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Teach Engineering: On Track Unit Conversion ActivityTeach Engineering: On Track Unit Conversion Activity
Publisher
TeachEngineering
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Activity

Teach Engineering: On Track Unit Conversion

Curated by ACT

Students use three tracks marked on the floor, one in yards, one in feet and one in inches. As they start and stop a robot specific distances on a "runway," they can easily determine the equivalent measurements in other units by looking at the nearby tracks. With this visual and physical representation of the magnitude of the units of feet, yard and inches, students gain an understanding of what is meant by "unit conversion." They also gain a familiarity with different common units of measurement. They use multiplication and division to verify their physical estimated unit conversions. Students also learn about how common and helpful it is to convert from one unit to another in everyday situations and for engineering purposes. This activity helps students make the abstract concept of unit conversion real so they develop mental models of the magnitude of units instead of applying memorized conversion factors by rote.

3 Views 1 Download
Concepts

measurement, stem

Additional Tags

conversion, robotics curriculum, integrated teaching and learning program and laboratory, lego, mindstorms, nxt, teachengineering, unit, computer and software engineering projects: robotics curriculum, si units of measurement
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Resource Details

Grade
3rd - 4th
Subjects
Science
2 more...
Resource Type
Activities & Projects
Audiences
For Administrator Use
1 more...
Lexile Measures
0L

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