Subject
Mathematics, Physics

Focus Area
Modeling and Simulation, Probeware

Grade Level
Middle School

License
LGPL License

Requirements

Portions of this activity require a Vernier Go!Motion sensor, an inexpensive device that plugs into your USB port. To use the sensor computers must have Java installed. Otherwise, the activity runs entirely in a Web browser. Preferred browsers are: Google Chrome (versions 5 and above), Safari (versions 4 and above), Firefox (version 3.6.10 and above), and Internet Explorer (version 7, 8, or higher; note that version 6 or below does not work).

AAAS Benchmark Alignments (2008)

2. The Nature of Mathematics

2A. Patterns and Relationships

• 2A/E2. By the end of the 5th grade, students should know that mathematical ideas can be represented concretely, graphically, or symbolically.

9. The Mathematical World

9B. Symbolic Relationships

• 9B/E2. By the end of the 5th grade, students should know that tables and graphs can show how values of one quantity are related to values of another.
• 9B/M2*. By the end of the 8th grade, students should know that rates of change can be computed from differences in magnitudes and vice versa.
• 9B/M3*. By the end of the 8th grade, students should know that graphs can show a variety of possible relationships between two variables. As one variable increases uniformly, the other may do one of the following: increase or decrease steadily, increase or decrease faster and faster, get closer and closer to some limiting value, reach some intermediate maximum or minimum, alternately increase and decrease, increase or decrease in steps, or do something different from any of these.

9C. Shapes

• 9C/M4*. By the end of the 8th grade, students should know that the graphic display of numbers may help to show patterns such as trends, varying rates of change, gaps, or clusters that are useful when making predictions about the phenomena being graphed.

11. Common Themes

11B. Models

• 11B/E4**. By the end of the 5th grade, students should know that models are very useful for communicating ideas about objects, events, and processes. When using a model to communicate about something, it is important to keep in mind how it is different from the thing being modeled.
• 11B/M4** (BSL). By the end of the 8th grade, students should know that simulations are often useful in modeling events and processes.

12. Habits of Mind

12B. Computation and Estimation

• 12B/M1a*. By the end of the 8th grade, students should be able to find what part one number is of another and express it as a fraction or a percentage.

12C. Manipulation and Observation

• 12C/E6** (BSL). By the end of the 5th grade, students should be able to use audio and video recording devices for capturing information.

12D. Communication Skills

• 12D/M2. By the end of the 8th grade, students should be able to read simple tables and graphs produced by others and describe in words what they show.