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# 134 - Perfection - 2.15.06
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Bi-Weekly Science Lesson Plan List
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Feb 13, 2006 06:53 PST
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Hi everyone,
This is a lesson that I actually learned about at a NASA teacher
workshop that I went to, I think it was in 1997 or 1998. It was so much
fun and it really made a point!
It is also a GREAT lesson for all types of math skills: data collection,
estimating, averages, line graphs, bar graphs, data tables, stem and
leaf plots, and data analysis!! It is also great for earth and life
science classes.
What you need is the game Perfection by Milton Bradley and some gloves.
I would ask my students to bring in their game if they have one and
offer some kind of treat so you don't have to buy them. They do make a
travel size which is a lot less expensive if you were to buy some to
keep in your classroom.
You would need about 1 game per 3 students. Also, have the students
bring in gloves. In the lesson it says garden gloves, but I think that
any gloves would be fine. They can bring in their winter gloves,
batting gloves, etc. I think that the more variety of gloves brought in
will lead to some great discussions and comparisons of the results!
Have the students do one trial run without gloves to get used to the
game and the pieces. After everyone has had a trial run, have them start
doing the lesson. I think that each person should go until they have
their first trial done, then start the second trial instead of having
the same person go 5 times in a row. Students will record their data.
Repeat, this time one pratice run with gloves each, then start the
trials and data collection.
I included an addendum to this lesson that I made this weekend, I have
some sample bar and line graphs as well as some blank graphs for the
students to fill in.
What I always like to do whenever I do an experiment with data
collection, is make a large Stem and Leaf Chart with large chart paper
or poster paper, and have all the results posted from each student in
each class so that you can see the results as they are done.
Place the large Stem and Leaf chart on the board with magnets and a box
of markers. (Hide it when a new class comes in, then take it out when
they are done) When a student has figured out their averages, they place
an "X" next to their average, on the left for without gloves, and on the
right for with gloves.
It makes it a lot more interesting for the students to see how other
people did and they can compare their results to people in other classes
and you can see trends much more clearly. I included data tables and a
stem and leaf template at the end of the addendum.
This lesson is not only great for Earth Science, but Life Science as
well, esp for scientists that work with those chambers that have the
gloves they slide their arms into because what they are wotking with
needs to be contained for safety.
Here is the link to the lesson plan from NASA in pdf:
http://edspace.nasa.gov/earthcrew/news/pdfs/perfection.pdf
Here is the link to the addition I made for this lesson in pdf:
http://www.middleschoolscience.com/perfection.pdf
Have a great week!
Liz
www.middleschoolscience.com
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