Created by GTE Fellows Stacey
Lynn Baxter Rienstra and Stephen
Simmons for GirlTECH '95
I M SMART LESSON PLAN
I M SMART Lesson 7
Tour De Texas
Science Objective:
To be able to estimate and use measuring
devices to determine distances between two points.
Mathematics Objective: To be able to evaluate distances of
points and to use proportions to evaluate problems involving scale drawings.
Materials Needed:
Review:
- Map Reading*
- Legend Evaluations*
- Metric System*
- Proper Use of Metric Ruler*
Instructions:
Students will be given a budget and will be assigned a
specified alternative-fuel vehicle. They will be given a starting point and will need to
arrive in a designated finish point within 72 hours. Students will research their specific
alternative-fuel choices by accessing the
Alternative Fuels Data Center. Students will direct all topical questions on their
specific alternative-fuel choice to the
The National Alternative Fuel Hotline.
Students will plan their Tour De Texas within each design team to accomodate all
participants. Travel logs will be kept to depict their simulated experiences. Students
will travel in virtual reality via Internet World Wide Web Resources. Students must plan
their trip carefully so as to pass several
alternative-fuel refueling sites. Students will also be required to visit several
tourist attractions of their own choosing via the
Texas Travel Information Center.
Science Connection:
Students will estimate and measure distances.
They will record data and keep logs of places visited, refueling stops, and total time
spent traveling.
Mathematics Connection:
Students will be able to use
proportional applications to determine actual distances traveled. Computational
applications will be used to determine money spent on fuel, activities, and the amount
of actual fuel expended.
Evaluation:
Portfolio assessment will be used to evaluate design teams.
Grading Criteria:
- Computational Accuracy
- Proper use of Scientific Method
- Clarity of Presentation
- Group Dynamics
- Organization
- Creativity
The IM SMART project, and particularly Mr. Simmons and Ms. Rienstra have received
valuable assistance in the implementation of publishing these lessons on the World Wide Web
from GirlTECH , a program
of the Center for Research on
Parrallel Computation at Rice University.
Financial assistance has been provided by GTE Corporation through the GTE Growth
Initiatives for Teachers (GIFT) Grant, Toyota Motor Sales USA through the Toyota TAPESTRY
Grant, and The Texas General Land Office & H.E.B. Grocery's Environmental Challenge.
Stephen Simmons
ssimmons@cs.rice.edu