One in a Million: Large and Small Numbers
kit #101
Help your students grasp an understanding of what one in a thousand or one in a million is. Using pennies and the “power of 10” in this simple and interesting activity, students visualize that a million is a very large number. They conduct two different serial dilution activities that will impress upon them how very small numbers can have potential significance. Students perform a ten step 1:10 serial dilution using a colored “contaminant” then a colorless "contaminant" to make weaker and weaker solutions from 1:10 to 1:10,000,000,000. Using a chemical indicator, students next test the colorless "contaminant" for the presence of the contaminant. Serial Dilution is a valuable math-science link. It can be used to teach powers of 10, proportions and concepts of scale. You may want to introduce this technique prior to an inquiry investigation. The kit contains all materials (except the pennies) needed for 32 students, working in teams of 2.
- Understanding numbers: Understand and use ratios and proportions to represent quantitative relationships
- A: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
- B: Properties and changes of properties in matter
- F: Populations, resources, and environments, science and technology in society
Content List in One in a Million: Large and Small Numbers is as follows:
| Quantity | Description |
|---|---|
| 32 | Student Worksheets and Guides |
| 1 | Teacher's Guide with MSDS |
| 16 | Serial dilution trays |
| 16 | Plastic Droppers |
| 2 | Colored contaminant (Red Dye), Drop control bottle |
| 2 | Colorless Contaminant, Drop control bottle |
| 2 | Indicator Solution |
| 16 | Water Bottles (Empty) |
- Number of students
- 32
- Number of groups
- Maximum 16 groups per period
To complete this kit requires one ~50-minute class period.
