Activity
Scientific Notation and Astronomy
This activity teaches students who are blind or visually impaired about scientific notation using the example of astronomy to illustrate its importance.
Compose and decompose whole numbers up to 999.
- Ability to use the Internet for research
- Computer Access
- Information about Black Holes can be found at http://www.ducksters.com/science/black_hole.php
- Information about the Milky Way Galaxy can be found at http://www.universetoday.com/22285/facts-about-the-milky-way/
- The following article from the New York Times can be used to extend the lesson and learn more about Black Hole research: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/09/science/black-hole-event-horizon-telescope.html?ref=space&_r=0
- New Biggest Prime Number
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With the student review the following vocabulary: scientific notation - Review with student the reason using scientific notation is important. (It lets us write very large and very small numbers without using a lot of zeros.)
- Together with the student try changing a large number into scientific notation. For example, the mass of Pluto is 1,250,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 Kg. What will this look like in scientific notation? (Answer: 1.25kg x 1022)
- Provided the student understands this concept, have them independently change the mass of the Moon from 7,390,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 into scientific notation.
- The student should complete the Scientific Notation Worksheet using the media of his/her choice. (Question number 5 could be completed as a homework assignment or to continue the lesson onto another day.)
For a quick and easy review of scientific notation watch the following YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwmJ5nMmigQ this can be done with the student as an introduction to the lesson or just as a review for the teacher.
By Susan LoFranco
Attached File(s)
https://www.perkins.org/sites/elearning.perkinsdev1.org/files/Scientific%20Notation%20Worksheet.doc
