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University of Massachusetts > STEM > April 2008 | Real World Math & Science
HANDS-ON MATH | Growing BugsDo you know any students who really like bugs? Introduce them to Jan Dietrick-she grows bugs for a living. She provides organic farmers with good bugs that attack bad bugs. To do her job well, she uses estimation, biology and a cool head when it comes to creepy, crawly bugs.
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PROBLEM SOLVING | Space in Space
When engineers at NASA started developing the new Orion space vehicle, they decided to reduce its diameter from 5.5 meters to 5 meters. Use this activity with your students to find out what challenges this created for the engineering team and how they solved those problems.
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A HEALTHY DIET | Feeding Time
Lions and llamas and penguins! Oh my! When it comes to the science of animal biology, math is key. It's what keeps the animals healthy and happy.
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT | Operating a Restaurant
There's more to great food than the ingredients. The restaurant business is a perfect training ground for solving problems.
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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | Maglev Trains
Gliding on a wave of electromagnetic force, a maglev train could travel at 300 miles per hour or faster. Meet the inventors of the "Maglev Train" who describe the mechanics, the science and future benefits of this alternative mode of transportation.
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PROBLEM SOLVING | Water Geometry
Landscape architects want to be sure that the plants and flowers in their gardens stay vibrant and healthy. This activity has students solve a problem that they would face if designing a garden in a grand scale - they must ensure that every square inch gets enough water.
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NUMBER WRANGLING | Horses in the Movies
A Western wouldn't be a Western without stampedes and shoot-outs on horseback or simply cowboys riding into town. So, who does the producer call when he needs stagecoaches, buckboards and horses to make the script come alive? And how much will it cost to bring those horses and wagons to a movie set? Give your students the back-story and show them how math plays a role in keeping a movie from going over budget.
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TRIANGULAR TOYS | Inventing Toys
She designed a sailboat and a ferris wheel. He designed a motorcycle and a roller coaster. They're a team and they have jobs that most kids (and a lot of adults) would envy: They design toys and get paid for it.
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PROBLEM SOLVING | In the Chef's Kitchen
At Element's Kitchen in Pasadena, CA, these skilled and creative chefs are inventing delectable new dishes and bringing new life to familiar ones. Whether they're planning bulk orders for next week's menu, measuring the correct amounts of ingredients or figuring out how to scale up a recipe for a catered event, it's clear that math is almost as important a tool as their pots and pans.
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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | Veterinary Medicine
A career in veterinary medicine is one that interests many students, but do they connect that goal to their classroom lessons? Introduce them to Dr. Pamela Dendtler, a veterinarian and business owner who relies on math and science every day.
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PROBLEM SOLVING | Computer Problems
What kinds of problems would you have to solve if you wanted to manufacture 100,000 computers a day? In this lesson, students learn that the most important skill of problem solving is being able to clearly state the problem.
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A STRONG DOLLAR | Printing Money
To what lengths does the Secret Service go to prevent counterfeit money? Watch the movie to see the math and science behind making money.
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BIG CITY GEOMETRY | The ABC's of Architecture
This architect had the challenge of getting 100,000 people per day through the front door of one of New York's busiest subway stations. See what math she relied upon to turn a space 40 feet wide and 50 feet long into a grand entrance.
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