Subject(s): Computers & Internet, Math Grades(s): Grades 6-7

Title – Learning How to Make Scatter Plots
By – Kristin Reeves
Primary Subject – Math
Secondary Subjects – Computers / Internet
Grade Level – 7

Multimedia Graphing Unit Contents:

• Lesson 1: YouTube Scatter Plot Instructions (below)
• Lesson 2: Using Scatter Plots
• Lesson 3: Types of Graphs PowerPoint
• Lesson 4: Create Excel Chart and Kidspiration Presentation
• Lesson 5: Mean, Median, Mode and M&Ms

Content:

Learning how to make scatter plots.

Benchmarks:

D.AN.07.04 Create and interpret scatter plots and find the line of best fit; use and estimated line to answer questions about the data.

Learning Resources and Materials:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXWtiVaOmPg&feature=PlayList&p=8C5A025C3FF18E31&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=5
• Worksheet with a chart and empty scatter plot (similar to that used in the webcast video) to complete later (see below).

Development of Lesson:

Introduction:

For a fun and brief introduction to our lesson on scatter plots, each student will be handed a dot-to-dot activity. After completion, they will be told to try to look at their picture in a different way — told that this pattern of seemingly random dots could actually be an arrangement of data material.

Methods/Procedures:

1. As a class, we will watch the video about how to construct a scatter plot with a given set of data.
2. Each student will then work on their own to complete a worksheet similar to what we saw in the movie. This will include interpreting a set of data, creating a scatter plot, and then identifying any correlation with the data if it exists.

Accommodations/Adaptations:

No real accommodations necessary. If any special needs students require assistance, I will be going around the room to help.

Assessment/Evaluation:

Students will turn in their completed scatter plots at the end of the allotted time for grading.

Closure:

This lesson is a precursor to the following lesson… no closure is necessary.

Worksheet:

Name _________________________________ Hour ___________ Date _________________

NUMBER OF SEVENTH GRADERS IN THE UNITED STATES 1960-2010

Do you see any correlations between the data? Explain why you think this is or isn’t so.

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