V.

The Lesson Plan

Wednesday April 23
Topic: Carbon dating & Half life Lab
Standards: 5.3.12.E.2, 5.3.12.E.3
Enduring Understanding:
We can estimate the age of extinct species and fixtures of life from scientific
practices
Essential Question:
How can we determine how long ago the dinosaurs perished?
Objective:
SWBAT effectively use the term
carbon dating
SWBAT use a scientific model of
M&Ms as radioactive ions to
represent radioactive decay in
relation to carbon dating
SWBAT use information generated
from scientific data to construct a
graph

Assessment:
Students will evaluate a graph that
uses carbon dating to determine
how long ago a fossilized organism
died
Students will participate in a
M&Mium ion decay lab
Students will make final
conclusions with a partner and
share those conclusions with the
class
Instruction:
Lesson Beginning:
Students will be asked to draw and label a picture of an atom on their Do Now
sheets, as well as write a definition of the term isotope.
Students will participate in a presentation on half-life including an interactive
online activity. Students will determine how long ago something died by clicking
on and removing radioactive isotopes as they decay into non-radioactive isotopes.
M&Mium ion lab:
Students will use M&Ms representing ions to evaluate the rates of radioactive
decay. Each M&M will represent an ion, and the side that has an m will represent
an ion that is no longer radioactive. Students will remove non radioactive ions as
they decay and use that data to generate a graph representing radioactive decay.
Students will work in heterogeneously mixed groups of their choosing. They will
see how the number of radioactive isotopes becomes more stable over time and
how as the number of radioactive isotopes declines, we can use that information
to determine how long ago something died.
Differentiation:
All IEPs and 504s will be followed as specified
Information will be displayed in a visual and audio way (interacting with the
SMARTBoard, as well as oral presentation)
Students will kinesthetically engage, getting out of their seats to answer questions
and to work cooperatively as a group
Groups will be mixed heterogeneously so that lower students can benefit from
aide from higher students
Students with manipulative difficulty will be able to use the computer to generate
graphs
Materials:
SMARTBoard, writing implement, M&Ms, plastic bag, graph paper, computers,
lab desks
Prior Knowledge:
Structure of the atom, graphing skills, the definition of the term isotope
Closure:
For a closure students will look at a graph displayed on the SMARTBoard and
will fill out on an exit slip how long ago something died if it had 1 gram of
Carbon-14 remaining.
Assignments:
Study for Quiz



































Thursday April 24
Topic: Carbon dating lab & quiz
Standards: 5.3.12.E.2, 5.3.12.E.3
Enduring Understanding:
We can estimate the age of extinct species and fixtures of life from scientific
practices
Essential Question:
How can we determine how long ago the dinosaurs perished?
Objective:
SWBAT effectively use the term
carbon dating
SWBAT use a scientific model of
M&Ms as radioactive ions to
represent radioactive decay in
relation to carbon dating
SWBAT use information generated
from scientific data to construct a
graph
SWBAT test their comprehension
of the terms half-life and the origins
of life
Assessment
Students will evaluate a graph that
uses carbon dating to determine
how long ago a fossilized organism
died
Students will participate in a
M&Mium ion decay lab
Students will make final
conclusions with a partner and
share those conclusions with the
class
Students will take a quiz on the first
sections of chapter 14
Instruction:
Lesson Beginning:
Students will complete a matching activity of different terms and scientists on the
SMARTBoard as a review for the quiz.
Quiz:
A quiz on chapter 14, the origins of earth, spontaneous generation & biogenesis,
and half life will be given
M&Mium ion lab: Students will be given time to complete the half life lab and
draw a graph. Students will use M&Ms representing ions to evaluate the rates of
radioactive decay. Each M&M will represent an ion, and the side that has an m
will represent an ion that is no longer radioactive. Students will remove non
radioactive ions as they decay and use that data to generate a graph representing
radioactive decay. Students will work in heterogeneously mixed groups of their
choosing. They will see how the number of radioactive isotopes becomes more
stable over time and how as the number of radioactive isotopes declines, we can
use that information to determine how long ago something died.
Differentiation:
All IEPs and 504s will be followed as specified
Information will be displayed in a visual and audio way (interacting with the
SMARTBoard, as well as oral presentation)
Students will kinesthetically engage, getting out of their seats to answer questions
and to work cooperatively as a group
Groups will be mixed heterogeneously so that lower students can benefit from
aide from higher students
Students with manipulative difficulty will be able to use the computer to generate
graphs
Materials:
SMARTBoard, writing implement, M&Ms, plastic bag, graph paper, computers,
lab desks
Prior Knowledge:
Structure of the atom, graphing skills, the definition of the term isotope
Closure:
As a closure, the students must compare and contrast their graph to another
groups graph. Each pair will be responsible for drawing a conclusion and sharing
with the class.
Assignments:
Complete graph and questions from the M&Mium ion lab