Learning to Measure - Building STEM Skills Kit

With the Learning to Measure Kit, students learn by doing. Students can measure lengths and distances, volume, mass, temperature, and time, and also investigate conservation of mass with the 5 classroom activities and 5 independent investigations included in the kit. The kit also features enough hands-on learning materials for 40 students working in groups of 4, as well as a DVD with PDF Teacher and Student Guides and other exciting interactive digital content. Learning to Measure Summary of Activities The kit activities contain structured, guided, and open investigations, at introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels. Activity - Learning to Measure Lengths and Distances 1. Learning To Measure Lengths & Distances Student groups practice measuring printed type fonts and longer distances. Guided – Model Experiment Beginner  2. Can Measurement Accuracy be Affected by Temperature?  Student groups assess how changes in temperature affect the accuracy of a scale. Guided Inquiry – Independent Investigation Beginner – Intermediate  Activity - Learning to Measure Volumes    3. Learning To Measure Volumes Student groups use graduated cylinders to measure volumes (reading a meniscus). Guided – Model Experiment   Beginner  4. Determining the Volume of a Regular and Irregular Solid Students assess the volume of a regular and irregular solid by displacement. They also make indirect measurements (by calculation). Guided Inquiry – Independent Investigation Beginner  Activity - Learning to Measure Mass     5. Learning To Measure Mass on a Triple-Beam Balance Measuring mass using a triple-beam balance. (Step-by-step)  Guided – Model Experiment Beginner  6. Detecting a Mint Change Students compare the masses of US one-cent coins (pennies) to determine which year a major change was made. Guided Inquiry – Independent Investigation  Activity - Learning to Measure Temperature  7. Learning To Measure Temperature Student groups use measure temperature under various conditions – converting from Fahrenheit to Celsius scales. Guided – Model Experiment    Beginner  8. How much heat is lost in an endothermic reaction? Students measure the change in temperature during an endothermic reaction (adding Alka-Seltzer to a glass of water). Guided Inquiry – Independent Investigation  Intermediate Activity - Learning to Measure Time     9. Constructing a Time Machine (sundial)  Student groups use a GPS app to determine latitude, and use this information to help them construct a sundial for time measurement. They determine the precision and accuracy of their constructed instruments. Guided – Model Experiment   Intermediate  Going Further  10. Demonstrating Conservation of Mass in a Closed System Students design an investigational protocol that demonstrates conservation of mass in a chemical reaction. Open Inquiry – Independent Investigation Beginner – Intermediate