Students use LEGO® motors and generators to raise washers a measured height. They compare the work done by the motor-generator systems with the energy inputs to calculate efficiency.

This Lesson provides two different activities that require students to measure energy outputs and inputs to determine the efficiency of conversions and simple systems. One of the activities includes Lego motors and accomplishing work. The other investigates energy for heating water. They learn about by products of energy conversions and how to improve upon efficiency. The teacher can choose to use either of these or both of these. The calculations in the water heating experiment are more complicated than in the Lego motor activity. Thus, the heating activity is suitable for older students, only the Lego motor activity suitable for younger students.

Students use simple materials to design an open spectrograph so they can calculate the angle light is bent when it passes through a holographic diffraction grating. A holographic diffraction grating acts like a prism, showing the visual components of light. After finding the desired angles, students use what they have learned to design their own spectrograph enclosure.

In this math activity, learners are presented with a problem: two bowls are suspended from the ceiling by springs. One bowl is lower than the other. In one bowl, you can only place marbles; in the other bowl, you can only place bingo chips. Learners investigate how many items must be placed in each bowl so that the heights of the bowls are the same, and in doing so, solve a system of linear equations. This lesson guide includes questions for learners, assessment options, extensions, and reflection questions.

Subject has three goals: introduces students to the classic works on ethnic politics, familiarizes students with new research and methodological innovations in the study of ethnic politics, and helps students design and execute original research projects related to ethnic politics. Readings drawn from across disciplines, including political science, anthropology, sociology, and economics. Students read across the four subfields within political science. Graduate students specializing in any subfield are encouraged to take this subject, regardless of their previous empirical or theoretical background. Subject designed as a year-long research workshop, but may also be taken in either semester. This course is designed mainly for political science graduate students conducting or considering conducting research on identity politics. While 17.504 Ethnic Politics I is designed as a primarily theoretical course, Ethnic Politics II switches the focus to methods. It aims to familiarize the student with the current conventional approaches as well as major challenges to them. The course discusses definition and measurement issues as well as briefly addressing survey techniques and modeling.

This Illuminations activity focuses on making predictions and the collection and analysis of data by having students take their pulse after different exercises. All individual data is collected in a classroom chart where the results are interpreted and conclusions drawn. The lesson includes a student worksheet and extension questions.

In this unit, students use online pan balances to study equality, order of operations, numerical and variable expressions, and other key algebraic concepts. Lessons focus on balancing shapes to study equality and equivalence; balancing algebraic understanding, to explore simplifying expressions; and balancing algebra, to determine if algebraic expressions are equal.

Gain practical insight and improved understanding of engineering experimentation through design and execution of "project" experiments. Building upon work in 16.621, students construct and test equipment, make systematic experimental measurements of phenomena, analyze data, and compare theoretical predictions with results. Written final report on entire project and formal oral presentation. Includes instructions on oral presentations. Provides valuable link between theory and practice.

Introduces laboratory experimental techniques. Principles of experimental design and reliable measurement. Laboratory safety. Instruction in effective report writing and oral presentation, including revision of written work. Selection and detailed planning of an individual research project, including design of components or equipment. Preparation of a detailed proposal for the selected project carried through to completion under 16.622.

In this activity, learners design unique tiles and make repeating patterns to create tessellations. This activity combines the creativity of an art project with the challenge of solving a puzzle. This lesson features three investigations, in which learners make tessellations by translating, rotating, and reflecting the patterns.

Through this four part lesson students develop an understanding of the relationship between area and perimeter. The lesson involves students making human rectangles, exploring geoboard connections, playing perimeter war, and playing Square Off from Calculation Nation. The lesson plan includes all data collection worksheets, games pieces, link to Calculation Nation, extension and assessment ideas.

This task provides students the opportunity to make use of units to find the gas need (N-Q.1). The key point is for them to explain their choices. This task provides an opportunity for students to practice MP2, Reason abstractly and quantitatively, and MP3, Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.

Using the LEGO® NXT robotics kit, students construct and program robots to illustrate and explore the Fibonacci sequence. Within teams, students are assigned roles: group leader, chassis builder, arm builder, chief programmer, and Fibonacci verifier. By designing a robot that moves based on the Fibonacci sequence of numbers, they can better visualize how quickly the numbers in the sequence grow. To program the robot to move according to these numbers, students break down the sequence into simple algebraic equations so that the computer can understand the Fibonacci sequence.

In this activity students will learn the basic concept of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) using triangulation and measurement on a small scale in the classroom. Students discover how GPS and navigation integrate mathematic and scientific concepts to create a standard for locating people and objects. This activity helps students understand both the need for and methods of navigation.

In this video segment from Cyberchase, Harry decides to train as a firefighter and uses line graphs to chart his physical fitness progress.

In this measurement lesson plan students use their estimation and reasoning skills to develop benchmarks for an ounce and a pound. Students test the accuracy of their estimates using a scale and give themselves a score based on how close they came to the desired weight (an ounce or a pound). This lesson plan includes a student data collection worksheet (PDF).

Students develop an understanding of the maple syrup process from tapping trees to evaporating sap through hands-on experiences.

Using this tool, students build these classic fractals: the Koch snowflake, a fractal tree, a reduced square, and the Sierpinksi triangle. As these shapes grow and change using an iterative process, students can observe patterns in the images created and in the table of values as the fractals progress through several stages.

The problem requires students to not only convert miles to kilometers and gallons to liters but they also have to deal with the added complication of finding the reciprocal at some point. In the USA we use distance per unit volume to measure fuel efficiency but in Europe we use volume per unit distance. Furthermore, the unit of distance is not simply 1 km but rather 100 km.

In this five lesson unit with overview from Illuminations, student activities explore relationships among fractions through work with the length model. Students construct fraction strips and use fraction bars throughout the unit to make sense of basic fraction concepts, to compare fractions and order fractions and to work with equivalency in fractions. Specific learning objectives, a material list, an instructional plan, questions for the students, assessment options, extensions, and teacher reflections are given for each lesson.