Document Type

Instructional Material

Publication Date

8-2011

Abstract

Measurement: Surviving our Multi-Dimensional World is a measurement unit with a “Survivor” theme. Many components are based on the project based learning activity Stranded! The unit begins and ends in a survivor scenario - students are stranded on a deserted island and must use a piece of scrap metal (an irregular figure) to design a device to catch fresh rain water so they can survive until they are rescued.

Throughout the unit, students build understanding of measurement concepts through hands on learning activities and collaboration with peers. Students learn to use measurement concepts to describe the world around them. The unit culminates with teams of students designing, building, and testing three-dimensional water catchment devices from a two dimensional figure. Students use observations and calculations to maximize the volume of their device, and tests its effectiveness through modeling activities.

The unit is designed for a 7th Grade Pre-AP class and incorporates both 7th and 8th grade measurement concepts including: area and perimeter of polygons, circles, and irregular figures; volume of prisms, cylinders, pyramids, cones and spheres; nets and surface area of prisms, cylinders, and pyramids; how perimeter, area, and volume are affected by dimensional change.

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Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License.

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