Middle School Math Science Lessons

Math Lessons	Grade	Summary
Biodiversity on Ninepipes Reservoir	6th	In this unit, students will investigate the biodiversity of the Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge and how it is managed to benefit wildlife and agricultural interests in a cohesive and collaborative manner. Students will also learn about the importance of natural resources to the native people of the Flathead Reservation, and about the local issues concerning natural resources. Activities include guest speakers, videos, discussions, fieldwork, data collection and analysis, and participation in a local environmental action project.
Caloric Expenditure in Powwow Dancing	6th	In this activity, students explore the significance of different types of Native American music and dancing. They will then approximate the number of calories expended in these tradi- tional types of dance.
Flathead Reservation Land Use	6th	The focus of this lesson is to enable students to become fami-liar with the physical features, infrastructures, and land ownership boundaries of the Flathead Reservation. Using maps, students will calculate the land type distributions. They will compare early reservation size and areas to the present acreage.
Science Lessons		Summary
Aquatic Investigations Required Materials	5th	In this set of projects, students will do hands on investigations of several ecosystems. Among other things, they will look at water ecology, soil ecology and investigate the geology of the Mission Valley. During their investigations, students will try to gain an appreciation of Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal water quality standards, and learn some traditional Salish and Kootenai stories as well as write stories of their own.
Density and Buoyancy	5th	In this unit, students will use the scientific process to investi-gate the concepts of density and buoyancy. They will apply their knowledge to describe how some Native Americans built and used boats and nets for fishing and travel.
Design and Function of Native Watercraft Required Materials	5th-7th	The students will be given two targets to meet. The students will then design a vessel to meet each of these targets. After the students have designed their vessels to meet these targets they will compare their design to the designs of native Inuit crafts that served similar purposes.
Dried Meat	5th	Students will use the math concepts of ratio, proportion, percent and scientific notation to calculate the amount of meat obtained from an animal when prepared using the traditional Native American method of drying meat.
Ecosystems: Biotic and Abiotic Factors Required Materials	7th	Through discussion, observation, experimentation and journal writing, students will understand the concepts of biotic and abiotic factors and how they interact in an ecosystem. Also, students will become aware of the cultural perspective of local tribal people on the ideas of interdependence and stewardship.
How long have the Rivers been Polluted?	5th– 7th	Through discussion and analysis of collected garbage, students will become aware of the harmful effects of human activities on an ecosystem.
Life Cycle of a Butterfly	5th	Students will learn about the life cycle of the butterfly by observing the metamorphosis of a larva into an adult. They will do research to gather information about butterflies and utilize journaling to write down their information and thoughts. Students will also examine math concepts such as symmetry and pairs and how these concepts relate to Native American beadwork and butterflies.
Natural Resource Awareness	7th	Through the use of stories, discussion, hands-on activities, research and visits by guest speakers, students become aware of what the various types of natural resources are, how our lifestyles affect them, and how natural resources are used and managed, particularly on the Flathead Reservation.
Science Investigation Using Water Quality	8th	The students will act as laboratory technicians, examining the physical and chemical characteristics of several water samples. They will test water samples to determine if they meet the standard for water classified as A-1 according to the water quality standards of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
The Pros and Cons of Dams Required Materials	5th-7th	This lesson helps students become more aware of issues involved in making decisions about their environment. Through discussion, videos, stories, and a role-playing presentation, students examine the pros and cons of dams on our rivers.