Though, I'll have to admit that I had to read up on accuracy and precision since it's not something I've really thought about since I was in high school science!
First, we wrote definitions for accuracy and precision. I could tell that my students were writing these definitions down without really thinking about what they meant.
Next, I gave my students pictures of four targets. I found these target pictures on the New Zealand Science Learn website. Here's a direct link to the file.
Once we started trying to label these as accurate/not accurate and precise/not precise, the definitions started to make a lot more sense to my students! They were a bit bummed when I told them that on their quiz they were going to have to do the same thing with numbers instead of targets.
Next, we moved into a discussion of error and percent error. We talked about how mis-measuring someone's height by a foot and mis-measuring the height of a mountain by a foot were completely different circumstances.
I got a bit confused on the formula for error. I found some resources that defined error as the difference in measured value and accepted value. Other resources defined error as the difference in accepted value and measured value. I decided to just use the absolute value of the difference of the two values since I don't feel confident enough choosing one way over the other. Plus, we'll be using the absolute value anyway when we calculate percent error.
The problems from this foldable are taken from the Chemistry Workbook for Dummies book (affiliate link). So far, I've found the book to have really approachable, clever practice problems.
Outside of Booklet Foldable:
Inside of Booklet Foldable:
Close-up 1:
Close-up 2:
I've also started prepping for our first lab of the year. I printed off these targets and laminated them with my handy, dandy, new pink laminator.
I've had a Scotch brand laminator (affiliate link) for a few years that I love, but I recently bought a second laminator so I can keep one at school and one at home. Amazon ran a special the other day, and I was able to pick up this Swingline laminator (affiliate link) for only $15.99. As of the time of this blog post, it's currently $22.75 which I think is still a steal for a laminator! This Swingline laminator has a really short warm-up period that is only about four minutes. It seems to warm up much faster than my Scotch laminator. It also is SUPER quiet. The one thing the Scotch laminator has going for it, though, is speed. I was pretty tickled when Shaun agreed to let me order the pink laminator last week! (It also comes in gray, blue, and red.) Though, he did insist that this be the laminator we kept at home. I wonder why...
If you're interested in the files in this post, you can find them here!
I have followed your blog for a while. I regularly read it . I also teach algebra 1 and physical science. For this particular learning target I have students use nerf guns with the suction on the end- brings a fun factor to the lesson. We set up a bracket and have them compete. Please don't stop sharing - I love your posts and prespective on the things I teach as well!! ��
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! Thanks for sharing!
Delete