Activity

Potassium-Argon Dating

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

Find the age of a fictional sample of rocks using a genuine approach. A well-designed lesson asks young mathematicians to use exponential modeling to analyze half-life. As a project-based learning activity, scholars communicate their analysis through a technical memo.

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CCSS: Adaptable
Additional Tags
Instructional Ideas
  • Have your pupils use graphing calculators or online technology to analyze the functions graphically
  • Use as a performance task assessment at the conclusion of a unit on exponential functions
Classroom Considerations
  • Learners should have a functional understanding of exponential decay and half-life
Pros
  • Provides the resource in an editable format
  • Teaching notes offer suggestions to minimize complications during the activity
Cons
  • Links to student resources and video do not work
  • Does not include an answer key or scoring rubric