LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Off the scale

http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L516

A lesson plan for Grades 6–8 Mathematics and Social Studies

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

About this resource

Appropriate grades
6–8
Subjects
mathematics (applied mathematics, measurement), social studies (geography)
Provider
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

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Students use real-world examples to solve problems involving scale as they examine maps of their home states and calculate distances between cities. Illuminations provides an activity sheet, links to web resources that contain state maps, and detailed instructions for completing the lesson.

Students will:

  • Set up and solve problems dealing with scale by writing proportions.
  • Recognize examples of scales being used in real-life situations.
  • Examine a map of their home states to determine distances between cities using a scale.

NCTM Standards and Expectations:

  • Understand both metric and customary systems of measurement.
  • Understand relationships among units and convert from one unit to another within the same system.
  • Select and apply techniques and tools to accurately find length, area, volume, and angle measures to appropriate levels of precision.
  • Solve problems involving scale factors, using ratio and proportion.
  • Use common benchmarks to select appropriate methods for estimating measurements.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Social Studies (2003)

Grade 6

  • Goal 1: The learner will use the five themes of geography and geographic tools to answer geographic questions and analyze geographic concepts.
    • Objective 1.02: Generate, interpret, and manipulate information from tools such as maps, globes,charts, graphs, databases, and models to pose and answer questions about space and place, environment and society, and spatial dynamics and connections.

Grade 7

  • Goal 1: The learner will use the five themes of geography and geographic tools to answer geographic questions and analyze geographic concepts.
    • Objective 1.02: Generate, interpret, and manipulate information from tools such as maps, globes, charts, graphs, databases, and models to pose and answer questions about space and place, environment and society, and spatial dynamics and connections.

Mathematics (2004)

Grade 6

  • Goal 4: Data Analysis and Probability - The learner will understand and determine probabilities.
    • Objective 4.01: Develop fluency with counting strategies to determine the sample space for an event. Include lists, tree diagrams, frequency distribution tables, permutations, combinations, and the Fundamental Counting Principle.

Grade 7

  • Goal 4: Data Analysis and Probability - The learner will understand and use graphs and data analysis.
    • Objective 4.01: Collect, organize, analyze, and display data (including box plots and histograms) to solve problems.

Grade 8

  • Goal 2: Measurement - The learner will understand and use measurement concepts.
    • Objective 2.01: Determine the effect on perimeter, area or volume when one or more dimensions of two- and three-dimensional figures are changed.
    • Objective 2.02: Apply and use concepts of indirect measurement.