Curated OER
Balancing the Scales: Understanding Ratios
Students are introduced to the concept of ratios. In groups, they convert sets of numbers into a ratio. After practicing, they use the ratios and proportions to solve story problems. They also calculate map distances and discover map...
Curated OER
Johnny Appleseed Walkabout
Second graders calculate mileage for a journey. In this place value and measurement lesson, 2nd graders read Johnny Appleseed, work in groups to locate his birthplace on a map, locate the other states he stopped in, and measure the...
Curated OER
Draw an Inch, Walk a Mile
Students work in small groups to solve the problems presented. The main project, mapping the classroom, use these discussions to collaborate in creating a tangible demonstration of their understanding.
Curated OER
Super Size It, Please!
Pupils take photos from a given distance and determine the height of the person using a scale factor. Pupils calculate the ratio of student actual height to student photo height. They take pictures from 3 different distances to see if...
University of Colorado
Are All Asteroids' Surfaces the Same Age?
Did you know scientists can tell the age of an asteroid by looking closely at its craters? This final lesson of a six-part series focuses on two asteroids, Gaspra and Ida, in order to demonstrate the concept of dating asteroids. Scholars...
Curated OER
Scale Drawings
Students discuss the importance of scaling drawings. For this math lesson, students create a scaled drawing of circuit boards. They explain why accuracy is very important when scaling.
Discovery Education
Architects in Action
Hands-on and real-world applications are great ways to teach mathematical concepts. Creative thinkers examine how ratios are used to create scale models of buildings and structures. They practice working with ratios by looking at a map...
Curated OER
Spatial Connections
Students use maps, scales, and describe locations in order to learn about spatial sense. In this spatial sense lesson plan, students participate in many activities for this spatial sense unit that should last throughout the year.
Curated OER
Map Maker Map Maker
Students create their own maps. In this map making lesson, students go to Microsoft Word and create a chart. They label directions, buildings, streets, and distance.
EngageNY
Properties of Dilations
Investigate dilations to learn more about them. The second segment in a series of 16 provides a discussion of properties of dilations by going through examples. The problem set provides opportunities for scholars to construct dilations.
Curated OER
Plate Tectonics: Second Grade Lesson Plans and Activities
Second graders explore convection currents and how they relate to the movement of tectonic plates. Then, young geologists reconstruct Pangaea with a worksheet and pinpoint plate boundaries on a map using locations of earthquakes and...
WindWise Education
What Factors Influence Offshore Wind?
What is that out in the water on the horizon? Teams work together to study the coastline using maps to determine the best and worst locations to place an offshore wind farm. The teams then build a scale model wind farm to see what it...
Curated OER
Draw To Scale The E-Z Way
Fourth graders draw a rough floor plan of a house to scale without using a ruler to determine measurements. They see how architects use scale to draw blueprints, and solve math problems using scale.
Curated OER
Plan a Cruise Lesson Plan
Students measure distances and report them in fractions, convert fractions to decimals, and multiply decimals.
Curated OER
Scale
Students apply concepts of scales to solve problems. In this geometry activity, students solve real world problems using scales, proportions and ratios. They predict the actual size of a model given the scale drawings.
Curated OER
Scale factors: Ratios and Proportions
Students create building and models using scale factors. In this geometry lesson, students apply the properties of ratio and proportion to solve problems. They identify the means and extremes property of cross multiplication.
Curated OER
Mapping Central Park
Students use the mapping skills to explore New York's Central Park. They examine a map of Central Park to discover its features. After discussing the characteristics of the park, students design their own dream park and draw it to scale.
Curated OER
A Map of the Big Race
Students read a novel and practice putting the events into the correct sequence. Using the text, they create a map showing the events of the race in order and a legend. They must use vocabulary from previous chapters and make their map...
Curated OER
Essential Elements of Habitat
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.
Edgate
Great Grids
Learners use grid boxes as a measurement tool and discover how grids are used for mapmaking and scaling down an area. They begin by attempting to draw a model shape drawn by the teacher by using the gridding process. At the conclusion of...
Curated OER
You Are Here
Students map local places and learn to use scale and distance. In this mapping lesson, students map their school and a favorite place. Students recreate their maps showing distance and scale sizes. Students locate their location on a...
Curated OER
Colonial Vacation Planner
Looking for a good lesson on the Colonial Period for your upper-elementary class? Then, this lesson is for you! They use website designs, U.S. travel publications, and maps to plan a family vacation to states which were part of the...
Mathed Up!
Enlargements
Make enlargements with and without centers. Pupils work through seven problems dealing with dilations or enlargements. The first couple items are strict enlargements without centers, while the others have centers. Class members also...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Fruit Boxes
Perfect for visual and hands-on learners, an engaging lesson prompts pupils to consider the different-sized boxes they can create from a piece of cardboard. They develop a model to determine the size of the box with the greatest volume.