Description

What our Using Statistics to Prove a Point of View: Advanced lesson plan includes

Lesson Objectives and Overview: Using Statistics to Prove a Point of View teaches students how to use statistics to prove a point of view. First, they will identify the independent and dependent variables in a statistical question. Then, they will construct a table and use the x-y pairs to create a graph. Finally, they will develop an equation representing the relationship. Throughout the lesson, students will collect data by bouncing tennis balls from different heights. By the end of the lesson, they will be able to mathematically display their data in an engaging and persuasive way. This lesson is for students in 6th grade.

Classroom Procedure

Every lesson plan provides you with a classroom procedure page that outlines a step-by-step guide to follow. You do not have to follow the guide exactly. The guide helps you organize the lesson and details when to hand out worksheets. It also lists information in the blue box that you might find useful. You will find the lesson objectives, state standards, and number of class sessions the lesson should take to complete in this area. In addition, it describes the supplies you will need as well as what and how you need to prepare beforehand.

Options for Lesson

Included with this lesson is an “Options for Lesson” section that lists a number of suggestions for activities to add to the lesson or substitutions for the ones already in the lesson. One optional addition to this lesson is to teach your students how to insert a table and produce a graph on their calculators. To prepare for the lesson, you can gather data before class and use it as examples to enhance learning. Another option is to incorporate a science lesson with this math lesson to solidify an understanding of variables. Finally, for a fun twist on the lesson activity, you could have your students use different types of balls.

Teacher Notes

The teacher notes page includes a paragraph with additional guidelines and things to think about as you begin to plan your lesson. This page also includes lines that you can use to add your own notes as you’re preparing for this lesson.

USING STATISTICS TO PROVE A POINT OF VIEW LESSON PLAN CONTENT PAGES

Using Statistics to Prove a Point

The Using Statistics to Prove a Point of View lesson plan includes three content pages. Statistical questions can be answered by collecting variable data. If you ask all of your classmates, “How many minutes did you spend on homework last night?”, their answers will have a variety of responses from zero to many hours. The data will vary. On the other hand, if you ask them, “Do you have a dog?” , ‘yes’ and ‘no’ are the only answers. The data will not vary.

Variables are things that can be changed. There are two types of variables, which together create a relationship: the independent (x) and the dependent (y). An independent variable is the variable that changes while the dependent variable is what is being measured.

Let’s take a look at an example. Say you plant three rows of potatoes and you use a different type of fertilizer in each row. You want to measure the size of the potatoes. In this case, your independent variable is the fertilizer. Since you used three different kinds of fertilizer, this variable changes. Your dependent variable is the size of each potato, which changes in relation to the fertilizer.

Scientists and researchers often create a table or graph to display their collected data, often writing an equation that mathematically explains the relationship.

Let’s take a look at another example.

USING STATISTICS TO PROVE A POINT OF VIEW LESSON PLAN WORKSHEETS

The Using Statistics to Prove a Point of View lesson plan includes three worksheets: an activity worksheet, a practice worksheet, and a homework assignment. You can refer to the guide on the classroom procedure page to determine when to hand out each worksheet.

RESEARCH PROBLEM ACTIVITY WORKSHEET

Students will work either or individually or with a partner to complete the activity worksheet. Students will use the information on the worksheet to solve a specific research problem, outlined on the worksheet. They will then draw a graph that includes the independent and dependent variables, fill out a data collection table, create an equation, and explain their equation using words.

COMPLETING PROBLEMS PRACTICE WORKSHEET

For the practice worksheet, students will complete two problems by writing in the independent and dependent variables, filling in a table, creating a graph, and writing an equation.

USING STATISTICS HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

Like the practice worksheet, for the homework assignment, students will complete two problems by writing in the independent and dependent variables, filling in a table, creating a graph, and writing an equation.

Worksheet Answer Keys

This lesson plan includes answer keys for the activity worksheet, the practice worksheet, and the homework assignment. If you choose to administer the lesson pages to your students via PDF, you will need to save a new file that omits these pages. Otherwise, you can simply print out the applicable pages and keep these as reference for yourself when grading assignments.