Scale

Some thoughts

It is surprising how many math areas the concept of scale informs: from place value and time to interrelated rates of change.

The multiple ways to document a single example of scale in charts, tables, pictures, manipulatives, and graphs can create dialectic tension and provide potential for rich and engaging conversations.

Beginning in the earliest grades, how can we more explicitly teach the concept of scale?

Classroom Ideas

The Giant Marshmallow - If you love s'mores, wouldn't a giant s'more be even better? This activity challenges students to use patterns or ratio and proportion skills to determine the size of a graham cracker that would fit a giant marshmallow. Lots of room for teacher modification. Lots of opportunities for students to ask questions and work together. Most appropriate for 5th grade or up. Older grades may want to create a relationship equation and/or graph a continuum of graham cracker sizes against marshmallow dimensions!