Great Inquiry Activity

In this article, students learn how to relate temperature to the number of chirps a field cricket makes. Since crickets are common in my area, I plan to use this activity as a long-term ext... See More

In this article, students learn how to relate temperature to the number of chirps a field cricket makes. Since crickets are common in my area, I plan to use this activity as a long-term extension project so my students are able to recognize that as the temperature cools down in the fall and winter, we do not hear the crickets chirping as much. Although this article is written for middle school, it could be modified for use in an elementary class room. I think this would be a great activity to introduce algebraic thinking to upper elementary grades. You could also teach this as a cross-curriuclar lesson by incorporating a book like The Very Quiet Cricket (by Eric Carle) into the lesson. I look forward to trying this activity soon!

Natures Math

The first part of this two part series discussed the importance of rates. This article discusses what a function is in algebraic terms and applies this to the effect of chirps of crickets p... See More

The first part of this two part series discussed the importance of rates. This article discusses what a function is in algebraic terms and applies this to the effect of chirps of crickets per minute to the temperature of the air. A chart provides some rates to show how an algebraic equation can be used. Students learn that by measuring chirps per minute vs. temperature they can recognize a pattern in nature which will hopefully help them better understand the natural world around them.