PBS
The Lowdown — Exploring Changing Obesity Rates through Ratios and Graphs
Math and medicine go hand-in-hand. After viewing several infographics on historical adult obesity rates, pupils consider how they have changed over time. They then use percentages to create a new graph and write a list of questions the...
Curated OER
Data Analysis: Infiltration Rate and Composition of Concrete
Students collect and graph data. In this statistics instructional activity, students analyze data using a spreadsheet program. They display their data effectively and analyze it.
Statistics Education Web
What Does the Normal Distribution Sound Like?
Groups collect data describing the number of times a bag of microwave popcorn pops at given intervals. Participants discover that the data fits a normal curve and answer questions based on the distribution of this data.
Kenan Fellows
Least Squares Linear Regression in R
The task? Determine the how effective hospitals are at reducing the rate of hospital-acquired infections. The method? Data analysis! Using an open source software program, individuals use provided data and create scatterplots to look for...
Concord Consortium
Flying High
Some planes are just more efficient than others. Young mathematicians use data on the number of seats, airborne speed, flight length, fuel consumption, and operating cost for airplanes to analyze their efficiency. They select and use...
American Statistical Association
How Fast Are You?
Quick! Snap up the instructional activity. Scholars first use an online app to collect data on reaction times by clicking a button when the color of a box changes. They then plot and analyze the data by considering measures of center,...
Statistics Education Web
The United States of Obesity
Mississippi has both the highest obesity and poverty rate in the US. Does the rest of the data show a correlation between the poverty and obesity rate in a state? Learners tackle this question as they practice their skills of regression....
Curated OER
Reaction Time
Students record reaction time data and calculate minimum, maximum, mean, median, and mode. They participate in a class reaction time activity, observe and conduct an online experiment, and discuss and analyze the activity results.
Curated OER
Earthquake Epicenter
Learners use chart data to determine the location of the epicenter of an earthquake. This task assesses students' abilities to generalize and infer, organize data, interpret data, and apply mathematical concepts.
Statistics Education Web
Consuming Cola
Caffeine affects your heart rate — or does it? Learners study experimental design while conducting their own experiment. They collect heart rate data after drinking a caffeinated beverage, create a box plot, and draw conclusions....
Curated OER
How Do You Rate?
Fifth graders make a graph. In this pulse rate lesson, 5th graders estimate their pulse and record it. Students measure their pulse while at rest and after physical activity and record it. Students use the internet to graph their results...
Agile Mind
Isabella’s Credit Card
An in-depth activity that involves a real-world problem about credit card debt. Learners are given a scenario in which Isabella plans to stop using her credit card and pay off the balance by paying a fixed amount each month. The first...
Curated OER
Body Voyager
Students explore the significance of a resting and an active heart rate. In this heart instructional activity students chart data on their pulse and draw a diagram of the heart.
Curated OER
Tight Rope
Learn how to explore the concept of linear functions. In this linear functions lesson, students collect linear data from a motion detector. Students walk to create a linear function. Students plot the points on a graph...
Curated OER
Heart Smart in a Heart Beat
As an introductory activity, young statisticians measure their heart rate at rest and after exercise and compute the mean and median, and create a box & whisker plot. This is followed by watching a video (that no longer seems...
Kenan Fellows
Lego Thinking and Building
Run a simulated airplane manufacturing plant with your pupils as the builders! Learners build Lego airplane models and collect data on the rate of production, comparing the number produced to the number defective. Using linear...
Curated OER
Missing Macroinvertebrates - Stream Side Science
Field study groups collect samples of stream water and identify the macroinvertebrates found. Using their data, they calculate a water quality index to rate the health of the stream. They graph their data and discuss the value of a water...
Cornell University
Math Is Malleable?
Learn about polymers while playing with shrinky dinks. Young scholars create a shrinky dink design, bake it, and then record the area, volume, and thickness over time. They model the data using a graph and highlight the key features of...
Curated OER
Recipe: Unit Rate
Students solve problems using ratios and proportions. In this algebra lesson, students identify the unit rate and convert between fractions and decimals. They create graphs from their data.
Texas Instruments
TI-Nspire™ CAS
When it comes to rating educational calculators, this calculator is always near the top of this list. Now it's available as an app. There is a lot of calculator power wrapped up in this app. Not only is this a fully functioning...
Curated OER
Where Are the Bugs?
Students trap, collect and identify arthropods in a newly created desert tortoise preserve area over a period of one school year. They determine the rate at which various arthropods take up residence in the newly landscaped area. Data is...
Curated OER
Fun with Math using Magnetic Force
Sixth graders explore and discuss the effectiveness of magnets in different situations. In this math instructional activity, 6th graders discuss rate and graphs after exploring with magnets using different restrictions on the magnets....
Curated OER
Matchstick Math: Using Manipulatives to Model Linear, Quadratic, and Exponential Functions
Playing with matches (unlit, of course) becomes an engaging learning experience in this fun instructional unit. Teach pupils how to apply properties of exponential functions to solve problems. They differentiate between quadratic and...
Curated OER
How Fast Is Your Car?
Eighth graders discover the relationship between speed, distance, and time. They calculate speed and represent their data graphically. They, in groups, design a ramp for their matchbox car. The goal is to see who's ramp produces the...