Science Practice: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking

Mathematical and computational thinking at the 9–12 level builds on K–8 and progresses to using algebraic thinking and analysis, a range of linear and nonlinear functions including trigonometric functions, exponentials and logarithms, and computational tools for statistical analysis to analyze, represent, and model data. Simple computational simulations are created and used based on mathematical models of basic assumptions. Use mathematical representations of phenomena to support claims.

Summary

Mathematical and computational thinking at the 9–12 level builds on K–8 and progresses to using algebraic thinking and analysis, a range of linear and nonlinear functions including trigonometric functions, exponentials and logarithms, and computational tools for statistical analysis to analyze, represent, and model data. Simple computational simulations are created and used based on mathematical models of basic assumptions. Use mathematical representations of phenomena to support claims.

Links

NextGenerationScience.org
Does ATP Provide Energy?
// Sunday, November 16, 2025 • Tom Kuntzleman
The conversion of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) into adenosine diphosphate (ADP) is an extremely important energy source for living organisms. Under common physiological conditions, it can be expressed as:
Teaching metric system with climate change
Incorporating Climate Change Into Lessons on Metric Prefixes
// Sunday, January 12, 2025 • Tom Kuntzleman
There’s some recently published research on climate change1 that you can easily incorporate into your next lesson on metric conversions and unit analysis. The article gives a report on ocean heat content (OHC) measurements.
Seashell Chemistry
// Thursday, June 1, 2023 • Tom Kuntzleman
An experiment that has always fascinated me is observing what happens when CO2 is bubbled into limewater (which is a saturated solution of calcium hydroxide).1-2 This experiment can be carried out by blowing bubbles of exhaled breath (which contains roughly 4% CO2)3 through a straw into limewater.
Whoosh Bottle
Effect of Temperature on the Whoosh Bottle
// Tuesday, July 5, 2022 • Tom Kuntzleman
I recently had the opportunity to attend a conference of the Associated Chemistry Teachers of Texas (ACT2). I had  great time interacting with and learning from a whole bunch of wonderful chemical educators from the great state of Texas.
chemical reaction between sand and magnesium
Generating explosive gases from sand
// Friday, January 7, 2022 • Tom Kuntzleman
Introduction: Did you know that sand can be converted into a mixture of gases that spontaneously ignites in air? The procedures involved are relatively simple to perform, spectacular to observe, and relate to a rich assortment of chemical principles.
text over bottles of food dye: Titration with Food Dyes
Food Dyes as Acid-Base Indicators
// Sunday, November 28, 2021 • Tom Kuntzleman
Recently, Anne Schmidt and I published an article together in the Journal of Chemical Education.1 The article outlines a titration activity that students can carry out at home using only store-bought items. The objective of the activity is to determine the amount of Mg(OH)2 in milk of magnesia.
text: The Golden Drain - A Case Study
The Golden Drain -- A Stoichiometry Case Study
// Sunday, June 20, 2021 • Josh Kenney
A case study is a guided inquiry activity that embeds problem-solving within a simulated real-world context. Case studies tend to be more challenging than traditional word problems because they are presented in a longer form, commonly as a story.