Graphing (Inquiry Lesson)

Graphing

Inquiry Lesson Plan

Author(s):

Emily Nielsen and Heather Yarborough

Grade:

Integrated Discipline:

Mathematics/Probability and Technology

Time Frame:

2 class periods

NE Standards:

Mathematic Standards:

8.5.4—By the end of eighth grade, students will identify statistical methods and probability for making decisions.

8.6.3—By the end of eighth grade, students will describe and represent relations, using tables, graphs, and rules.

Objectives:

Students will be able to:

-Collect data

-Record data

-Use data to create a bar graph

-Use data to create a pie graph

-Analyze and interpret data

Assessment:

Collect the data sheet showing what the students collected. Collect the graph the students make on the computer.

	4	3	2	1
Involvement in choosing topic	Actively participated in deciding topic	Came up with a few ideas, but did not participate in final decision	Gave an idea, then just sat and listened	Did not participate
Data Collection	Actively participated in collecting the data—helped others	Collected their data, but did not help others	Helped others collect data, but did not do it independently	Did not collect data or help others collect data
Graphing	Completed a graph, and it was accurate	Completed a graph, but one or two mistakes	Completed a graph, but omitted information or had several mistakes	Did not a complete graph

Provisions for Special Needs:

Teacher will help any student needing assistance collecting their data. Teacher will assist anyone who needs help using the computer.

Materials:

Pencils

Paper

Clipboard

Computer

Vocabulary:

Graphing

Collecting

Data

Procedures:

Springboard (Anticipatory Set):

Ask the students what other kinds of information they could collect to graph.

Activities:

Have students brainstorm about different data they could collect to graph.
Have students choose one topic to collect data.
Have the students collect the data necessary to make their graphs.
Have students group their data together to make a graph.
Have the students go to the computer lab to make a bar graph for the data collected.
Have the students go to the computer lab to make a pie graph for the data collected.

Closure:

Have students share their graphs. (Making sure everyone’s is the same.)

Reflection:

The students were confused when we first asked them to brainstorm ideas on what else they could graph. They did not really understand what we were asking of them. We had to give them several prompts. When the students understood what exactly it was we were asking of them they could brainstorm several ideas. We ended up going around and seeing what color of shirts different people had on. They also thought about graphing hair length, nationality, colors of the walls in the school, and number of bathrooms in the school. The students did a nice job going around a collecting the data. They were very quiet and did not disturb the other classes. They introduced themselves nicely to the other classes, and explained the other classes what they were doing. The students seemed to enjoy walking around with clipboards and collecting data. The students seemed to enjoy getting to make their graphs on the computer.

Contact Emily