Math and Science Connections

This page is an outgrowth of The Math/Science Visualization Project in conjunction with the University of Illinois at Urbana, 2000-2002.  The teachers involved experimented with linking Algebra and Chemistry.

Mathematics in Chemistry connections matrix  (A table of the math skills used in first year Chemistry)

 

                        Web resources for math/science connections

 

Algebra/Chemistry Connection Activities & some Chemistry visualization ideas 

 

 Activities we have used in our classes.  Print what you like and edit these Microsoft Word files as you need,  Susan Camasta and Heddi Pfister

Chemistry

Connecting the Celcius and Farhenheit temperature scales (this lab activity comparing graphs to find a relationship)

Can you Measure Up? (students consider accuracy and precision in choosing a measuring instrument)

Graphing data about elements to look for trends on the periodic table (looking for patterns by graphing data)

Making a graph using Microsoft Excel

Radioactive Skittles (radioactive decay, graphing, exponential decay)

Density  (density of element pieces, collect data and graph, slope)

Density II (more density, more open ended, application)

Count Your Pennies and Make Some Cents (pennies as analogy to isotopes, equation with 2 variables)

Percent Composition  (Oreos are used to introduce percent composition)

Drops on a Penny: follow up (this lab activity uses the evaporation of different volatile solutions to examine rate of change.  You would need electronic temperature probes to do it.)

Algebra                           

Boyles Law Lab for math

Calculators for science teachers

Exponential functions (applications include biology, half-life)            

Exponential decay (Algebra 1 level applications)

Fish investigation (inverse variation & investigation into the effect of water temperature & dissolved oxygen)

Graphing general relationships (identifying the independent & dependent variables & the graph relationship between them)

Independent and dependent variables (graphing the relationship between 2 variables without data)

Inverse examples (Boyle's Law, radio signals, force exertion)

Linear programming (nuclear versus coal power, water supply)

Linear applications (bone growth, volume of a gas versus air temperature)

More Exponential Applications (Newton's Law of Cooling, intensity of sunlight, vapor pressure, tire pressure)

More with proportions (applications of functions that contain more than one independent variable-bone mass, sun's energy...)

Proportional relationships (radiation exposure, force...)

Proportions pairs check (converting rates & units)

Quadratic models (projectile motion & more, Algebra 2 level)

Rates of change (connecting slopes to graphs)

Scatter plots and best fit lines (natural selection, climate, gases)

Skittles Lab (exponential growth & decay)

Stat  Plot graphing on calculator

Tidal investigation (collecting data to find a sinusoidal relationship)

Variation applications (direct & inverse variation as it applies to electronics, Weiss' Law & tornadoes)

 

Websites with math/science connection activities

Math/Science sites with lists of links to other sites 

http://www.slonet.org/global/education/sci.html  ( list of  links to science and math websites)

http://www.tc.cornell.edu/Services/Edu/MathSciGateway/math.asp  (provides links to science and math sites)

Math/Science sites with specific activities and links to other sites

http://www.enc.org/topics/realworld/context (Eisenhower National Clearing House for real world science and math connections)

http://links.math.rpi.edu/index.html (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Mathematics and its applications in Engineering and science.  Modules for class activities arranged by math topic and general application.)

http://spacelink.nasa.gov/Instructional.Materials/ (contains educational materials and information related to NASA Aeronautics and Space Research)

http://education.ti.com/index.html  (browse Texas Instruments pages for educators)

http://www.math.com/teachers/centers/lesson%20plans.html "The World of math on-line".  This link goes to lesson plan links, but there are resources, activities, puzzles and more at this site.

http://www.phy.ntnu.edu.tw/java/ Virtual Physics Laboratory...lots of topics, lots of applets, National Taiwan Normal University

Sites with specific activities

http://www.eecs.umich.edu/~coalitn/sciedoutreach/funexperiments/agesubject/lessons/newton/HseChem.html

http://www.nyu.edu/pages/mathmol/  (Molecular modeling and geometry)

http://www.kent.wednet.edu/pcpow/  (Physics and calculus problems of the week)

http://www.geom.umn.edu/education/calc-init/ (The University of Minnesota Calculus Initiative... "The Geometry Center is assisting in the development of interactive technology-based modules for the engineering calculus sequence. These modules emphasize geometric concepts of calculus while examining applications of mathematics to the physical and life sciences.")

http://www.nctm.org/corners/teachers/index.htm National Council of Teachers of Mathematics,  resources, activities and other links

http://www.nsta.org/ National Science Teachers Association, resources, activities and other links

http://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/ modeling and simulation.  Use their library of models or design your own  You can download the software or view the simulations in your browser.  For links to other resources and other modeling sites go to: http://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/resources.shtml

http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/biomath/menu.html Mathematical biology, Brandeis University.

Teaching Resources

http://www.learner.org/search/advanced_browse.html  Annenberg/ CPB video resources for teaching math and science

Applications of Logarithms

  http://.nyctc.cuny.edu/science/safety/logexamples.htm pH acids and bases, half-life and decay of radioactive substances, generation time, measuring earthquakes, intensity of sound      

http://www.angelfire.com/nj2/phacidrain/acidlab.html pH labs you could do in a math classroom if you borrowed some pH paper from your science department. 

Fun stuff

http://www.hrmvideo.com/abmath/ "Absurd Math is an interactive mathematical problem solving game series. The player proceeds on missions in a strange world where the ultimate power consists of mathematical skill and knowledge. Many of the pages have hidden clues and areas. Anytime a player needs help, they may email our staff for assistance. We try to respond within two days. Teachers and parents, email us for answer keys."

www.utm.edu/research/primes “Numbers are treated like sports heroes.  Some numbers win prizes, break records, and some have wild biographies…see the Prime Curios, section”

http://www.mathpuzzle.com  math puzzles, links and search for math resources

http://www.math.com/students/wonders/life/life.html  looks like a cool game...and other math stuff on this page.

Math humor  (is that an oxy-moron?)

 

 

Visualization Activities in Chemistry

 Susan's Enriched Chemistry  Webpage (check this out for different types of activities, some with viz some without)

Building formulas with toy model kits (ask students to bring some sort of building toy from home, .i.e. LEGOs, K'Nex, etc.)

My Favorite Molecule  (student assignment to build a molecule or use modeling software)

Use drawing to help students work through their understanding....Try these activities. 

There are many programs, plug-ins and Internet sites to help students model and visualize  molecules.  Click here to look at tools I use currently, and others I have reviewed for use and possible integration.