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Teacher:
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Kyle R. Jellison
Charlestown High School
Christina Yee
9th Grade Physics

GPS Activity

Students will learn how to use handheld GPS receiver and how knowing the coordinates of two positions allows them to determine the physical distance between those two locations. This activity allows students an opportunity to take the theory that they learn is class and apply it to a simulated real life situation.

Lesson Plan
Worksheet

Euclidean Algorithm

Students will receive a review of the basic number systems and the relevance of prime numbers as the building blocks of integers. From there an explanation of what algorithms are and how they are of use to mathematicians and scientists. The Euclidean Algorithm is used to determine the greatest common divisor of two given numbers. This algorithm demonstrates the two previous ideas and lays the ground work for future material related to basic Number Theory.

Lesson Plan
Hand Out for in class use (students follow along with lecture)

Introduction to Vectors

This unit introduces students to the concept/idea of a vector, what it represents and why they are used. Making sure the students have a firm grasp of the concept of a vector is the most important aspect of this unit. The unit continues with vector addition and scaling, finding the resultant vector and resolving a vector into its components. There is a mini-lesson/review in trigonometric functions. Problems deal with concept development and application to projectiles and forces. The conclusion of the lesson is a test that will be based on navigation on open waters, utilizing vectors and lat/long coordinates.

Navigation

Students are introduced to nautical navigation. The students will learn how nautical charts are different from other types of maps/sharts and why they are designed that way. They will learn and practice setting a course, taking a bearing and dead rekoning.

Lesson Plan

Modular Arithmetic

Students will be introduced to Modular Arithmetic, which is the arithmetic within the realm of a new type of number system. The students will learn about "mod m" and then how it creates a number system of its own.

Handout

Lesson Plan

USS Constitution Field Trip

The field trip takes students to the USS Constitution, a historical sailing ship in Charlestown, MA. Students will work on their map reading abilities, learn to identify shapes in the "real world" and apply their basic physics to "real world" situations.

Lesson Plan

Boston University Physics Department Field Trip

I took my students to Boston University to participate in a lab about sound in the Physics Department. The student were able to see what a college laboratory looks like and how they are conducted. The lab utilized computer analysis of sounds waves to help the students understand the physics and math that lies behind the scenes.

Link to BU's High School Labs