Leatisha Brown

Charting Weight

Grade : 6

Materials : scale, paper, pencil, conversion chart, colored pencils, graph paper,ruler, scale

Objectives : Students will record the weight of themselves and 3 family over a week (in pounds and then later convert to kilograms), and then use that data to compile 2 bar graphs and 4 line graphs and answer a series of questions.

Mathematical Concepts : weight, pounds, kilograms, line graph, bar graph, table, data, points, line, x-axis, y-axis

NCTM Standards : Standard 1 : Mathematics as Problem Solving, Standard 2: Mathematics as Communication, Standard 4: Mathematical Connections, Standard 5: Number and Number Relationships, Standard 7: Computation and Estimation, Standard 10:Statistics.

Procedure : Preassignment : (done one week before) Write down the weight and name of 3 family members and yourself everyday for 7 days. If there are students with less than 3 people in their immediate family, they will be permitted to use the weight of friends of the family.

In Class :
(1) Compile a table of the weights (in pounds) collected. The table should have 8 columns. Column 1 should be labeled "Name"; Column 2 - 8 should be labeled (in order) Day 1 (Monday) up to Day 7 (Sunday). (2) Once the table is completed, enter the weights in pounds next to the person's name and then convert all weights to kilograms, using conversion chart. A completed chart should look like :

Wt. - stands for weight
lbs. - stands for pounds
kg - stands for kilograms

Day 1 - Day 7 : Monday thru Sunday

          Day 1 :   Day 2 :   Day 3 :   Day 4 :    Day 5 :   Day 6 :   Day 7 :   
Name      Wt. In    Wt. In    Wt. In    Wt. In     Wt. In    Wt. In    Wt. In    
          lbs./Wt.  lbs. /    lbs. /    lbs./ Wt.  lbs. /    lbs. /    lbs. /    
          in kg     Wt.       Wt.       In kg      Wt.       Wt.       Wt.       
                    In kg     In kg.               In kg     In kg     In kg     

Self      99 /      99 /      100 / 50  101/50.5   99 /      98 / 49   97 /      
          49.5      49.5                           49.5                48.5      

Bob       220  /    222  /    223  /    225  /     227 /     229 /     230 /115  
          110       111       111.5     112.5      113.5     114.5               

Kim       115/57.5  116/58    114/57    113/56.5   111/55.5  110/55    109/54.5  

Sue       145/72.5  146/73    144/72    143/71.5   144/72    145/72.5  144/72

(3) Make a bar graph of the data on Day 1 (Monday) and Day 7 so you'll have two bar graphs (one labeled Day 1 - Monday ; one labeled Day 7 - Sunday). Label the x-axis names and the y-axis weight, in kg.

(4) Create 4 line graphs ( one line graph for each family member). Each line graph will chart the person's weight over the 7 days. Label the x-axis "Day 1/Monday - Day 7/Sunday" and label the y-axis "weight, in kg". Draw the line graph, plotting and connecting all points. Do this for each family member.

* For extra credit : Make a line graph, for each person, detailing their fluctuation of weight, in pounds from Monday (Day 1) through Sunday (Day 7). Compare this line graph to the one done in kg. Detail the differences in shape and scales of the two graphs.

(5) Using the 2 bar graphs, answer the following questions:

(a) Who weighed the most on Day 1 ?
(b) Who weighed the most on Day 7 ?
(c) Who weighed the least on Day 1 ?
(d) Who weighed the least on Day 7 ?

(6) Using the line graphs, answer the following questions :

(a) Who gained the most weight over the 7 days ? How much weight was it ?
(b) Who lost the most weight ? How much was it ?
(c) What is the range of each line graph ?

(7) As a homework assignment, interview everyone in your table to find out :

(a) Why did their weight change? Diet ? Exercise ? Etc.

References : Mathematics Plus Math Book, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc., 1992.

Clarke, D., 1993. "Watching your weight '', Mathematics Teacher , 86 (5), 358-59.

BLISS system and library staff, 4 family members and students

Contributors : Major : Leatisha Brown
Minor : Carol A. Marinas