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Activity
Exploratorium

Life Size - Explore the Size and Scale of Microscopic Biology

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Compare sizes of microscopic items. Given a set of labels of microscopic objects, pupils try to place them in order from smallest to largest. Scholars then compare their lists to the actual comparisons along with the measurements of the...
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Lesson Plan
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National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network

Big vs. Little - Macro to Micro Lesson 1

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Small and large are relative terms; what's the best way to quantify them? Young scientists take on that challenge as they complete an interactive activity to explore size. They build structures during their exploration and begin using...
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Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Moons in Comparison

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Just how big is Earth's moon? With a hands-on simulation, scholars use Play-Doh to model the sizes of the planets Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and their moons. They make predictions as a class, work together to make their models, and discuss...
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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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Worksheet
DK Publishing

Thin, Thinner, Thinnest

For Students Pre-K - K Standards
Reinforce comparative adjectives and relative size with a drawing activity. Kindergartners study a thin house and a thin balloon, then draw a thinner version of each. They also choose the thinnest bottle and lollipop in a group. Focus on...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Thick, Thicker, Thickest

For Students Pre-K - K
Do your kindergartners know the difference between thick and thin? After reviewing a picture of a tree and a candle, kids draw a thicker version of each in the space provided. They also draw a ring around the thickest pencil and the...
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Worksheet
DK Publishing

Tall, Taller, Tallest

For Students Pre-K - K Standards
Reinforce relative size and following directions. After looking at a small bottle and flower, kindergartners draw a taller version of each in the circle provided. They then choose the tallest building out of five. Bring the lesson to...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Short, Shorter, Shortest, Part 2

For Students Pre-K - K
Can your kindergartners draw a shorter tree? What about a shorter kite string? Reinforce relative size and comparing with a clever worksheet. It prompts young learners to study a picture and draw a shorter version, and to choose the...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Long, Longer, Longest

For Students Pre-K - K
This worm might be long, but can scholars draw an even longer worm? Focus on relative size as they draw a longer worm and then a longer necklace. Next, youngsters examine two sets of objects and check off the longest in an introduction...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Guess the Weight, Height, or Length Worksheet

For Students K - 1st
Kids can estimate weight, length, and height. Here, they circle the measurement that best describes the length, height, or weight of 10 different objects. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What are Stars?

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students research the solar system and it's characteristics.  In this solar system lesson, students are broken into 4 groups, each assigned a specific part of the solar system.  Students use the Internet to research their part of the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Relative Size Lesson Plan for First Grade

For Teachers 1st
First graders compare triangle sizes, square sizes, and lengths. They use manipulatives of three varied sized triangles, squares, and strips to measure and compare relative size and length.
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Interactive
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Estimation

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Explore size estimation in one, two, and three dimensions! Multiple levels of difficulty allow for progressive skill improvement.
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Interactive
Other

H Twins: The Scale of the Universe 2

For Students 9th - 10th
Use the scroll bar on this site to zoom in and out of this site which will show you the relative sizes of hundreds of things in our univers, from the smallest currently known - quantum foam - to the largest - our universe. Click on any...
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Lesson Plan
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Make Your Own Powers of Ten

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Watch Charles and Ray Eames's Powers of Ten video, and then create a similar project while exploring scale.
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Interactive
Other

Nanozone: How Small Is Small?

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn about the relative size of nanometers, micrometers, centimeters, and meters by arranging objects, such as red blood cells, hair, and a penny, from smallest to largest.
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Graphic
Philadelphia Museum of Art

Philadelphia Museum of Art: How Big Is Africa? [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 8th
Comparative map of Africa that demonstrates the size of its landmass in relation to that of Europe, the United States, and China.