Here are 8 of my favorite scientific notation activities. These activities give students lots of practice with scientific notation in a fun and engaging way.
Scientific Notation Activities
Scientific Notation Square Puzzle Activity
This scientific notation square puzzle was a great way to see how well my students could transition between the different representations. It also helped me see if they understood how to tell if a number was smaller or bigger than another number.
Scientific Notation Dominoes Activity
Students must line the dominoes up so the numbers in standard form are matched with the appropriate number in scientific notation.
Scientifico – A Bingo Style Game for Practicing Scientific Notation
Scientifico was probably my favorite activity we did for practicing scientific notation. To play this game, you’ll need game boards for each pair of students, three dice for each pair of students, and a recording sheet for each student. I recommend laminating these game boards for durability.
Scientific Notation Ordering Cards Activity
I want to share a set of scientific notation ordering cards I created to use as a sort of formative assessment to see what previous knowledge my students had about scientific notation and how they were progressing as we moved through our different notes and activities.
Giantburgers Scientific Notation Task
One of the final tasks my physical science students did over scientific notation was this Giantburgers task from MARS. My physical science students found this task to be tricky because they really struggled to wrap their mind around what percent means. I guess it’s a good thing their teacher has a math degree!
Scientific Notation Graphic Organizer
I created this scientific notation graphic organizer for my physical science students to glue in their interactive notebooks. I wanted to start class with a discussion of why scientific notation is useful and what it looks like.
Scientific Notation Foldable
I created this scientific notation foldable for my physical science students to glue in their interactive notebooks. The focus of this foldable is on converting to and from scientific notation.
Scientific Notation Ranking Task
To practice our scientific notation skills, we completed this scientific notation ranking task in our interactive notebooks. This problem is from the MARS Size It Up lesson.
More Activities for Teaching Scientific Notation
- Scientific Notation Dominoes Activity
- Scientifico – A Bingo Style Game for Practicing Scientific Notation
- Scientific Notation Square Puzzle Activity
- 8 Fun Scientific Notation Activities
- Scientific Notation Ordering Cards Activity
- Scientific Notation Ranking Task
- Scientific Notation Foldable
- Scientific Notation Graphic Organizer
- Giantburgers Scientific Notation Task
Amanda Mack
Wednesday 14th of October 2020
Since the links above for the bingo game aren't working, I recreated it in Google Slides. Here's the link:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/104ITT0uFr7-GCW0EQtzA7AgMqlr4z0y_i4uPRCLU7hc/copy?usp=sharing.
Unknown
Tuesday 20th of August 2019
How can I get a copy of the game board. If it can be emailed please send to williams.jessica@taylorboe.org
Jess Gabrielson
Sunday 14th of April 2019
I retyped the game based on the pictures in her post. If anyone wants a copy, you can email me at jgabrielson_AT_go-efsd_DOT_net.
Unknown
Monday 26th of August 2019
saracarder@bellsouth.net
Unknown
Monday 26th of August 2019
I would love the boards too!
aposada@wsfcs.k12.nc.us
Tuesday 25th of June 2019
I have tried to email you, but link does not work! I would love to have these game boards.
Joe Gorton
Friday 1st of February 2019
Hi Sarah,
Do you have these resources in google docs? The links to the games do not work anymore...
Unknown
Thursday 20th of April 2017
Thank you for your ideas - have been looking for some great game ideas for standard form and these are brilliant :-)