Solar Oven -- International STEM Project

Lunch the 21st Century Math Project way

If you are trying to integrate an international flair into your science and math curriculum, this 21st Century Math Project is a great place to start. Students will design, build, test, and present a solar oven design with the objective of heating a hot dog the hottest. This is a hands-on STEM project for hands-on students. This works great when integrated scatterplots, best-fit functions, with energy. There are plenty of great opportunities to extend this learning into the humanities as well! Temperature probes with TI's work great! Any will do.

Name: Solar Oven

Suggested Grade Level: 7-12 (Advanced Algebra, Algebra II or Precalculus skills)

Math Concepts: Scatterplot, Creating, Using and Analyzing Regression Functions, Data Collection

Interdisciplinary Connections: Science, Heat & Energy, Global Studies

Teaching Duration: 4-5 Days (can be modified)

Cost: $5 for a 9 Page PDF (1 project and handouts) 

PDF Version: Solar Oven @ TPT

The Product: Students will use their solar ovens to heat a hot dog and will measure its temperature over time. And eat! 

Whoopdidoo! Like this applies to
your content area! Good grief!

At our school we had a local professor speak to an entire school body. Essentially, his work was developing large scale, efficiency solar cookers that he could then take to some of the poorest communities in Africa. To me that sure sounded like a 21st Century Math Project!

Of course I did not invent the idea of a Solar Oven project, but in most iterations I could find, most of them were science specific. As with a few of my other projects, science is the ideal fit for both mathematical rigor and real world relevancy. The challenge is to build up the mathematics side of these traditionally science activities, identify the core math concepts in play and concentrate on teaching these skills. In terms of Solar Ovens, regression functions, (exponential functions specifically) are at the core when heating or cooling. If you are teaching lines of best fit (or your students have this skill), there’s no reason this can’t be extended to work in your classroom.

An actual authentic application...?
Did I take the wrong bus this morning?

The best, simple, Solar Oven designs I have seen is with a modified pizza box. Fortunately high school kids eat pizza so these contraptions are usually available. There are plenty of possible designs that are one Google away from helping your students on their journey. I would suggest that the design component of your project should take place in a computer lab for the resources.

This is another project that can easily draw in the community. If there are local engineers that want to get out of their cubicle, walk in the sunlight and stuff, it’s a great way to get your students in contact with professionals outside of the school. I’ve been very fortunate with my engineer contacts. They always come with and provide invaluable classroom support. They also like it a lot! Give it a whirl and make the contact and I wouldn’t be surprised if they become an annual fixture!

How might we use this knowledge to
help the global community?

EXTENSION: There are endless possibilities. Creating PSAs. Entering Science Fairs. Building a large scale oven with the help of engineers to send it to a developing country. Comparing and contrasting the results of morning classes and afternoon class results. It’s a matter of how far you want to step.

If you give a man a hot dog cooked with the sun, they’ll eat it, but if you teach a man to cook a hot dog with the sun, it’s a 21st Century Math Projects. In the event of the forthcoming Zombie Apocalypse, you can’t take for granted things like grills, ovens and microwaves. This might be the only means. 

Population Growth: Seven Billion and Counting... -- International STEM Project

Wait until the robots start cloning us...

As the world's population has ballooned in the past three centuries researchers wait for the other pen to drop. Currently sitting at a cool 7 billion (and counting), researchers believe (based on their models) that the world's population will top out at 9.2 billion. In this 21st Century Math Project students will analyze the same data as the experts and make their own predictions. Which model best projects the world in 2050? I guess at the class’s 38th year reunion you can find out.

Name: Seven Billion and Counting…

Suggested Grade Level: 9-12 (Basic Algebra II, Precalculus skills)

Math Concepts: Scatterplot, Creating, Using and Analyzing Regression Functions, Patterns, Evaluating Predictions

Interdisciplinary Connections: Social Studies, Global Studies, Population

Teaching Duration: 3-4 Days (can be modified)

Cost: $5 for a 20 Page PDF (2 assignments, 1 project with answer key) 

PDF Version: Seven Billion and Counting... @ TPT

The Product: After a careful analysis of population data by continent, students will use their chosen mathematical model to predict how the world’s population will breakdown in the year 2050.  

An authentic task? You're teasing me
right? Where's my drill and kill?!

Will it ever end? Most statisticians believe we will taper off our growth. They are expecting a logistic function although to date our population is freakishly exponential. In this 21st Century Math Project, students will investigate population of the different world regions over history. Students will begin by simply trying to observe a pattern, move to lines of best fit and finally have the freedom to choose their own non-linear best fit functions. This dataset yields some interesting conclusions for prediction and discussion especially in regards to the limitations of linear modeling.

Students will use the skills of patterns, constructing pie graphs, regression functions for modeling and using their equations to make predictions. What makes a model strong? Students will explore this question. This lesson is designed to work with a class set of TI graphing calculators and would work with an Advanced Algebra 1 class, Algebra 2 or PreCalculus.

That's like a lot of people, ya feel me?
People should, like, stop making babies
and stuff.

The final project is a challenging, multi-faceted task which needs certain skills to be built. To compensate, two assignments were added which help introduce the topic and skills. Thus a student’s understanding of the mathematics concepts will grow with their familiarity the topic of population.

-- "Seven Billion and Counting" -- using patterns to determine the world in 2050 and constructing pie graphs to represent 1750. 

-- "Predictive Models (the long and short of them)" -- students use linear models for global data for two different intervals (1750-2000 and 1975-2010). Students then are asked to develop their own non-linear regression functions.

Which all leads to the Mama…

This will shape the world for
generations to come. What can we do
to take action now?

-- "The World in 2050" -- students will compare the results of their 4 different results, use them to draw conclusion about modeling in general and will construct a pie graph representing the world in 2050.

I wrote this assignment relatively recently so I have only used it one time, but students were honestly intrigued by the study and the challenge of comparing their models to the experts. Others were interested in the observations that can be made in the population data by continent which certainly can generate some discussion.

EXTENSION: Population is a global issue with serious implications in terms of sustainability, natural resources and poverty. Using their models, students could create PSAs and other Presentations that can be viewed in the community.  

Will this blog go on forever? Will it live in the cloud forever? Are you someone from the year 2341, searching through Google’s cache? Did you find my laptop? If you found my laptop, there’s a really weird short with the battery that cases the screen to flicker every now and again. 21st Century Math Projects might live forever, but one day I may have to start a new company… 22^nd Century Math Projects. 

Facebook, Twitter & the Arab Spring -- International STEM Project

Join the Revolution!

Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Globalization in a high school math project? Toss in a scoop of inquiry and that's what you have here. Patterns, algebra and functions get a facelift to the 21st century in this integrated international math project. Through mathematical modeling and regression, students are able to use authentic real world data to consider its real world implications. This project would fit well in an Algebra 1 class (with guidance) or an Algebra II / Precalculus class. 

Name: Facebook, Twitter & the Arab Spring

Suggested Grade Level: 7-12 (Algebra I and Algebra II math skills)

Math Concepts: Creating Functions from Patterns, Rate of Change, Creating and Applying Regression Functions

Interdisciplinary Connections: World Studies, Globalization, Social Media, Current Events

Teaching Duration: 4-5 Days (can be modified)

Cost: $5 for a 22 Page PDF (2 assignments, 1 project and Answer Key) 

PDF Version: Facebook, Twitter & the Arab Spring @ TPT

The Product: An interactive web-based timeline (or hand drawn if no computer access) which details Twitter data during the Egyptian Revolution along with the timeline of historical events.

What is more relevant than a social media revolution that topples governments one by one? As governments fell, I kept asking myself “Did Facebook and Twitter cause this revolution?” While this is a question I’m sure professors are wrestling with, it certainly can be adapted to my high school math class.

Does this have something to do
with Aladdin?

The challenge is finding appropriate mathematically rigorous content that matches the cool project idea. In this 21st Century Math Project might find its way into a Middle or High School classroom depending on the skills and abilities of your young people. Do not be intimidated math teachers! Learning a little about the Arab Spring is probably good for you too, but I have built the mathematics in such a way that while the task is authentic, it’s independent. In other words that math is still very mathy.

Now the final project is a challenge and probably unlike any math assignment the student has ever done before. Compare data to narrative history? What kind of crazy person would ever think about this? In order to build up these skills, I created a pair of equally social media friendly assignments that are included in this project. I have written introductions to help cement the authenticity of the assignment and provide necessary background information (for you and them)

You mean, like, countries were, like,
protesting for their freedom on Twitter?
I gotta know some more about this.

"Facebook Friend Challenge" -- which focuses on finding patterns, comparing rates of change and projecting into the future.

and "Kony 2012" -- this focuses on the mathematics behind a viral video. Providing a little background on the Kony 2012 video can give your math classroom an international, multi-disciplinary flair. In this assignment, students will analyze a pattern, consider the rates of change, plot the function and make predictions about the future. 

And this leads to the granddaddy: "Did Egypt Tweet Its Way to Freedom" -- focuses on a data analysis of Twitter tweets surrounding the Egyptian Revolution inside the 2011 world shaping Arab Spring. Students will analyze patterns, rates of change and consider the inquiry question. "Did Twitter play a role in the liberation of Egypt during the Arab Spring?" In this assignment students will compare mathematical rates of change with real world rates of change in international conflict. Students will produce a timeline project that provides their stance on the inquiry question and uses mathematical evidence as support.

They won't care about the Middle East.
They can't even find it on a map!

Honestly, of all the projects I wanted to take on this past summer, I really wanted this one to work and I was happy to find the right mix of skills to make it mathematically rigorous enough.

The Copy Machine Diva Teacher points out the legitimate concern. What if my students don’t know what the Arab Spring is? Much less why it’s relevant. My response is two-fold… 1) what in the world have they been taught the last two year? 2) this is a great opportunity for a cross curriculum collaboration. If reaching out to other teachers isn’t in your wheelhouse (give it a try sometime, it’s fun!), I have never been shy about teaching a little social studies, science or health to make my math problem more relevant and authentic. If you are commitment to being a 21^st century teacher, I think this is necessary and an area we all can grow. And trust me I’m growing too. Fortunately I have worked in two different schools where I HAD to grow in this way.

EXTENSION: Taking on an academic inquiry question like this lends itself well to connecting with a local university. Professors may be willing to step in for a guest round table or may be willing to watch your best presentation.

Join the 21st Century Math Projects revolution! Authentic. Engaging. Relevant. Sounds like the makings of a solid Justin Bieber song.