Date: May 18, 1998

Grade Level(s): 2, 3, 4, 5

Subject(s):

• Science/Careers

Children will get a chance to practice a variety of science and math careers. Children will not be making a career choice at this young age, but they will get a chance to see and explore a variety of math and science careers. They will also see the importance of math and science education.

Goal: Students will explore science and math careers.

Objectives: The students will learn about math and science careers.

1. The students will be able to name a variety of math and science careers.
2. The students will understand the importance of math and science education by seeing that all careers use math and/or science.

Background Information:

 This lesson can be used at all levels by modifying and adding activities.  This lesson teaches elementary school children about math and science careers.  This lesson involves a lot of hands on types of activities.

Concepts:  Students will be able to:

1.  Recognize the meaning of the word career.
2.  Name math and science careers.
3.  Relate math and science education to real life.
 

Materials:

Depending on activities:

Kidney beans

Soil

Plastic Bowls

Plastic drinking cups

Toothpicks

Marshmallows

Graph paper

Construction paper

Drinking straws

Batteries

Light bulbs

Insulated wires

Procedure:

 1.  Break the class up into class groups of five or six.
 2.  Give each group a piece of tag board and a marker.
 3.  Ask the student the following question "What is a career?"
 4.  Have the students discuss the meaning of career.
 5.  Have the students write their ideas down on the tag board.
 6.  Have the students write down careers that involve math and science.
 7   The classroom will be set up into stations; each station will be a career.

Station 1:  Meteorologist

The students will make rain gauges using plastic cups.
To make the rain gauge the student will put the ruler up to the side of the cup and place a mark next to each inch.
The students will make pinwheels out of construction paper, Brad fasteners, and drinking straws.
The students will cut out a perfect square.
Then they will cut from each corner towards the center, but not all the way across.
Then fold every other corner towards the center.
Poke Brad fastener through center of construction paper and the end of the drinking straw.

Station 2:  Architect

The students will draw a building or their house.
You can use graph paper to help with making straight lines.
Have the student give the measurements of the building.
The students will then build their building with toothpicks and marshmallows.

Station 3:  Chemist

Mix vinegar and baking soda inside a zip lock baggy.
Allow students to experiment with different amounts of each ingredient.

Station 4:  Botanist

Have the students grow bean plants inside a plastic cup.

Station 5:  Environmental Scientist

Pour a little bit of oil inside a bowl of water.
Have the students hypothesize about how to get the oil out of the water.
Let the students use a variety of  materials to get the oil out of the water.
Examples: strainer, paper, cotton balls, detergent.
 
Station 6:  Doctor

Have a variety of gum flavors
Have the students work with partners.
One student will close their eyes and plug their nose.
The other student will choose a flavor of gum and set the piece of gum in the first student's mouth.
The first student has to guess the flavor.
If there is a school policy about no gum, this experiment can be done with vegetables.

Station 7:  Electrician

Have a bowl of wires, light bulbs, and D or C size batteries.
Have the students explore different ways to get the bulb to light up.
You can have students find conductors and nonconductors in the classroom.
You can add more stations or other stations.

Assessment: