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Goal:
Students
construct data tables, collect data and report any observed
patterns..
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Grade
Level:
4-12
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Objectives:
- Construct
data table appropriate for organizing selected data
- Collect
data in systematic manner
- Use
data table to identify and report on presence or absence
of patterns
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Subject
Area or Standard:
Science
and Measurement
Scientific method
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Materials
Needed:
- Samples
of data tables
- Assorted
measurement and/or observation tools
- Paper
and pencil
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Websites:
Sun or Moon rise for one year
http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneYear.html
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center data collection
http://www.serc.si.edu/datamgmnt/dtoc/dtocindx.htm
From the National Weather Service
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/cdus/prcp_temp_tables/
Math Insight Tools: Ideas for collecting data
http://mathinsight.ctl.sri.com/tools/datatable.htm
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Sample Data table
Number and gender of American Goldfinch visiting birdfeeder.
Data was collected 2 consecutive days per week, for
2 hours per day for a month.
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Date
|
Time
|
Male
|
Female
|
| 4-01-01 |
2p-4p |
2
|
1
|
| 4-02-01 |
3p-5p |
2
|
2
|
| 4-08-01 |
3p-5p |
4
|
5
|
| 4-09-01 |
2p-4p |
2
|
6
|
| 4-15-01 |
2p-4p |
3
|
4
|
| 4-16-01 |
2p-4p |
2
|
7
|
| 4-22-01 |
2p-4p |
4
|
5
|
| 4-23-01 |
3p-5p |
6
|
8
|
| 4-29-01 |
2p-4p |
4
|
7
|
| 4-30-01 |
2p-4p |
6
|
7
|
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Procedures:
1. Go over sample data table and point out how it was constructed
and how it is used to both present data and to find patterns
of that data. Note how the table would look if the rows
and columns were reversed.
2. Point out the data requirements and why it is important
to be specific and descriptive.
3. Explain metadata, i.e., data about the data. Explain
that a data table is a series of observations collected
by the same methodology. The metadata or descriptions of
the data will allow someone else to replicate the data collection
and add to the data table.
4. Ask students to brainstorm different sources from which
they can collect data.
5. Students build a data table that can be used for the
data collection
6. Students collect data and enter into table
7. Students report on presence or absence of patterns observed
from their data tables.
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Alternatives:
Have
students search newspapers and internet to find existing data
tables from sports, weather, entertainment and report on their
uses.
Explore
other means of reporting data, e.g., graphs, mapping.
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