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

What's the beat?

http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L176

A lesson plan for grades 3–5 Mathematics

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This lesson emphasizes the connections between science and mathematics by using a performance, or authentic, assessment format. Students explore applications involving their own heart. In this activity, students use the average adult’s number of heartbeats per minute to predict how many times the heart would beat during various lengths of time. The students also draw conclusions on the basis of information about the human heart rate and that of other mammals. Illuminations provides an activity sheet and detailed instructions for completing the lesson.

Students will:

  • Determine how many times the heart beats during various lengths of time.
  • Predict how many times the heart would beat during various lengths of time.
  • Draw conclusions on the basis of information about the human heart rate and that of other animals.

NCTM Standards and Expectations:

  • Propose and justify conclusions and predictions that are based on data and design studies to further investigate the conclusions or predictions.

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.