Teach Engineering
Dirty Decomposers
Do not let the class just sit and rot. Pupils learn how decomposition and nutrient recycling is important to an ecosystem. Groups design an experiment to determine how environmental conditions affect decomposition. They develop a poster...
North Carolina State University
Exploring Genetics Across the Middle School Science and Math Curricula
Where is a geneticist's favorite place to swim? A gene pool. Young geneticists complete hands-on activities, experiments, and real-world problem solving throughout the unit. With extra focus on dominant and recessive genes, Punnett...
Texas Instruments
Is It or Isn't It Proportional
How can you tell if number relationships are proportional? Mathematicians investigate proportional relationships. They compare and contrast functions and graphs to determine the characteristics of proportional relationships, as well as...
K20 LEARN
You’re The Network: Data Analysis
How do you rate? Young scholars use graphical data to analyze ratings of different television episodes. Their analyses include best-fit lines, mean, median, mode, and range.
PHET
Least-Squares Regression
Less is best when looking at residuals. Scholars use an interactive to informally fit a linear regression line to data on a scatter plot. The interactive provides a correct best fit line with residuals and correlation coefficient to...
CCSS Math Activities
Smarter Balanced Sample Items: 8th Grade Math – Claim 4
A math model is a good model. A slide show presents 10 sample items on modeling and data analysis. Items from Smarter Balanced illustrate different ways that Claim 4 may be assessed on the 8th grade math assessment. The presentation is...
CCSS Math Activities
Smarter Balanced Sample Items: 8th Grade Math – Target J
Look at patterns in bivariate data. Eight sample items illustrate the eighth grade statistics and probability standards. The Smarter Balanced Sample multiple-choice items focus on numerical and categorical bivariate data. The slide show...
American Statistical Association
Scatter It! (Using Census Results to Help Predict Melissa’s Height)
Pupils use the provided census data to guess the future height of a child. They organize and plot the data, solve for the line of best fit, and determine the likely height and range for a specific age.
American Statistical Association
Scatter It! (Predict Billy’s Height)
How do doctors predict a child's future height? Scholars use one case study to determine the height of a child two years into the future. They graph the given data, determine the line of best fit, and use that to estimate the height in...
American Statistical Association
What Fits?
The bounce of a golf ball changes the result in golf, mini golf—and a great math activity. Scholars graph the height of golf ball bounces before finding a line of best fit. They analyze their own data and the results of others to better...
101 Questions
Deodorant
Smells like learning! Young scholars collect data on the length of time a stick of deodorant lasts. After modeling the data with a graph and function, they make predictions about deodorant use over time.
Shodor Education Foundation
Graphit
No graphing calculator? No worries, there's an app for that! Young mathematicians use an app to graph functions. In addition, they can also plot data points.
Shodor Education Foundation
Data Flyer
Fit functions to data by using an interactive app. Individuals plot a scatter plot and then fit lines of best fit and regression curves to the data. The use of an app gives learners the opportunity to try out different functions to see...
Shodor Education Foundation
Ordered Simple Plot
Open your imagination to make algebra-inspired creations. An interactive lesson has scholars graph images from a set of parameters. Users can practice minimum values, maximum values, and scale as well as key features.
CK-12 Foundation
Evaluate Relations with Scatter Plots: Regression and Correlation
Introduce the concept of a correlation coefficient using an interactive lesson. Learners begin by manipulating a correlation coefficient and watching a graph change to represent the new value. Questions help strengthen their...
CK-12 Foundation
Fitting Lines to Data
Scatter the TV sales over weeks. Pupils create a scatter plot to display the number of TV sales over a period of several weeks. The interactive allows class members to create two lines of best fit. Then they determine which line fits...
Noyce Foundation
Through the Grapevine
Teach statistics by analyzing raisins. A thorough activity provides lesson resources for five levels to include all grades. Younger pupils work on counting and estimation, mid-level learners build on their understanding of the measures...
Virginia Department of Education
Line of Best Fit
Pupils work through a guided activity on fitting a linear equation to a set of data by entering the data into a calculator and trying to envision a line of best fit. They then have the calculator determine the least-squares line and...
Virginia Department of Education
Linear Curve of Best Fit
Is foot length to forearm length a linear association? The class collects data of fellow scholars' foot length and the length of their forearms. They plot the data and find a line of best fit. Using that line, they make predictions of...
Virginia Department of Education
Linear Modeling
An inquiry-based algebra lesson explores real-world applications of linear functions. Scholars investigate four different situations that can be modeled by linear functions, identifying the rate of change, as well as the strength and...
Teach Engineering
Air Pollution in the Pacific Northwest
Scholars investigate levels of nitrogen dioxide in the Pacific Northwest by examining the role of nitrogen in air pollution and how remote sensing can be used to measure nitrogen levels. An Excel spreadsheet calculates the difference...
American Statistical Association
You and Michael
Investigate the relationship between height and arm span. Young statisticians measure the heights and arm spans of each class member and create a scatter plot using the data. They draw a line of best fit and use its slope to explain the...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Statistics and Probability
Quickly assess basic understandings of statistics and probability. The resource contains five quick tasks from the probability and statistics domain. The questions range from finding simple conditional probabilities to measures of center...
Mathed Up!
Scatter Graphs
Make an estimate by getting in line. The class works with scatter plots and lines of best fit to make an estimate for given values. Pupils determine whether there is a positive or negative correlation and draw a best-fit line. Using the...