Enrico Fermi, the physicist responsible for the first nuclear detonation, was known for his ability to estimate with little or no data. Use this task to have your classes practice their Fermi skills. They estimate the magnitude of three...

Learners look at bands of colors and estimate how many rings of color there are. While working in groups, they come up with a plan of how to accurately count the rings. They attempt to find a pattern in the colors, and decide whether...

Apply the concept of magnitude to estimate values and compare numbers. The ninth lesson of the 15-part series asks learners to write numbers to their next greatest power of 10 and then make comparisons. Scholars begin to understand the...

High schoolers watch a video of real-world situations regarding speed, direction, velocity, force, etc. and answer questions while viewing. They then practice drawing and using vectors to solve more real-world problems.

Science, technology, and math come together in this one combination exercise. Analyzing the common soda can from both a purely mathematical perspective and a scientific angle allows for a surprisingly sophisticated comparison of...

In this galaxy worksheet, students use the Internet or other resources to answer 13 questions about the galaxy NGC-1232. They are given a photograph of the galaxy to help determine the width and diameter of certain regions of...

Discover the connection between calories and weight. Pupils multiply their body weight times calorie estimates for various physical activities to calculate calories burned per minute and per hour. Worksheets a well as website links are...

In this estimation and approximation worksheet, students determine the estimated value of given multiplication and division problems containing decimals. They round answers to the nearest whole number. This two-page worksheet contains 11...

Students practice grouping in different ways by putting numbers up to 1,000 in the correct place value. In this place value lesson plan, students estimate items in a jar and then count them out by grouping them by 10s.

Learners take on the role of astronomers, calculating conditions necessary for a total solar eclipse. Concepts of similar triangles and properties of circles come together as pupils create ratios and use real measurements in determining...

"Life is more risk management, rather than exclusion of risks." -Walter Wriston. Scholars use provided mortality data to determine how likely it is a person will die from a particular cause. They compare the data to the perception of the...

The scientific issue of carbon-14 dating and exponential decay gets a statistics-based treatment in this problem. The class starts with a basic investigation of carbon content, but then branches out to questions of accuracy and...

Students use powers of ten to make reasonable estimations for list of questions. They share their problem solving techniques with the class.

Students estimate how many peas fit in a container. In this science lesson, students calculate the weight of a pea and record it. They use this data to calculate how many peas fit in a human brain.

Students decide on the reasonableness and relative magnitude of situations in their lives as Shel Silverstein did in the poem "How Many, How Much."

Young mathematicians learn how scientific notation is meant to save time. Part 10, out of a series of 15, asks scholars to recognize the correct use of scientific notation and finish by adding and subtracting numbers using...

Learners solve word problems using number sense. They convert fractions to decimals and mixed numbers. Pupils determine if a given fraction is greater or less than another fraction, and order numbers on a number line.

Investigating the large numbers of science is the task in a simple but deep activity. Given a one-sentence problem set-up and some basic assumptions, the class sets off on an open-ended investigation that really gives some...

Students use optimization concepts to design their own container. In this optimization lesson plan, students understand how the optimization concept is critical in calculus and why products are packaged the way they are.

Children play with barnyard animal cards to practice composing and decomposing numbers. With their "secret number" of animal cards in a cup, they shake and spill them onto a barn story board, counting how many animals fall in the barn...

Using food as a manipulative is one of the best ways to incorporate hands-on learning in the classroom. This hands-on approach allows young mathematicians to compare, order, and identify fractions with the use of Twizzlers® and...

Examine measurable characteristics of objects to build an understanding of the different ways you can discuss an object's size when comparing it to other objects. After whole group instruction, the class compares and organizes several...

Students calculate the area under a curve. In this calculus lesson, students integrate the function to find the area under the curve. They use the Ti to create a visual of the graph.

Learners explore multiplying decimals. In this instructional activity about decimals and multiplication, students follow steps to better understand the concept. Learners learn two different ways of multiplying decimals. Students maintain...