Computer Lab Activities
Rain Forests: A Math Hunt Activity
Students discover what’s inside the rain forest by using their research skills working with ratios and unit conversions to answer five questions related to this fertile ecosystem.
- Grades: 3–5, 6–8
In “Rain Forest” (grades 5–8), students go on an online fact-finding mission to answer five multiple-choice, math-related questions about this fertile ecosystem.
Sample question:
At the rate of deforestation shown between 2001 and 2002, how long would it take for Brazil's rain forest to lose a Texas-sized portion of its land? HINT: Texas is 260,000 square miles.
- 37.1 years
- 28.9 years
- 288.8 years
In addition to challenging students’ reading comprehension skills, Rainforest tests these “math hunting” skills:
- Averages
- Converting Units of Measurement
- Decimals and Percentages
- Multiplication and Division
- Ratio and Proportion
- Scientific Notation
Learning Objectives
By participating in Math Hunt, students will:
- Practice problem-solving skills from the grade 5–8 math curriculum
- Explore topics from the grades 5–8 science and social studies curriculum
- Learn basic Internet research skills
- Develop an understanding of the construction of standardized test questions and multiple-choice answers
Related Resources
Students set out on fact-finding missions that test math skills, provide practice researching on the Web, and boost reading comprehension.
- Subjects:Forests and Rainforests, Algebra, Environmental Conservation and Preservation, Content Area Reading, Reading Comprehension, Research Skills, Fractions and Decimals, Logic and Problem Solving, Multiplication and Division, Number Sense, Ratio, Proportion, Scale, Real-World Math, Measurement, Word Problems, Real-World Science, Plants, Climate, Jungle and Rainforest Animals, Communication and the Internet, Computers, Teaching with Technology
- Skills:Research Skills
