Utah State Core Algebra Content Standard 2 Process Standards 1-5
Summary
In this lesson, students will design their own experiment for data collection, collect and organize the data into graphs and tables, and analyze the data and the graphs.
Enduring Understanding
Change is all around us. Some things change in a constant pattern and some things change in changing patterns. A very important part of math is learning how to describe, talk about and interpret the effects of change in our lives. / Essential Questions
· How do graphs and tables help us organize and analyze patterns in data?
Skill Focus
· Collect and record data
· Setting up graphs and graphing data
· Defining variables / Vocabulary Focus
Materials
Launch
Explore
Summarize
Apply
Assess
Information
Directions:
Generate several examples for the kinds of things students might do to collect data
Jumping Jacks
Blowing Bubbles
Writing names
Then do the repeating names activity below as an example. Student groups could write their own activity and then trade groups for collection, organization, and analysis of graphs and data.
Pre 6.6b Data Collection and Graphs
After the Repeating Names activity below, each group will design their own experiment. You may follow the pattern of the Repeating Names activity or design your own.
Repeating Names
1) Your question: How many times you can say your first and last names in one minute.
2) What are your variables? What will you be counting?
3) Collect your Data: You will work in a group of three with a speaker, recorder, and timer. You will repeat your first last names as quickly as possible in a 60 second period. The speaker will be saying their name as quickly as they can once the time begins. The timer will watch the clock and every ten seconds will say “time” to the recorder. The recorder will be marking a tally for each time the speaker says his/her name. Tallies will be recorded in 10 second periods, so each time the timer says time, the recorder mover to the next 10-second period on the recording sheet.
Person #1 tallies / Total / Person #2 tallies / Total / Person #3 tallies0 – 10 sec
10-20 sec
20-30 sec.
30-40 sec
40-50 sec
50-60 sec
Total
3) Create a graph of your data. What will the axes be? What will the scale be?
4) Describe the pattern on the graph.
5) Write a rule in words or symbols that relates your variables.
6) What are your questions? For example, “Is there a relationship between length of name and times you can say your name in a minute?”
What data will you need in order to answer your question? For example, will the table below help to answer this question? (This may not apply to your question.)
Number of Letters in NameAverage time for each name length
Write a rule in words or symbols that relates the number of letters in a name and the number of times the name can be spoken in 1 minute.