Transformations in Matter and Energy Carbon TIME is an NSF-funded partnership led by Michigan State University
(Optional) Activity 2.2 - Activity 2.2: From Big to Small (30 min)
Target Student Performance
Students organize images to “zoom in” and “zoom out” of six different systems at four different scales: atomic-molecular, microscopic, macroscopic, and large scales.
Students practice sorting pictures of items by their size on the macroscopic and atomic-molecular scales.
Accommodation: If you have a number of students with special needs in your class, it’s recommended to do this optional activity.
Resources Provided
- 2.2 Powers of Ten Cards (1 per group)
Recurring Resources
- Powers of Ten 11 x 17 Poster (1 per class)
- Powers of Ten with Pictures 11 x 17 Poster (1 per class)
Setup
Print one copy of the Powers of Ten 11 x 17 Poster for each group. Print one copy of 2.2 Powers of Ten Cards for each group. Either cut the cards apart before class, or have the students cut the cards in their groups.
- Use this optional activity for students who are less experienced with systems at different scales.
- Have students use the microscope to look at cells to get a better sense of scale.
Tips
- Focus on the four benchmark scales (e.g., atomic-molecular) rather than the exact Power of Ten (e.g., 10-
8m) for each picture. - The Powers of Ten with Pictures 11 x 17 Poster has images on the poster that are only to be referenced after this activity is completed, so make sure to wait until the end of the activity to post this version of the poster.