model teaching

making models is an important science concept that requires students to incorporate many process skills as

To make any model, the real distances and sizes are needed, and the "scale unit" must be selected. Instead of just scale distances as with the moon and planets, these analogies will let you compute heights; depths and areas.

making smaller models

This activity will allow you to compute -- "how deep is the ocean -- how high is the sky."
Almost.
More correctly -- this activity will allow you to compute --

"how deep is lake erie -- how high is mt. everest."

height: mt. everest

relief maps and globes ( the ones with "bumpy moutains on them" ) are neat-looking teaching aids, but might be teaching the wrong thing. How TALL sould those mountains be on the map ?


earth's diameter = 8,000 mi = 16" globe

so 1" = 1/16 of earth's diameter or _____ mi ( #1 )

mt. everest = 5 miles = _______ on a true scale globe ! ! ( #2 )

answers: ( #1 ) = 500 mi --- ( #2 ) = 1 / 100th of an inch

put map of lake erie here

depth: lake erie

Lake Erie's long axis -- Buffalo to Toledo -- is about 240 miles. The map where this distance was first noticed showed the lake to be 24 cm long ( about the length of a piece of typing paper ). Hmmm ! If 24 cm = 240 miles, then . . .

1 cm = _______ miles ( #3 )

1 / 10 cm = _______ miles ( #4 )

1 / 100th cm = _______ miles ( #5 )

answers: ( #3 = 10 miles ) -- ( #4 = 1 mile ) -- ( #5 = 1 / 10 mile - or 528 ft )

Then I got thinking about the thickness of the paper. A reem of ditto paper . . .

500 sheets = 5 cm thick, so

100 sheets = ___ cm thick ( #7 )

1 sheet = ___ cm thick ( #8 )

From #5, you determined that 1 / 100th cm represents _______ ft.

answers: ( #7 = 1 cm ) ( #8 = 1 / 100th cm )

Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes. Maximum depth = 210 ft

OBSERVE the data and make a general statement ( no numbers needed ) --- "hear ye; hear ye, Lake Erie's scale model depth is about

________________________________________________"

the great outdoors

REAL SIZE

Areas can be represented by scale models, too. Let's compare the sizes of two national parks.

yellowstone is the largest in the 48 contiguous states: 3472 sq. mi

This equals a square about ____ mi x ____ mi. ( #1 )

rocky mountain (Estes) is about 406 sq. miles.

This is equal to a square about ___ mi x ____ mi. ( #2 )

yellowstone is _____ times larger than Estes. ( #3 )

SCALE SIZE

yellowstone is represented by a piece of paper 100 cm x 100 cm. This is 10,000 cm2

so yellowstone's scale model will also be _____ larger than rocky mountain national park's scale model. ( #4 )

Estes should be represented by a piece of paper about _______ cm2 ( #5 )

That would be a piece of paper about ____ cm x ____ cm ( #6 )

answers:
( #1 ) -- 60 mi x 60 mi -- ( #2 ) -- 20 mi x 20 mi -- ( #3 ) -- 9 times
( #4 ) -- 9 times -- ( #5 ) -- ~121 cm2 -- ( 1 / 9th of yellowstone's)
( #6 ) -- ~11 cm x ~11 cm

this area comparison for 31 national parks is already done for you by mr. nice guy ( dr. leyden ) -- see 'national parks' in your directory.