In this outdoor activity, learners measure familiar objects in nature to practice working with the metric system. The goal is for learners to develop their "metric senses" by measuring and estimating in metric units the mass, length, temperature, and volume of familiar objects. Can be adapted into an indoor activity on a rainy day.
Material Type: Activity/Lab
In this Cyberchase video segment, the CyberSquad learns what happens to the area of a rectangle when the shape enclosed by the perimeter changes.
Material Type: Lecture
The purpose of the task is for students to solve a multi-step multiplication problem in a context that involves area. In addition, the numbers were chosen to determine if students have a common misconception related to multiplication.
Material Type: Activity/Lab
Heather Zemanek reviews her third graders on data and graphing concepts they have previously learned including mean, medium, minimum and maximum. After a review, students go on a journey to find colored squares cut out of transparencies that are hidden around the room. Students graph and analyze their findings.
Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson Plan, Teaching/Learning Strategy
In this video segment from Cyberchase, the CyberSquad measures Judge Trudy's land claim by using tarps, fence posts and a grid made with rope.
Material Type: Lecture
In this craft activity, learners will recognize, name, and compare the fractions 1/2, 1/4, and 1/8 by constructing a penguin out of portions of paper circles. This detailed lesson plan includes key vocabulary words, background information for educators, extension ideas, and resources.
Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson Plan
In this Cyberchase video segment, Wicked and Digit solve a fraction puzzle in order to move on in their quest to save the CyberSquad. ***Access to Teacher's Domain content now requires free login to PBS Learning Media.
Material Type: Lecture
Students create patterns using pattern blocks. Then they pose a question to their peers like, öWhat fraction of my shape is red? Students describe their answers geometrically, verbally, and in writing.
Material Type: Lesson Plan, Simulation, Teaching/Learning Strategy
The purpose of this task is to extend students' understanding of fraction comparison.
Material Type: Activity/Lab
The purpose of this task is to provide students with an opportunity to explain fraction equivalence through visual models in a particular example.
Material Type: Activity/Lab
In this number line task students must treat the interval from 0 to 1 as a whole, partition the whole into the appropriate number of equal sized parts, and then locate the fraction(s).
Material Type: Activity/Lab
In this Cyberchase video segment, the CyberSquad helps Pan and Pin divide up 15 gold bars. ***Access to Teacher's Domain content now requires free login to PBS Learning Media.
Material Type: Lecture
This task is meant to address a common error that students make, namely, that they represent fractions with different wholes when they need to compare them. This task is meant to generate classroom discussion related to comparing fractions. Particularly important is that students understand that when you compare fractions, you implicitly always have the same whole.
Material Type: Activity/Lab
The purpose of this task is to present students with a context where they need to explain why two simple fractions are equivalent.
Material Type: Activity/Lab
The goal of this task is to show that when the whole is not specified, which fraction is being represented is left ambiguous.
Material Type: Activity/Lab
This task requires students to represent fractions on a number line.
Material Type: Activity/Lab
This simple-looking problem reveals much about how well students understand unit fractions as well as representing fractions on a number line.
Material Type: Activity/Lab
In this video segment from Cyberchase, Jackie and Inez figure out how to break an Electro-Root into 2/5, one of the ingredients for the antidote to Motherboardë_í__ virus.
Material Type: Lecture
In this video segment from Cyberchase, Matt and Digit divide up the healing stone and discover equivalent fractions.
Material Type: Lecture
This task asks students to locate fractions on a number line.
Material Type: Activity/Lab
