Check out this week's Lesson Collaboration Call + other upcoming events with Citizen Math teachers! Everyone is welcome.

(Old) About Time

How has the pace of human innovation changed over time?

Login to add lessons to your favorites

(Old) About Time

How has the pace of human innovation changed over time?

Login to add lessons to your favorites

A newer, better version of this lesson is available! Explore all updated lessons here, or read more about the updates in Our Community.

About_Time_-_Student_Handout.pdf
About Time - Teacher Guide.pdf
Enter Teach Mode

2023-2024 Versions

In the fall of 2024, Citizen Math released updated versions of every lesson in our library, plus a few new ones! We know you may have already prepped an earlier version or planned a repeat of last year, so we're continuing to make these earlier versions available through Thursday December 5, 2024.

You can find the new lessons through the regular search, and we hope you love them as much as we do. You can read more about these updates in Our Community.

Click here for the updated version of this lesson!

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

Other Grade 7 Lessons

Big Foot Conspiracy (Updated!)

Should people with small feet pay less for shoes?

Grade 7
Ratios & Proportions
Great anytime, including at the beginning of a unit before students have any formal introduction to the topic.

To Have and to Hold (Updated!)

Is renting a storage unit a good idea?

Grade 7
Equations & Expressions
Appropriate most times as students are developing conceptual understanding.

Common Cents (Updated!)

Should the United States get rid of the penny?

Grade 7
Rational Numbers
Appropriate most times as students are developing conceptual understanding.

Axle Roads (Updated!)

How do vehicles turn so smoothly?

Grade 7
Measuring Circles
Appropriate most times as students are developing conceptual understanding.

Grading Scales of Justice (Updated!)

What’s the best grading policy?

Grade 7
Percents & Proportions
Appropriate most times as students are developing conceptual understanding.

Big Foot Conspiracy (Updated!)

Should people with small feet pay less for shoes?

Grade 7
Ratios & Proportions
Great anytime, including at the beginning of a unit before students have any formal introduction to the topic.

To Have and to Hold (Updated!)

Is renting a storage unit a good idea?

Grade 7
Equations & Expressions
Appropriate most times as students are developing conceptual understanding.

Common Cents (Updated!)

Should the United States get rid of the penny?

Grade 7
Rational Numbers
Appropriate most times as students are developing conceptual understanding.

Axle Roads (Updated!)

How do vehicles turn so smoothly?

Grade 7
Measuring Circles
Appropriate most times as students are developing conceptual understanding.

Grading Scales of Justice (Updated!)

What’s the best grading policy?

Grade 7
Percents & Proportions
Appropriate most times as students are developing conceptual understanding.