GRADE LEVEL: 7-8
MATERIALS: Pen, Paper, Pencil, Calculator, Overhead projector, field trip to the Miami Seaquarium and brochures.
OBJECTIVES: The Student , after a demonstration on how to collect data from the Marine Mammals of the Miami Seaquarium, will be able to collect, organize, and compare different data and develop statistical methods such as: average, median, mode and range as a way for decision making by constructing tables.
MATHEMATICAL CONCEPTS:
-Collection of Data
-Organization of data by category
-Construction of tables
-How to calculate Average, Median, Mode and Range
-Interpretation and appreciation of statistical methods
NCTM STANDARDS:
Standard 10: Students should include exploration of statistics in
real-world situations.
-Systematically collect, organize, and compare data.
-Construct, read, and interpret tables.
PROCEDURE: On a previous session, the teacher will divide the class into small groups of 3-4 students, have a field trip to Miami Seaquarium and ask the students to obtain the information on size, weight, diet and habitat for each marine mammal. (Information can be obtained from each station or cage, from brochures or from an information booth).
In the next regular class, the teacher will ask three groups, some of the required data per marine mammal and will show them how to create a table, classifying and organizing data using an overhead projector, after the student has been introduced with the initial concept and idea, the teacher will deliver a preprinted table to each group, students will fill in the table with the required information. Sample table is as follows:
After the group activity has finished, the teacher will review the work of some of the groups using the overhead projector, going over the concepts previously explained.
The teacher will proceed with the lesson, explaining how to calculate average, median, range and mode for weight and size. After the explanation teacher will deliver a chart with formulas for each term.
FORMULAS
AVERAGE Sum of terms / number of terms
MEAN Place terms in order from
smallest to largest and choose
the one in the middle
MODE Term that repeats the most
RANGE Take the smallest term and
subtract it from the largest.
As part of the closure, a different group will explain what did they do with the information obtained and another group will explain how to calculate average, mean, range and mode to the entire class.
As part of the assessment, the teacher will ask the different groups to go to a supermarket and obtain the price, weight in ounces, and calories per serving for 10 food items, i.e.: milk, orange juice, tomato sauce, cornflakes etc. , the information will be organized and classified in a table form and they have to calculate the (average, mean, range, and mode) price, weight, and calories.
REFERENCE: Miami Seaquarium administrative office. Phone number 361-5705 ext 284.
CONTRIBUTORS: Major: Maritza Simauchi
Minor: Carol A. Marinas
TYPE OF ANIMAL SIZE WEIGHT DIET HABITAT