(Old) About Time

How has the pace of human innovation changed over time?

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(Old) About Time

How has the pace of human innovation changed over time?

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2023-2024 Versions

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How has the pace of human innovation changed over time? It took 260,000 years for humans to go from the spear to the bow-and-arrow, but only 42,000 years to go from the bow-and-arrow to the atomic bomb.

Students order and subtract integers to explore major milestones in human history and debate whether humans are innovating faster than we can keep up with the consequences.

REAL WORLD TAKEAWAYS

  • Humans have been making technological innovations throughout history – in communication, in travel, in warfare. Over time, advancements from one milestone to the next have come more and more quickly.
  • Future innovations – like those of the past – will likely offer convenience and meaningful enhancements to our lives; they may also come with serious dangers. It’s important for society to anticipate, consider, and discuss these impending risks.

MATH OBJECTIVES

  • Model “before zero” years using negative integers
  • Order and position positive and negative integers on a number line
  • Find the difference between integers, including negatives

Appropriate most times as students are developing conceptual understanding.
Grade 7
Rational Numbers
Grade 7
Rational Numbers
Content Standards
Mathematical Practices

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