Notes from Science K2K 9/21/11
K-12 Measurement Skills
Teachers broke into small groups to discuss and define measurement skills that are required and/or
taught in their respective courses.
Up next (Nov. 2):
Groups will share their work and provide an example of student work using measurements
KES:
K-3 progression in measurement skills (metric and English)
Grades 4-6 feature activities with measurement skills as a part of the lesson
Pilot programs:
- mini-unit on the measurement of liquids in Grade 3
- measurement of mass/weight in Gr 4-5
On-going coordination with KES math teachers re: measurement in math curriculum
Working on a curriculum sequence in measurement skills for K-6 with corresponding student samples…
KMS:
Measurements are quantitative observations with a number and unit
Uncertainty in Measurement (Reading and instrument to the correct number of sig figs)
Labs/Exercises to familiarize students with metric units and prefixes:
Base units: meter, gram, liter, second, oC
Grade 7: milli-, centi-, deci-, base unit, Deca-, KiloGrade 8: nano-, micro-, milli-, centi-, deci-, base unit, Deca-, Kilo-, Mega-, Giga-, TeraMeasurements using: Graduated cylinders, rulers, thermometers, balance
7th grade: Conversion of metric units
8th grade: Conversion of metric units; metric-english system conversions
Use of scientific notation to familiarize students with orders of magnitude
Biology (9th and 10th grades)
The following are skills that incoming freshman are assumed to already have
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Use rulers – metric system vs. US system; how to use cm, mm
Tare scale
Measure mass
Measure volume
Metric conversions
Recording data, using units, writing decimals correctly
Scientific notation, using Excel and calculators
Significant figures
Need to integrate curriculum with Math
Using thermometer,
Reading the meniscus
Which measuring device is the most accurate, choosing the right instrument
Take qualitative measurements on quantitative instruments (i.e. pH, bubbles)
Triple beam balances and electronic balances, thermometers, microscope, meter sticks, graduated
cylinders, beakers, beryl pipetters, pH paper, some know vernier logger pro, stopwatches, bunsen
burners.
The following are skills that outgoing freshman are assumed will have learned
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Further proficiency with all the earlier skills
Microscope
Thinking about standard deviation
Vernier (logger pro, ph meters, thermisters, oxygen and carbon dioxide probes, conductivity
meters, salinity)
Using different instruments to measure the same quantity
Create a context for what measurements are/where they come from
Taking multiple measurements for the same variable, this starts the conversation about whether
or not instruments are accurate, possible sources of error
Spectrophotometry, spec 20
Implementing more lab practicals
Estimation
Chemistry (10th and 11th grades)
S.I units
Unit conversions using dimensional analysis
Reading and instrument to the correct number of sig figs
Identifying Significant figures in calculations, rules for calculations using measurements
Unit conversions using dimensional analysis
Scientific Notation
Expressing measurements in graphs (hand and computer)
Physics (11th and 12th grades)
Here is a list of measuring instruments we use in our physics courses with our students:
Vernier & Logger Pro
1. Magnetic field
2. Force
3. Voltage Sensor
4. Ammeter
5. Motion Sensor
6. Light Sensor
7. Thermometer
8. Air Pressure
9. Photogate (Time)
10. Microphone
General
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Meter stick
Protractor
Stopwatch
Mass freight scale
Electronic balance (mass)
Thermometer
Multimeter
Air Pressure
Clock Time
Summer
1. Anomometers
2. Solar Irradiance meter
When recording data students should report quantitative data to the accuracy of their measuring
instrument. Ex. Meterstick. Caliper. They should remember to record their measurements in the correct
units.
Darren talked about sig fig labs and conversion.