Virginia Department of Education
Calculating Measures of Dispersion
Double the fun — calculate two measures of deviation. The lesson plan provides information to lead the class through the process of calculating the mean absolute deviation and the standard deviation of a data set. After learning how to...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Seed Dispersal and Plant Migration
There are five methods of seed dispersal. They include gravity, mechanical, animal, water, and air. Scholars study seed dispersal in lesson five of the series of six. Through discussions, hands-on analysis of different seed types, and...
Curated OER
Starting With Stats
Statisticians analyze a data set of student IQs by finding measures of central tendency and dispersion such as mean, median, mode, and quartiles. They practice using a graphing calculator to find the values and analyze box plots and...
Curated OER
Measures of Central Tendency: Range
In this measures of central tendency worksheet, students complete 40 problems in which a set of data is analyzed and the range is calculated. This page is intended as an online activity, but may be completed on paper.
Curated OER
Measuring Dispersion
Young scholars compute the standard deviation for a given set of data. In this measuring dispersion lesson, students compute the mean, and then the distance from the mean for each data point. They find the standard deviation of the data.
Virginia Department of Education
Analyzing and Interpreting Statistics
Use measures of variance to compare and analyze data sets. Pupils match histograms of data sets to their respective statistical measures. They then use calculated statistics to further analyze groups of data and use the results to make...
Creative Chemistry
Comparing the Degree of Unsaturation of Margarine with that of Butter
Is butter better? In terms of saturation, young chemists find out! Using titration methods, they will compare the degree of saturation of butter with that of margarine. Knowing the unsaturation, they can make conclusions about the...
Teach Engineering
Bridge Types: Tensile and Compressive Forces
Bridges rely on tension and compression to keep them standing. Pairs test this principle by constructing simple bridges and applying a force to the center. Teams use the provided activity to record their observations of the...
Curated OER
Goal Setting
Students understand how they can incorporate dietary guidelines in their daily life. For this investigative lesson students set dietary goals and incorporate an activity to learn how to create a new seed variety while studying...
National Wildlife Federation
Wind Power
Many have played with seed helicopters at one time or another. Learners use paper to create their own helicopters to model the Linden seed. After a discussion of seed dispersal, they take their models outside, let them go, and make...
Texas State Energy Conservation Office
Investigation: Blowing in the Wind
Using a simulated air sample, environmental or earth science pupils examine the components. You will need to prepare the faux air by using a hole punch and various colors of construction paper. Each color will represent a different...
Royal Society of Chemistry
Green Plastics—Chemistry Outreach
How do green plastics reduce waste and environmental pollution? Budding scientists create and test a variety of compounds used in green plastics during an insightful experiment. Beginning with startling statistics and ending with...
Curated OER
Connecting Measurement
Young scholars participate in activities the connect measurement to geometry, statistics, estimation, and the real world. They collect measurements from their elbow to the tip of their middle finger and make a box plot of the data as...
Curated OER
Build a Weather Vane
Students construct a weather vane using their knowledge of some geometric shapes. In this weather lesson, students work in pairs to create a weather vane in order to measure wind direction. Students follow precise...
Curated OER
Light
Students examine how light waves travel. In this properties of light lesson, students observe how light travels in water, how light is reflected and refracted, and how light is pure energy.
Curated OER
Testing Density of Various Soap Products
Students have the opportunity to observe, measure and analyze the density of aerosol shaving creams and foams generated from shampoo and dishwashing liquids or detergents.
Curated OER
Stemmin'-n-Leafin'
Students make stem and leaf charts to determine the measures of central tendency using test score data. They analyze the data to draw inferences which they share with the class. They complete the associated worksheets.
Virginia Department of Education
Organizing Topic: Data Analysis
Learners engage in six activities to lead them through the process of conducting a thorough analysis of data. Pupils work with calculating standard deviations and z-scores, finding the area under a normal curve, and sampling...
Curated OER
Conductivity - Pass the Buoy and Pepper, Please
Buoys around our coastlines are equipped with sensory devices which monitor temperature, salinity, and water pressure. Emerging earth scientists examine some of this data and relate salinity to the electrical conductivity of the surface...
Curated OER
#24 How Much Air Is In Foamed Polystyrene Products?
Students are challenged to come up with a good estimate of the amount of air in foamed polystyrene products. They use this gas evolution experiment and as such have students measure the gas generated when foamed polystyrene is degassed...
Curated OER
Geometrical Optics: Reflection and Refraction of Light
Students define and discus the concepts of wave fronts and rays. In groups, they distinguish between specular and diffuse reflections and use Snell's Law to predict the path of light rays. They calculate the speed of light through...
Curated OER
Graphing and Analysis of Water Quality Reports
Students practice making graphs and interpreting them. They compare and contrast different sets of data. They use Microsoft Excel to create different types of graphs.
Curated OER
Swirling and Churning Milk
Students examine the concepts of micelles, polarity, solubility, and properties of detergent in an experiment with milk, water, and food coloring. Students complete a Take-Home Challenge in which they experiment with the behavior of food...
Curated OER
Let's Get Carried Away
Students discover how seeds travel from their parent plants in search of water, sunlight, and nutrients, and conduct experiments in which they note characteristics that encourage seed dispersal by means of wind, water, animal carriers,...