Aerosol Lesson: Mathematics

Recommended Grades:
Intermediate Level (Grades 5-8).

Objective:
Convert volcano elevation from feet to meters.

Prerequisite Skill:
Multiply with whole numbers and decimals.

Applicable National Math Standards:
- Standard 6.3 (Extend understanding of whole number operations to decimals).
- Standard 7.1 (Compute whole numbers, fractions, decimals, integers, and rational numbers).
- Standard 13 (Develop formulas and procedures for determining measurements to solve problems).

Instructional Delivery:
Whole Group, Cooperative Group, Flexible Group, or Independently

Materials Needed:
Volcano Handout (calculators are optional)

Activity Procedure:

1. It is recommended that the students review multiplication skills with whole numbers and decimals to introduce the length conversion formula.

2. The teacher should determine instructional delivery, but should work the first problem as a whole group. The teacher should also determine the number of random problems the students should be given for practice.

3. The following examples are randomly selected numbers and serve as examples only.

   • [Example - Multiply a four digit whole number by a three digit whole number.]
     

     4,898 x 255= ______

   • [Example - Multiply a five digit whole number by a three digit whole number.]
     

     15,672 x 532 = ______

   • [Example - Multiply a four digit whole number by a two digit decimal number.]
     

     2,345 x 0.25 = ______

   • [Example - Multiply a five digit whole number by a three digit decimal number.]
     

     18,974 x 0.348 = ______

4. Introduce the length conversion formula. In order to convert feet (ft) to meters (m) multiply feet by 0.3048 to determine meters. [ft. x .3048 = m].

5. The students are to use the Volcano Handout to convert volcano elevation levels from feet to meters by using the length conversion formula. The Volcano Handout Answer Key is also provided.