Math/Science Joint Workshop
RATIONALE
Same Students
Science  Math
Consistent approaches to applying math
concepts and processes in both disciplines
New High School Certification Requirements
Q.E.P. - Friendly
Part 1 –
ESTABLISHING LINKS
Activity #1
Become aware of math content in the other discipline
Activity #2
Identify common concepts and skills in math and science
Part 1 –
ESTABLISHING LINKS
Common Concepts:
Common Skills:
Perceived Student Obstacles:
MATH QUESTION
The volume of a square-based pyramid is 223 cm3.
The height of this pyramid is 12 cm.
12 cm
Rounded to the nearest tenth,
what is the length of a side of
the base of this pyramid?
A) 4.3 cm
C) 13.9 cm
B) 7.5 cm
D) 29.9 cm
ANSWER: B
MATH SOLUTION
Vpyramid =
223 =
B h
3
B 12
3
12B = 3(223)
12B = 669
B = 55.75
 Length of a side of the base =
55.75  7.5 cm
Answer: Rounded to the nearest tenth, the length of a side of the
base of this pyramid is 7.5 cm.
SCIENCE QUESTION
A calorimeter was used to heat 500 mL of water to 100°C.
If the thermal energy provided was equal to 167 600 J,
what was the temperature of the water before it was
heated?
Show all your work.
Determining the change in temperature
Q
167 600 J
T = m  c = 
 = 80°C
500
g

4.19
J/g


C




Determining the initial temperature
T = Tf  Ti
Ti = Tf  T
Ti = 100°C  80°C = 20°C
Answer: The temperature of the water before it was heated was 20°C.
Part 2 –
Developing Consistency
Activity #3
Discuss use of Symbols and Terms
“DOUBLE-THINK” SYMBOLS
m
_______________
_______________

_______________
_______________
T
_______________
_______________
p
_______________
_______________

_______________
_______________
Part 2 –
Developing Consistency (cont.)
Activity #4
Discuss approaches in Developing a Math Skill
SOLVING EQUATIONS ALGEBRAICALLY
Solve the following equation for 0C.
0F
= 1.8  0C + 32
At what temperature would 0F equal 0C ?
Solve the following system of linear relations:
4x + y = 14
20x + 10y = 8
Part 3 –
STRATEGIES for SUCCESS
Activity #5
Using the KMWC model for problem solving
READING A PROBLEM – KMWC TIPS
K : What facts do I KNOW from the information in the problem?
M : Can I MODEL the situation with a picture or manipulatives?
W : WHAT does the problem ask me to find?
C : CROSS OUT any facts that are not needed.
READING A PROBLEM – KMWC TIPS
An air traffic controller was monitoring two airplanes. He
noticed that as plane A began its descent in order to land,
plane B left the ground.
When plane A began its descent, it was flying at an altitude
of 900 metres. During its descent, its altitude decreased at
a rate of 4 metres per second.
As soon as plane B took off, its altitude increased at a rate
of 5 metres per second.
At a certain point in time, both planes were at the same
altitude. Then, exactly 10 seconds later, the air traffic
controller switched to the radar in order to monitor plane B.
What altitude had plane B reached when radar monitoring
began? Show all your work.
READING A PROBLEM – KMWC TIPS
TEMPLATE
K:
What facts do I KNOW from the information in the
problem?
“What words or ideas don’t I understand?”
M:
Can I MODEL the situation with a picture or manipulatives?
“Is there any missing information that I can estimate?”
W:
WHAT does the problem ask me to find?
C:
CROSS OUT any facts that are not needed.
Part 3 –
STRATEGIES for SUCCESS
Activity #6
Using webbing and mapping to develop and
organize concepts
CONCEPT MAPPING
• Proportional

• Slope

• Direct Variation 
Linear
Relation
• Initial Value

• Parameters

• Linear Relation 
Direct
Variation
Partial
Variation
Graph
Straight Line
Straight Line
Rule
y = ax
y = ax + b
Initial Value
(0,0)
(0,b)
Parameters
Slope a ; b = 0
Slope a ; b ≠ 0
Proportional
Situation
YES
NO
• y = ax + b

• (0,0)

• Straight Line

• Rule

• y = ax

• Partial Variation 
• Graph

• (0,b)

Science Teachers
CONCEPT MAPPING
Parallel
Circuits
Math Teachers
CONCEPT MAPPING
Systems of
Linear Eqns
Closure
Identify two inter-disciplinary themes related to improving student
success in your school.
Recommend strategies which you will use in your school.
How will you monitor the effectiveness of these strategies?
What type(s) of support will your departments require from ESD and
Administration?