Graphs and Coordinates: Epic 5th Grade Classroom Mission

Storyline

The crew uses their knowledge of coordinate planes and graphs to rebuild a lighthouse and save a colony from dangerous solar flares.

The crew must carefully use their knowledge of coordinate planes to locate and repair pieces of the Viper Lighthouse. The repaired lighthouse gives them information about a star's solar flares that are endangering a nearby planet's colonies! Students will use ordered pairs and critical thinking to get everyone to safety.

Est. time: 36 min.

Targeted Standards

CCSS 5.G.A.1 Use a pair of perpendicular number lines, called axes, to define a coordinate system, with the intersection of the lines (the origin) arranged to coincide with the 0 on each line and a given point in the plane located by using an ordered pair of numbers, called its coordinates. Understand that the first number indicates how far to travel from the origin in the direction of one axis, and the second number indicates how far to travel in the direction of the second axis, with the convention that the names of the two axes and the coordinates correspond (e.g., x-axis and x-coordinate, y-axis and y-coordinate).

CCSS 5.G.A.2 Represent real world and mathematical problems by graphing points in the first quadrant of the coordinate plane, and interpret coordinate values of points in the context of the situation.

3-Dimensional Science

Phenomenon

The mission focuses on the phenomenon of solar flares and their potential impact on the planet and its colonies. The crew receives a message about increasing temperatures and erratic solar flares, and their objective is to investigate and address this phenomenon.

Science and Engineering Practices

Developing and Using Models

The crew uses map data and coordinates to develop a model of the solar flare patterns and their potential impact. They us a representation of the planet and its coordinates to understand the behavior and consequences of solar flares.

Analyzing and Interpreting Data

The crew analyzes the data from the lighthouse, solar flares, and colony coordinates to interpret the potential danger and make informed decisions. They examine the patterns and relationships between the data points to identify at-risk areas and devlop strategies for evacuation.

Constructing Explanations and Designing Solution

The crew engages in problem-solving and engineering practices to repair the Viper Lighthouse, locate and retrieve its missing pieces, and implement solutions to address the solar flare phenomenon.

Crosscutting Concepts

Patterns

The crew analyzes patterns of solar flares, their behavior, and their potential effects on specific coordinates and colonies. They identify patterns of solar flare occurance and use this information to make decisions regarding evacuation and safety measures.

Scale, Proportion, and Quantity

The crew considers the scale and proportion of the solar flares, determining the units of distance within which they will incinerate objects. They also analyze the quantity of life forms detected within different colonies to assess the potential impact of the solar flares on the inhabitants.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

ESS1: Earth’s Place in the Universe

The mission explores the phnomenon of solar flares and their impact on a specific solar system. It involves understanding the structure and behavior of stars, particularly the risks associated with solar flares and their effects on the planet and its colonies.

PS3: Energy

Solar flares represent an intense rlease of energy from the sun, which can have destructive effects. The crew analyzes the energy released by the solar flares and develops strategies to mitigate their impact on the colonies, including evacuations.

ETS1: Engineering Design

The crew engages in engineering practices by repairing the Viper Lighthouse, locating and retrieving its missing pieeces, and making decisions to evacuate at-risk colonies. They use their engineering skills to restore functionality, devlop models, and design solutions to protect the colonies from the solar flare phenomenon.

The Sinister Sun