can make scale...