The Speed of Animals Math Exploration

A small-group or independent mathematical exploration of the animal kingdom. This resource creates space for learners to explore the relative size and speed of animals in comparison to their own. This activity is used best to reinforce data collection, proportional reasoning, and unit conversions within a relevant, real-world context. Learners will calculate their own land speed to make comparisons with other animals using data from www.speedofanimals.com.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

This resource contains:
-> A 4-page worksheet
-> Suggestions for Best Practice in implementation

STORY

One day at recess, my math class students were racing each other outside. I made a comment to say that they weren’t nearly as speedy as most of the animal world. Then, we needed a little exploration to prove it.

IMPLEMENTATION

This resource provides a structured exploration of rates, unit converstions, data collection, and data representation. Learners will begin by heading outside and being timed while running a set distance. From there, the class will work together to calculate their average running speeds. Then, they will choose ten animals from www.speedofanimals.com with which to compete. Finally, the worksheet provides the required structure to walk thorugh several other mathematical tasks to draw some interesting conclusions about how fast animals can be.

POSSIBLE EXTENSIONS

Possible extensions are included in this file!

MATERIALS/PREREQUISITES

Besides this resource, you may require:
-> Stopwatches or timers
-> Computers or tablets with internet access