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

Competing coasters

http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L241

A lesson plan for grades 3–5 Mathematics

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Students look at attributes that vary from roller coaster to roller coaster. Illuminations provides an activity sheets and detailed instructions for completing the lesson. After students have discussed their roller coaster experiences, they compare and estimate the speed, height, track length, and duration of two roller coasters using only photos from a web resource that provides pictures of amusement rides. Then, students compare their estimated data with actual data and find the Estimation Score for each estimate they made.

Students will:

  • Make estimations on the quantifiable aspects of a roller coaster’s structure (height and length) and ride (speed and duration).
  • Collect data about roller coasters.
  • Draw conclusions about the relationships among variables.
  • Analyze estimation skills by using a percent error formula.
  • Examine patterns on score cards.
  • Represent personal scores data on a line graph for the extension.

NCTM Standards and Expectations:

  • Understand such attributes as length, area, weight, volume, and size of angle and select the appropriate type of unit for measuring each attribute.
  • Select and use benchmarks to estimate measurements.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Mathematics (2004)

Grade 3

  • Goal 1: Number and Operations - The learner will model, identify, and compute with whole numbers through 9,999.
    • Objective 1.06: Develop flexibility in solving problems by selecting strategies and using mental computation, estimation, calculators or computers, and paper and pencil.

Grade 4

  • Goal 1: Number and Operations - The learner will read, write, model, and compute with non-negative rational numbers.
    • Objective 1.05: Develop flexibility in solving problems by selecting strategies and using mental computation, estimation, calculators or computers, and paper and pencil.

Grade 5

  • Goal 1: Number and Operations - The learner will understand and compute with non-negative rational numbers.
    • Objective 1.03: Develop flexibility in solving problems by selecting strategies and using mental computation, estimation, calculators or computers, and paper and pencil.