Maryland Technology Academy 2000

Multimedia Project Design

Project Title:  The Candy Box

Grade Level:  Grade 5

Subject/Topic Area(s)  Statistics

Designed By:   Fay M. Scola

Date: 7/30/00

School District:  Prince George’s County

School:   Potomac Landing Elementary

 

 

Goal:

Students will increase math MSPAP scores especially in Statistics (+4), Connections (+4), and Communications (-15) domains through practical applications. Students will determine when technology is useful and select the appropriate tool(s) and technology resources to address a variety of tasks and problems with real life applications.

Content Standards:

Students will demonstrate their ability to collect, organize, and display data and will interpret information obtained from displays, (bar graphs, circle graphs and line graphs). Students will model and find the measures of central tendencies (mean, mode, median, and range). They will write reports based on statistical information. Students will discuss common uses of technology in daily life and the advantages and disadvantages those uses provide. They will use general purpose productivity tools and peripherals to support personal productivity, remediate skill deficits, and facilitate learning throughout the curriculum. Students will use technology resources (e.g., calculators, data collection probes, videos, educational software) for problem solving, self-directed learning, and extended learning activities. They will determine when technology is useful and select the appropriate tool(s) and technology resources to address a variety of tasks and problems.

 Project Summary:

Using Mini-M&M’s students will collect, analyze and display data. They will analyze the data using central tendencies, (range, mode, mean and mean). Students will learn to use Microsoft Excel to create data tables, bar graphs, circle graphs and line graphs of their data. Students will learn to make connections as to when each of the graphs is appropriate for accurate statistical display. Using Microsoft Word students will write reports based on statistical information. Students will learn to print and save their work to the file server. Information in The Candy Box PowerPoint Presentation is explicitly stated because it will be used as an independent learning center.

 Objectives/Desired Results

Choices in data collection and representation affect their interpretations and use.

Enduring Understanding:

Choices in data collection and representation affect their interpretation and use. We can describe and measure the same thing in different ways e.g. bar graphs, circle graphs.

Essential Questions:

Identify when a specific measure of central tendency is most appropriate.

How do we show data?

How do we decide which graph to use?

Can statistics lie?

 Plans for Facilitation:

Teachers:

·        Will need to know Microsoft Excel.

·        Will need to know Microsoft PowerPoint

·        Will need to change title, labels, colors and font sizes.

·        Will need to know how to setup electronic folders for each student on the server.

·        Will need to practice time management skills.

Students:

·        Will need to know line plots, bar graphs, circle graphs and line graphs manually.

·        Will need to know how to calculate central tendencies (range, mode, median and mean).

·        Will learn Microsoft Excel, including the graphing feature.

·        Will practice time management skills.

·        Will practice proper computer skills.

·         Will open and save work to their folder on the server.

Active Learning:

Bar Graphs: (Day 1 &2)

      1. Present and discuss the Candy Box PowerPoint Presentation.
      2. Present data table and bar graph representing the teacher’s box of Mini-M&Ms with the distribution of colors, and pose the question – "Does this represent a typical box of Mini-M&Ms"?
      1. Introduce the enduring understanding, essential questions and key vocabulary terms.
      2. Present concept attainment lesson on central tendencies and their applications.
      3. Have students read and discuss relevant selections from the math textbook.
      4. Review key elements of graphs: line plots, bar graphs, circle graphs and line graphs.
      5. Working in cooperative groups, have each student collect, organize and display data to create a data table and bar graph for a specific color of Mini-M&Ms using the data they collect from the other members in your group.
      6. Assess and give feedback on the data tables and bar graphs; allow students to self-assess and assess their peers. (See rubric)
      7. Have each student choose which central tendency to use by analyzing the data table and bar graph to accurately represent the data for his or her color on a group data table and bar graph.
      8. Give feedback regarding the data analysis.
      9. Working in cooperative groups, create a data table and bar graph for the "typical box" of Mini-M&M’s including every color, within their group.
      10. Assess and give feedback on the data tables and bar graphs; allow students to self-assess and assess their peers.
      11. Discuss why bar graphs were an accurate statistical display for this type of analysis.
      12. Have students write their insights and reflections from the day’s activities.

Computer Lab: (Day 3)

      1. Using a computer attached to a TV monitor, walk students step by step through how to use Microsoft Excel to create a data table and bar graph for their specific color of Mini-M&M.
      2. Assess and give feedback on the data tables and bar graphs; allow students to self-assess and assess their peers.
      3. Again, using Microsoft Excel, have students create a data table and bar graph for their group’s "typical box" of Mini-M&M’s.
      4. Assess and give feedback.
      5. Have students experiment with selecting the circle graph and the line graph option using the bar graph data.
      6. Have students interpret if the computer generated statistically correct displays. Why or why not?
      7. Walk students step by step through how to print and save work to their file on the server after each graph is complete.
      8. Have students write their insights and reflections of the day’s activities.

Circle Graphs: (Day 4)

      1. Present and discuss the Candy Box PowerPoint Presentation.
      2. Present data table and circle graph representing the teacher’s box of Mini-M&M’s with the distribution of colors, and pose the question-"Does this represent a typical box of Mini-M&M’s"?
      3. Discuss the enduring understanding, essential questions and key vocabulary terms. (Specifically discuss with students why the circle graph option didn’t work with the bar graph data table. Discuss how the two graphs are inherently different and why.
      4. Ask students "How might we alter the data to conform to the circle graph requirements, while creating an accurate statistical display."
      5. Working independently, have students analyze the data and create a new data table converting the numerical data table for the bar graph into percentages for the circle graph. (Each piece of a circle graph has a relationship to the whole).
      6. Assess and give feedback on the data tables; allow students to self-assess and assess their peers. (See rubric.)
      7. Have students write their insights and reflections from the day’s activities.

Computer Lab: (Day5)

      1. Using a computer attached to a TV monitor, walk students step by step through how to use Microsoft Excel to create a data table and circle graph for their group’s "typical Box" of Mini-M&Ms.
      2. Observe and assess the process of data organization and display.
      3. Walk students step by step through how to print and save work to their file on the server on an individual basis.
      4. Assess whether students are interpreting data and making connections –(Based on the data table, graphs and calculations is the teacher’s box of Mini-M&M’s a "typical box" of Mini-M&M’s? Why or why not? Why did the circle graph option work now and not before? Will the line graph option work now with this data table and reflect an accurate statistical display? Why or why not?)
      5. Have students write their reflections and insights of the day’s activities.

Line Graphs: (Day 6)

      1. Present and discuss the Candy Box PowerPoint Presentation.
      2. Review the enduring understanding, essential questions, and key vocabulary terms.
      3. Have students reflect-"When we clicked on the line graph icon in Excel, with our bar graph data table did we create a display that was statistically accurate?
      4. Have students brainstorm: What does a line graph represent statistically? Or rather, when do we use a line graph? Can bar graphs, circle graphs and line graphs represent the same statistical data? Why or why not?
      5. Assess students’ ability to make connections. "If line graphs show increases or decreases over time, can we use a line graph to represent the colors in a "typical box" of Mini-M&M’s? Why or why not?
      6. Give students the official suggested retail prices for the Mini-M&Ms Roll since its introduction in 1996 through 2000, on a annual basis.
      7. Working independently, have each student create a graph for the given information.
      8. Observe if students can readily create a line graph for this data. (See rubric.)
      9. Have the students who understand the concepts, coach the others in their group to create a line graph for this data.
      10. Assess student’s level of understanding by posing the question: "What other information could we analyze to display a trend using a line graph?
      11. Have students write their reflections and insights regarding today’s activities.

Computer Lab: (Day 7)

      1. Using a computer attached to a TV monitor, walk students step by step through how to use Microsoft Excel to create a data table and line graph for the suggested retail price for the Mini-M&M’s Roll from 1996-2000.
      2. Facilitate the students’ ability to accomplish this task by walking around after the demonstration asking questions, as well as, answering questions.
      3. Assess and give feedback on the data tables and bar graphs; allow students to self-assess and assess their peers.
      4. Have advanced students discover if they can use the line graph data table to create a bar graph or circle graph. Discover if it is statistically accurate.
      5. Have students write their insights and reflections.
      6. Assessment: Given that line graphs reflect trends in data can you predict what the suggested retail price of a Mini-M&M Roll in 2001? MMARS just introduced the Mini-M&M Mega Roll in 2000, with a suggested retail price of $0.89 can you predict what the price of the Mini-M&M Mega Roll will be in 2001? Do you see a strategy behind their pricing?

Culminating Activity: (Day 8)

The enduring understanding through out this project was Choices in data collection and representation affect their interpretation and use. Have students reflect on the essential questions.

Have students answer the following questions in light of the enduring understanding and the essential questions. (See rubric.)

Did the teacher have the "typical box" of Mini-M&Ms?

Did your group have the "typical box" of Mini-M&Ms?

Is there such a thing as the "typical box" of Mini-M&Ms? Why or why not? Explain the relevance of each graph as it relates to the activity.

Instructional Resources:

Math textbook by Scott Foresman

Computer Lab

Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation

Microsoft Excel

 Type of Assessment Used (e.g. observations, work samples, electronic discussions, dialogues)

Performance Tasks

Work Samples

Quizzes

Prompts

Observations

Self-Assessments

 

Scoring tool to be used for evaluation.

Rubrics: Bar graph performance assessment.

Circle graph performance assessment.

Line graph performance assessment.

Letter to director of Sales at Mars Inc.

Quiz : Central tendencies – range mode median and mean.

Quiz : Definitions with examples of graphs: bar graphs, circle graphs and line graphs.

Prompt: Describe two different situations where it would be best to use either range, mode, median or mean?

Observations: While engaged in performance tasks.

Self-assessments:

1. Each graph.

      1. Whether student is comfortable knowing when to use different graphs.
      2. The extent to which you know which central tendency is best to use to represent the data.