Post date: Oct 9, 2020 7:57:10 PM
MSM2 Block 1
SOLs Covered: 7.1 Negative Exponents & Scientific Notation; 7.1 & 8.1 Comparing & Ordering Real Numbers
Math Unit: 04 Negative Exponents, Powers of 10, & Scientific Notation
Daily Agenda: Oct. 5-9, 2020
Upcoming Assessments: 1.03 Neg.Expo., Powers of 10, Sci.Note, & C&O Real Numbers Quiz (Fri. 10/16)
Math 7H Blocks 2 & 3
SOLs Covered: 7.1 Negative Exponents & Scientific Notation; 7.1 & 8.1 Comparing & Ordering Real Numbers
Math Unit: 04 Negative Exponents, Powers of 10, & Scientific Notation
Daily Agenda: Oct. 5-9, 2020
Upcoming Assessments: 1.03 Neg.Expo., Powers of 10, Sci.Note, & C&O Real Numbers Quiz (Fri. 10/16)
¡Buenas tardes! Aside from wrapping up MAP testing on Tuesday, this week's focus was on scientific notation, both converting between standard form and scientific notation as well as comparing/ordering numbers in their scientific notation form. While students did a little work with this last year, many were initially confused, so I extended the work through the whole week and feel they're doing much better with the concept overall. We'll be continuing the work next week as we work in comparing and ordering a range of rational numbers (fractions, decimals, percents, scientific notation, negative exponents), but below you'll find a few reminders to hopefully keep the kids on track as we expand on what we've already covered.
In my class, we take a super nerdy route with this by identifying the standard form decimals as "Ant-Man numbers" (since he can shrink down to microscope sizes... we ignore his later movie appearances for this purpose) or "Hulk numbers" (since he becomes a giant anytime he's angry). Even the kids who aren't fans of the movies/comics just seem to "get" this comparison and it's helped tremendously with their understanding. An example of an Ant-Man number would be something like 0.000000000753 kg (the mass of a dust particle); in scientific notation we would move the decimal after the 7 and we'd have a negative 10 exponent to denote the move (7.53 × 10-10). An example of a "Hulk number" would be 300,000,000 m/sec (the speed of light); in scientific notation we would move the decimal after the 3 and we'd have a positive 8 exponent to denote the move (3 × 108 or 3.0 × 108). You'll now know why if you hear your child asking themselves "is this a Hulk number or an Ant-Man number?". Of course we also have numbers where there's no change in the decimal position (those would be any superhero of your choosing who doesn't change in size) and they thus have an exponent of 0.
Since we also work with negative numbers in their scientific notation form, we jump into another pop culture zone by comparing those negatives to being numbers that have been dragged down into the "Upside Down" by the demagorgons (that's a Stranger Things reference in case you're not "in the know"). While in the "normal" world the "big" numbers are greater, the negative values go the opposite direction. If you have a Stranger Things fan in your life, you can imagine how this would work for them but for the non-fans, we still look at where these numbers would fall on the number-line to ensure the concept sinks in fully.
Of course, I had to work in yet one more nerdy reference to class as I reminded students that there are always decimals in all numbers, whether we can see them or not. For numbers where we don't see the decimal, it's just acting like Harry Potter under his invisibility cloak, hiding at the end of the number. This has been helping the kids who had been a little confused when decimals would seemingly appear or disappear from thin air.
Well, I think I've taken you all down one massively long nerdy rabbit hole adventure for long enough (and I can't avoid finishing making the next Canvas module any longer), so I'm going to wrap things up here. As always, feel free to reach out if you have any questions/concerns and as always, thank you for your continued support and involvement. Hope you all have an amazing weekend!