DVD COLLECTION - Math in the Middle of...Oceans

[Ryan Goble]

I came across this interesting series of DVDs when I found some great math PDFs from an Idaho Public TV website.  I wrote them and they told me they no longer have the rights to the series but GPN Educational Media does...  Is anyone familiar with the series?

Subject: Math
Grades: 6-9
Length: 12 episodes @ 20 minutes
Distributors: GPN

A multidimensional approach to teaching integrated math is a multi-faceted resource that provides an integrated approach to enriching middle-school math. Featuring pre-algebra concepts, the thematic units will engage your students in math learning. Piloted across the country, this curriculum enhancement series delights teachers with its effective, practical way of achieving the NCTM goal of teaching math concepts as part of an integrated curriculum. Real world math examples enhance a problem-based approach to middle school math.

101 Ecology: Movement and change, two important topics involved in studying nature, are found in all aspects of ocean ecology: the tidal level, the height of waves, currents, water temperature, and salinity. This episode challenges students to: Consider the earth as a contained environment. Understand that math is necessary to follow change over time, by using the ocean as an example. Monitor an aquarium in the same way the Earth's environment is monitored.

102 Aquariums: math is involved in several areas of aquarium maintenance, ranging from calculating the amount of time needed to fill a tank, to determining how many fish can live in an aquarium at the same time. Your students will gain an understanding of the math and science involved in keeping fish in captivity, whether it be in a commercial setting such as a zoo, or at home or school. This episode challenges students to: Compute the volume of a given container. Graph and interpret pH scales and other water chemistry values. Compute flow rates for aquarium filters. Calculate the costs for purchasing and maintaining an aquarium.

103 Fisheries: if your students have ever eaten fish, the science of fish biology has affected them. This lesson helps students understand how math is involved in fishery activities. Investigate open-ended problems associated with fisheries. Collect and analyze fishery data. Calculate the economics of fishery enterprises. Calculate the energy needs of fish.

104 Currents: to better understand ocean currents, this lesson exposes your students to real-world uses of measurement, mapping exercises, and able interpretation. Use ratios to determine the amount of line needed for fish traps and anchor lines. Determine the probable location of the Gulf Stream using temperature measurements. Estimate the length of line using a body measurement.

105 Waves: when we think of the ocean, the continuous motion of waves often comes to mind. Waves are capable of sinking large ships, toppling oil rigs and destroying coastal homes. Math is involved in every aspect of studying waves, their height, speed, energy, and effect on coastal communities. This episode challenges students to: Use distance/rate/time formulas to determine the speed of a storm. Construct and solve equations relating to water depth. Use wavelength and wave period to determine the speed of waves.

106 Coastal Geography: Student see how geologists, marine scientists, and engineers use graphing concepts such as slope, rise, and run to assess the risks and potential costs associated with living near a body of water. This episode challenges students to: Compute slope in order to determine the rising water levels in a flood plain. Measure the elevation and distance of a river from a particular location on a map. Use a cost/benefit analysis to influence decisions related to beach re-nourishment.

107 Navigation: Students will use mathematical techniques to navigate and plot courses in the seemingly endless ocean. They will use basic navigational techniques to determine course direction. Measure distance using dividers. Determine angles using a parallel line and a compass.

108 Mollusks: mollusks are one of the largest groups of animals on earth. By studying the fossils of them, scientists have developed a better understanding of the ebb and flow of life on earth. Math plays important role in recording fossils which are studied to uncover the reasons for mass extinction that took place during prehistoric times. This episode challenges students to: Interpret charts and tables to determine the levels of tides. Compute the amount of water a clam could pump through its gills in one day. Analyze extinction data.

109 Crabs: While learning about a variety of crabs, your students will use statistics and graphs to discover patters of, and make predictions about crab behavior. This episode challenges students to: Identify three different types of crabs. Describe how different crabs adapt to their ecological niche. Graph patterns related to crab behavior.

110 Turtles: biologists use estimation, statistics, and other mathematical concepts to study the turtles and help give them a fighting chance for survival. Graph data on the location of turtle nests, compute the growth rate of turtles, and use data on nest locations to make precautionary recommendations to beachfront developers who may inadvertently harm turtle nests. Compute the growth rate of turtles.

111 Whales: In order to help preserve the whale population, marine biologists study the mammoth creature using mathematics to make estimates of population, migration patterns, and food consumption. Use body weight of a whale to compute total food consumption. Compute the area of a whale-watching location used by cruise ships.

112 Sharks: gain insight into what makes sharks the fierce predators they are and how they, like us, must deal with mathematical principles which work against them. Manipulate probability statistics relating to human encounters with sharks, determine the age of a shark by using growth rate. Predict how many offspring a shark is capable of producing. Interpret charts of buoyancy to determine whether an object will sink or float in a liquid.

http://www.shopgpn.com/CategoryDetail.aspx?c1=2538&c1Page=2538&...

[Frank W. Baker]

Yes, I am familiar with this series. It was produced here in South Carolina in the 90's (I think) by South Carolina ETV in a collaboration with SERC (a federally funded distance learning initiative).

[Ryan Goble]

Did you like them? There are four more I need to post info about - are they cool?