Math+-+Graphing+Lessons

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LESSON 1
Display a bar graph in front of classroom. What it is used for? Where does the information come from etc. Inform students we will construct our own bar graph today.
 * Anticipatory Set:**

**Objective:** To interpret information on a bar graph and construct their own.

Standard: 10.A.3a Construct, read and interpret tables, graphs (including circle graphs) and charts to organize and represent data.

**Guided Practice:**
 * 1) Examine several bar graphs in text book and interpret with students.
 * 2) Ask several questions to ensure students understand bar graphs.
 * Independent Practice:**
 * 1) Have students construct a bar graph on a computer for the various statistics on medals in the Olympics.
 * number of gold, silver and bronze separately
 * number of total medals
 * number of all gold, silver and bronze
 * 1) Students enter information in excel sheet. Show students how to keep information organized and labeled.
 * 2) Students highlight information and click on graphs.
 * 3) Click on bar graph. Show students how different bar graphs can show information differently. Ask: Can bar graphs skew information? Why would anyone want to skew information? Discuss.
 * 4) Have students pick a bar graph that best suits the information correctly.

**Adaptations:**
 * 1) Meet in small groups with the special needs students and present the smaller graphs for them to interpret. If they can interpret correctly start constructing only 5 at a time.
 * 2) Gifted students can construct a stacked bar graph with all medals and use excel to calculate totals of each medal.
 * 3) Behavior problem students should not be a problem due to the Olympic thread in the lesson.

**Closure:** Why do we need graphs? How can they help us? Discuss the real world connections in business meetings, on the news, etc.

**Homework**: Finish bar graph at home.

LESSON 2

 * Anticipatory Set:** Display circle graph in front of classroom. Discuss. Inform students they will make their own circle graph.

**Objective:** To interpret information on a circle graph and construct their own.

**Standard:** 10.A.3a Construct, read and interpret tables, graphs (including circle graphs) and charts to organize and represent data.

**Guided Practice:**
 * 1) Examine several circle graphs in the text book and interpret with students.
 * 2) Ask several questions to ensure students understand circle graphs.

**Independent Practice:**
 * 1) Students are to make a circle graph of various statistics on medals in the Olympics.
 * student are to decide what information to use for a circle graph (total number of medals)
 * 1) Students are to use excel to enter information neatly and organized.
 * 2) Highlight and click on circle graph. Ask: Is this a good way to show this information? What is the problem? How would circle graphs serve us better? How can they be skewed? Discuss.
 * 3) Have students decide how they can make this graph better and finish the graph.

**Adaptations:**
 * 1) Gifted students can convert to percentages and display on circle graph.
 * 2) Have students with reading and writing difficulties graph 5 at a time.
 * 3) Students with behavior problems should not be a problem due to the Olympic thread in the assignment.

**Closure:** Discuss the differences with bar graphs and circle graphs. Discuss when to use them. Why do we use them? Discuss real world connections in business meetings, news, etc.

**Homework:** Write a paragraph about what kind of data is best served with a circle graph? Give an example.

LESSON 3
**Anticipatory Set:** Display a table in front of classroom. Discuss. Inform students we will be interpreting data from a chart.


 * Objective:** To interpret and change a table of information.

**Standard:** 10.A.3a Construct, read and interpret tables, graphs (including circle graphs) and charts to organize and represent data.

**Guided Practice:**
 * 1) Discuss the charts in the text book.
 * 2) Discuss the chart with the gold medal ranking. How are they ranked first, second, etc.

**Independent Practice:**
 * 1) Have students rank the countries differently based on total medals and by points explained on the worksheet.
 * 2) Ask: How do charts help us in relation to circle and bar graphs? Why do we need to many ways to show data? Who uses these graphs?

**Adaptations:**
 * 1) Students with reading and writing difficulties can do the rank with total number of medals.
 * 2) Students with behavior problems can rank 5 at at time is small groups.

**Closure:** Discuss their findings and discuss which they think is the most fair way to rank countries.

**Homework:** Complete this question at home. “How would you advise the Own the Podium program? Provide arguments in favor of the decision to rank countries based upon the total number of medals or by points.”

Assign half the class by “number of medals” and the other half “by points” and have students read aloud in class the next day.

Worksheet and sample graphs for above lessons. This is a mac file, I upload it in a excel format below as well in case you can't open it.