Integrating Math and Science
Teachers often strive to integrate math and science and throw in the towel because so much work is involved. Sometimes the available units are really science with a bit of mathematics, simple enough for the whole class, grafted onto the science activities.
Using integrated units from the get-go is a good thing.
Susan M. Brown relates how, propelled by National Board expectations, she found herself in unfamiliar waters – the integration of math and science.
Her first foray into integration involved extending the geology curriculum. Before long, ice cube glaciers carved canyons in clay mountains, water pooled into glacial lakes, and waterfalls eroded measurable amounts of silt at a rate determined by the mountain slope's incline.
Since then, she tries to integrate math and science content in all her science curricula. She's learned through a lot of trial and error that the best way to do this is to go point by point and design a unit to incorporate inquiry, scientific process, a large idea for the Kids to walk away with, and corresponding math lessons to ensure they are equipped to do the math necessary to make the science clear.
The questions she asks herself and her students are: What are you observing? What does it mean? What does this tell you about how the world works? How can you demonstrate to me and anyone else that this is accurate and repeatable?
Math/Science Nucleus serves as an online science resource center to assist teachers around the world. Their major goal is to develop problem solving capacity through science for the world's children and provides a free online reference science curriculum for elementary grades.
Are Submarines Waterproof
James May looks at whether or not submarines are waterproof, and goes on to explain exactly how they work. A great starting point for integrating math and physics.
The link below has links to addition web resources on this topic.
- YouTube URL
This article notes that students often have trouble seeing their school lessons as relevant to real life.
They suggest that real estate requires skills in math, science, English, social studies and home economics. By incorporating real estate-based lessons into your curriculum, you can help students gain valuable skills that can be related to real-life situations.
They have example lessons for Math, Science, English, Social Studies and Home Economics.
The Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing (CEISMC) (pronounced like "seismic") at the Georgia Institute of Technology is working to ensure that K-12 students receive the best possible preparation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) as they seek their place in the modern world, and to disseminate best practices to districts and through scholarly works. Check out their Programs & Projects section.
The National Math + Science Initiative provides free, example math and science lessons for use in your classroom.
While the site was aimed at stressing science for pre-shoolers, many of the activities would be appropriate for younger students (K-2).
Check out A Sampler of Activities and Family Extension Activities links for ideas.