What is a million?

By Jack Larson

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Curriculum objectives Materials and Resources Investigations and activities Assessment

Curriculum Objectives

Learner Objectives

• Students will be able to better visualize the concept of a million.
•  Students will describe or illustrate ways to help understand the number or size of a million.
• Students will use the internet, books, and teacher-produced problems to gain a better understanding of a million.
• Students will brainstorm and share ideas and math problems to aid in the understanding of a million.

 Indiana State Standards

Mathematics:

Grade 6:

Standard 1

Number Sense                                 

Technology Standards

Social, ethical, and human issues

• Students practice responsible use of technology systems, information, and software.
• Students develop positive attitudes toward technology uses that support lifelong learning, collaboration, personal pursuits, and productivity.
• Technology productivity tools
• Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.

Technology research tools

• Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources.
• Students use technology tools to process data and report results.

Materials and Resources

Teacher Sources

• If You Made a Million? By David M. Schwartz
• How Much Is a Million? By David M. Schwartz
• Mathematics Applications & Connections  
• Course 1 Glencoe/ McGraw Hill 

Internet Sources

• www.millikinmath.com/Journal/Million.htm
• www.kokogiak.com/megapenny/six.asp
• http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/mgd.html
• http://math.rice.edu/~lanius/pro/rich.html
• http://abc.go.com/primetime/millionaire/millionaire_home.html
• http://math.rice.edu/~lanius/pro/rich.html
• http://www.enc.org/resources/records/order/o,1240,009715,00.shtm
• http://www.zoo.co.uk/~z0001246/visnum.html
• http://www.enc.org/features/calendar/unit/0,1819,213,00.shtm
• http://www.mathsyear2000.co.uk/numberland/100/100/shtml

Investigations and Other Activities

Project Description   

Students will develop a better concept of a million. They will use books, the Internet, and problems produced by the teacher and students. This will aid in   understanding just how much or large is a million. Various activities, problem solving, discussions, and readings will be utilized.   

Project Calendar, Timeline   

Each of the four math classes will spend two weeks on the project during the second trimester.   

Day One: Introduction

The students will verbalize and discuss their concepts of a million.  The students and the teacher will solve everyday problems involving a million.   

Day Two: Cynthia Lanius’s Lesson: A Mathematics Fantasy.  Students and teacher will calculate how long it would take for various employees in different occupations to earn a million dollars.    

Day Three: Teacher will share mathematical jokes with students from Internet site.  http://www.naturalmath.com/jokes/. Teacher will read to the students an article about visualizing numbers.  Discussion will follow.      

Day Four: Students will be formed with 4 or 5 students in each group.  Each group will decide what to do with a million dollars.  Each group will report why they chose that  to use the money.       

Day Five: Teacher will read David M. Schwartz’s books ----If You Made a Million and How Much Is a Million ? .  Time will be allotted for questions and discussion.        

Day Six: Students will use the Internet site www.millikinmath.com/Journal/Million.htm .  Activities include: Chart for a Million, One in a Million, Penny Comparison, A Million Gallons of Water, A Million Dots, Salt Comparison, Dollar Sign Example, and Calculate Your Age in Seconds.        

Day Seven: Continue activities that were begun on Day Six.         

Day Eight: Students will start working on their final presentations.  They can do a powerpoint, a poster, or an oral report.        

Day Nine: Students will continue working on their presentations.  Students may present individually or with other students.         

Day Ten: Students will present their finished product.          

Day Eleven: Students will test their knowledge of math and science to try to win “$1,000” by using the Internet http://education.jlab.org/million/

Classroom Management      

Students may work singly or in groups.  The teacher will assist students in making groups.  Students will be expected to be supportive of one another and to practice the six pillars of character counts.  Each student will be expected to contribute to discussions.

Handouts

No set handouts at this time.  Some may be added later.

Student Research

Students will use the Internet to find information about the concept of a million.  Some research might be done at home.  Parents will be encouraged to help.  Mrs. Fisher, the TMS librarian, will be utilized as a resource person.

Assessment          

Students will be evaluated on the finished PowerPoint, oral presentation, or poster.  A rubric will be used.  Categories will be given 1,2,3,or 4 points each.