Numbers: Zero to Infinity
Numbers: Zero to Infinity (NUMR) is a Baby CTY course that students go beyond just numbers and figure out the scaling of them. This course is offered at Alexandria, Baltimore, Hong Kong, New York, Sandy Spring and the new Los Angeles site. It was previously offered at Brooklandville, Los Angeles (Windward),San Mateo and Santa Monica. A similar course is offered in Greece.
Course Description
From the CTY Course Catalog (2001):
What does a subatomic particle measured in femtometers have in common with a galaxy measured in light years? Both are a part of the unique human effort to quantify the world around us. Numeric representations of phenomena such as time, distance, temperature, and seismic activity are an essential part of our effort to make the world more understandable.
In this course, students explore numbers using a hands-on approach that develops their mathematical confidence and fluency. Students learn to make accurate estimations, develop computational strategies, appreciate the magnitude of numbers, and judge whether an answer to a problem is reasonable. Additionally, students are better prepared to work with and convert between different scales or systems of measurement.
Activities such as constructing a model atom or solar system to scale strengthen spatial awareness. By developing strategies to approximate the number of blades of grass on a soccer field, students hone their estimation skills. In examining the diversity of units and measurement systems, students learn the origins of some of our most familiar measurements, as well as the unfamiliar. How much would your lunch cost in lira? What does it really mean to be worth your weight in gold? Students invent their own systems and units of measurement as they journey across the infinite applications of numbers.
