Full lesson	Create for a teacher a set of content for giving a lesson, beginning with the lesson plan. Each new block of materials must begin with an H1 heading (other subheaders must be H2, H3, etc). When you describe required pictures, write those descriptions in curly brackets, for example: {A picture of a triangle}
Which subject	Science
What topic	Significant figures
What length (min)	30
What age group	Year or Grade 11
Class size	20
What curriculum
Include full script
Check previous homework
Ask some students to presents their homework
Add a physical break
Add group activities
Include homework
Show correct answers
Prepare slide templates
Number of slides	5
Create fill-in cards for students
Create creative backup tasks for unexpected moments

Lesson plan

Lesson Plan: Significant Figures

Subject

Science

Topic

Significant Figures

Grade/Age Group

Year/Grade 11

Lesson Length

30 minutes

Class Size

20 students

Objectives

• Understand the concept of significant figures and their importance in scientific measurement.
• Identify and apply the rules for determining significant figures in different types of numbers.
• Practice the application of significant figures through activities and examples.

Materials

• Whiteboard and markers
• Printable cards for each student
• Worksheets with examples of significant figures
• A rubric for assessing students' understanding
• Pens or pencils for students

National Curriculum Compliance

This lesson plan aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and emphasizes scientific practices, including measurement and analysis.

Lesson Structure

Step Number	Step Title	Length (minutes)	Details
1	Homework Check	5	Review homework briefly by collecting without presentations. Provide quick feedback to students.
2	Introduction to Significant Figures	5	Introduce the concept of significant figures with definitions and examples on the whiteboard.
3	Rules for Significant Figures	10	Explain the rules for determining significant figures with examples; involve students in discussing examples.
4	Card Activity	5	Distribute printable cards to students. Instruct them to fill out information regarding examples of significant figures.
5	Random Checking	3	Collect or randomly check cards to assess student understanding. Give feedback on their responses.
6	Assign Homework	2	Briefly explain the homework assignment without detailing specific questions.

Additional Notes

• Encourage student participation during the introduction and rules explanation.
• Monitor students during the card activity to provide support and clarify any misconceptions.
• Ensure that students understand the significance of significant figures and their application in scientific work.

Lesson script

Homework Check

"Good morning, class! Before we jump into our lesson today, let's quickly go over your homework. Please pass your assignments to the front. I’ll be collecting them without presentations to save time. If you didn't complete it, just hand in what you have, and I'll provide you with feedback later. Thank you for your hard work!"

Introduction to Significant Figures

"Now, let’s dive into today’s topic: significant figures. Can anyone tell me what they think significant figures are? [Pause for responses] Great answers! Significant figures are the digits in a number that carry meaning contributing to its precision. They are essential in scientific measurements because they help us communicate the accuracy of our calculations and results.

For instance, the number 0.00456 has three significant figures: 4, 5, and 6. The zeros before the 4 are not significant—they're just placeholders. Remember, significant figures help us to ensure that we’re reporting our measurements as accurately as possible."

Rules for Significant Figures

"Now, let’s go over the rules that determine how we identify significant figures. There are a few key rules to remember:

1. Non-zero digits are always significant. For example, in the number 123.45, all digits are significant.
2. Any zeros between significant digits are also significant, like in 1002.
3. Leading zeros are not significant. For example, in 0.0025, only 2 and 5 are significant.
4. Trailing zeros in a number with a decimal are significant, but in a whole number without a decimal, they are not. For instance, 1500 has two significant figures unless otherwise noted, while 1500. has four.

Let’s look at some more examples together. I’d like you to help me read these numbers and identify their significant figures. [Write examples on the whiteboard and encourage students to respond]."

Card Activity

"Now, it’s time for a fun activity! Each of you will receive a printable card. On this card, I’d like you to write down three examples of numbers and indicate how many significant figures each has. Use the rules we just discussed. Make sure that one of your numbers includes leading zeros, one includes trailing zeros, and a third one should be a whole number.

Once you finish, I’ll walk around to provide help if needed. Take about five minutes for this, and then we’ll share our findings."

Random Checking

"Alright, I hope everyone has finished filling out their cards! I’d like to check in with a few of you at random to discuss your examples. I want to see how you applied the rules we covered.

Let’s start with [Student A], can you share one of your numbers and tell us how many significant figures it has? [Pause for response] Excellent! Now let’s move on to [Student B]. What did you write? [Continue this process with a few students and provide feedback on their understanding.]"

Assign Homework

"Great job today, everyone! I hope you feel more confident about significant figures. For homework, I want you to practice identifying significant figures in different types of numbers. I won't specify the questions, but I’d like you to come up with at least ten examples and identify their significant figures. We’ll review them in our next class.

Remember, significant figures are critical in scientific work, so keep practicing! Thank you for your attention today, and I’ll see you next time!"

Homework

1. Define significant figures in your own words. Why are they important in scientific measurements?

2. Identify the significant figures in the following numbers and explain your reasoning:

   • 0.00745
   • 200.50
   • 12000
   • 45.600
   • 0.00034

3. Write three different numbers where:

   • One number contains leading zeros.
   • One number contains trailing zeros with a decimal.
   • One number is a whole number with no decimal. For each number, indicate how many significant figures it has.

4. An experiment yields the following measurements: 3.1400 g, 0.00560 m, and 1500 mL. Identify the significant figures in each measurement and explain any rules that apply.

5. If you multiply 2.5 (two significant figures) by 4.01 (three significant figures), how many significant figures should your answer have? Show your calculation and explain your reasoning.

6. How many significant figures are in the result of 200.0 + 0.45 + 0.003? Show your calculation and explain your reasoning.

7. Provide an example of a situation in real life where significant figures would matter. Describe why accuracy is important in that situation.

8. Create a number with four significant figures that would be considered “exact.” Explain why it is considered exact.

9. Discuss how significant figures impact the results of scientific research. Provide an example to support your answer.

10. Reflect on today's lesson. What part did you find most challenging about significant figures, and how do you plan to improve your understanding?

Printables

| Question                                                              | Answer |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|
| What are significant figures?                                        |        |
| Why are significant figures important in scientific measurements?    |        |
| How many significant figures are in the number 0.00456?            |        |
| What is the rule for identifying significant figures in non-zero digits? |        |
| How do we determine if zeros between significant digits are significant? |        |
| Are leading zeros significant? Provide an example.                 |        |
| What do trailing zeros indicate in a decimal number?                |        |
| How many significant figures are in the whole number 1500?         |        |
| Can you identify the significant figures in the number 1002?       |        |
| What is the homework assignment related to significant figures?     |        |