Play Doh and Volume
Developing activities that allow students apply what they have learned to authenic items and problems is essential in making learning "real" to the children. They must learn that knowledge is power. Through hands-on activities learners of all types, kinesthetic,visual, and auditory, needs are met. Kinesthetic learners are able to engage in the activity with movement, visual learners are able to see up close the process about which they are learning, while auditory learners can collaborate with peers and discuss the process that is occurring.
This activity will allow students to develop their understanding of volume through the use of authentic objects and practice with measuring and implementing the formula to determine volume. They will determine whether Play Doh loses volume after it's played with or if the amount of Play Doh never changes. Depending on ability level, changing variables can be made constant for lower abled students, or could be examined further for gifted students. This activity could be altered to have students form shapes and compare calculations.
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