Teacher Resource

Mathematics

Overview/Standards

Overview

Students use their estimation and calculation skills to learn from the data available in the exhibition on the topic of climate change and global warming. These data range from the decrease of Arctic ice sheet volume and thickness to the increase of tropical storms in recent years.

The unit starts with an anticipation set showing four graphs that appear fairly easy to read and understand. In using these graphs, students should notice the patterns in each and the relationships between the four. The hope is that the students would recognize that in the last ten years or so, dramatic changes have occurred.

Next, students exercise their estimation and calculation skills, proficiencies which align with mathematics standards. These skills are assessed with the Estimation Activity and the Estimation and Percentages Partner Worksheet. Because worksheets tend to be less motivating for students, the last assignment, the Website Explorer Activity, allows for more creativity. Here, students are allowed to explore areas of their own interest within the topic.

Finally, the three-week unit in mathematics will culminate with the creation of a final Project Display Board, in which students will team up and display the content knowledge they have learned in the form of graphs/charts, text, or any other format they wish to include.

Standards

This unit will incorporate the following Kansas State Standards for 8th grade Mathematics:

• Standard 1: Number and Computation – The student uses numerical and computational concepts and procedures in a variety of situations.
  • Benchmark 3: Estimation – The student uses computational estimation with real numbers in a variety of situations.
    • Indicator 1: The student estimates real number quantities using various computational methods including mental math, paper and pencil, concrete objects, and/or appropriate technology.
  • Benchmark 4: Computation – The student models, performs, and explains computation with rational numbers, the irrational number pi, and algebraic expressions in a variety of situations.
    • Indicator 1: The student computes with efficiency and accuracy using various computational methods including mental math, paper and pencil, concrete objects, and/or appropriate technology.
    • Indicator 2: The student performs and explains these computational procedures.
• Standard 2: Algebra – The student uses algebraic concepts and procedures in a variety of situations.
  • Benchmark 1: Patterns – The student recognizes, describes, extends, develops, and explains the general rule of a pattern from a variety of situations.
    • Indicator 2: The student generates and explains a pattern.
• Standard 4: Data – The student uses concepts and procedures of data analysis in a variety of situations.
  • Benchmark 2: Statistics – The student collects, organizes, displays, explains, and interprets numerical (rational) and non-numerical data sets in a variety of situations.
    • Indicator 1: The student organizes, displays, and reads quantitative and qualitative data in a clear, organized, and accurate manner.