NCTM Math Standards covered in Runways and Takeoffs:

• Measurement
• Computation and Estimation
• Problem Solving

Objectives:

After successfully completing this lesson:

• Students will be able to use a conversion chart
• Given information about limitations (in this case, minimum amount of runway space necessary for a plane to become airborne), students will be able to estimate which item from a group is closest to the limitation without exceeding it.
• Students will be able to interpret word problems to figure out how to solve a problem.

List of Materials Needed for Group Activity

• Local phone book
• Telephone, TTY, or other means of contacting the nearest airport
• Materials for creating a chart or other method of organizing the information. For students with manual disabilities, this could involve either strategies for working independently (e.g., use of software that permits information to be entered and arranged) or working in teams (e.g., students work together to decide on the information organization, and one writes the information down).

Suggestions for Additional Math Practice

• Create a conversion chart on feet and yards (or, if appropriate, feet and meters). Tell the students that after the plane has landed, it will need to go back into its hangar. Give the students measurements for the hangar in one unit of measurement, and measurements for the width of several planes in the other unit (e.g., "The plane is 200 ft. wide and the hangar is 80 yards wide. Will the plane fit in the hangar?"

Suggestions for Additional Activities

• Plan a field trip to your local airport, and schedule opportunities for students to talk to air traffic controllers and pilots about weight limitations.

We encourage teachers to send us examples of additional problems or activities that they have found useful; we will then post these on this page. E-mail us with your suggestions at planemath@infouse.com.