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Lesson Plan Using The Graph Club 2.0

Introduction:

Grade level: 3^rd Grade

Subject: Mathematics

Unit: Graphing and Data Analysis

Topic: Using data to create Bar Graphs using The Graph Club

Time: 45 minutes

Lesson Title: Roll the Dice

This lesson is aligned with the 3rd grade mathematics curriculum and is designed to be used in a unit on graphing and data analysis. Prior to this lesson, students should review requirements for the creation of bar graphs. Also, students must have some familiarity with using The Graph Club 2.0 program.

Note: This is lesson 2 of an entire graphing and probability unit. This lesson is created to be use in a computer lab with enough computers for each student.

Learning Objectives:

Using Graph Master:

· Students will be able to organize, graph, and interpret their data

· Students will be able to construct bar graphs

· Students will be able to analyze and explain their graphs

· Students will be able to modify the graphing scales

· Students will be able to compare and contrast two graphs

· Students will be able to save and print their results/products

· Students will evaluate their work based on the Assessment Checklist for Bar Graphs

Instructional Materials:

· Computers with Graph Master, one per pair of students. If students do not have their own computers, then the teacher can use a projector or Smartboard.

· Printer

· Copies of Roll the Dice worksheet

· Six-sided die or number cube (one for each pair of students)

· Assessment Checklist for Bar Graphs (one for each student to complete)

· Assessment Checklist for Bar Graphs (one for each student for teacher to complete)

Lesson Sequence:

Initiation (10 minutes)

· Begin the lesson by reviewing what a bar graph is. Ask students what items need to be present in a bar graph. (Title, Labels on both the x and y axis, Appropriate scale)

· Introduce the objectives for today’s lesson.

· Review the importance of collecting and properly recording data.

· Hand students the Assessment Checklist for Bar Graphs. Explain assessment worksheet and review the requirements when completing a bar graph. (For younger students provide them with the Sample Bar Graph worksheet)

· Explain to students that they will be using the data from today’s lesson to make bar graphs.

· Pair off students or have students pick their own partners for this activity.

· When the students are with their pairs, pass out Roll the Dice activity sheet and 1 die per group.

· Read directions aloud with students.

Lesson Development

· Have the students work in pairs to roll a die 30 times and record the numbers that come up on the Roll the Dice worksheet. They should also record the total number of times that each number was rolled.

· Remind students to double check their numbers when they total up the amount of times a number was rolled.

· After each group has completed the task, tell students to open up The Graph Club 2.0 on their computers. Then the students need to choose Math from The Graph Club Activities menu, then go to More! and open the file Roll the Dice. Students can read the instructions in the notebook, or click the Play button to hear them read aloud.

· Have students make a bar graph of the results from their experiment and write or record their interpretation in the notebook.

· Circulate throughout the room, provide assistance and check for understanding by asking questions.

· When students are ready, help students save and print their graphs.

· As a class, discuss the results of the experiment.

Closure

· As a class, discuss the results of the experiment. What number came up the most? Do students have different answers? If you were to roll a die one more time, could students predict which number would come up? Are the chances that a 3 would be rolled more than, less than, or about the same as any other number? (about the same)

· Have the students complete Assessment Checklist for Bar Graphs.

· Have students share what they’ve learned.

Assessment:

· Informal on-going assessment as the teacher circulates observing students and asking questions

· Formal assessment. The teacher will complete an Assessment Checklist for Bar Graphs for each student. Teacher will grade on the following criteria:

o Data, Symbols, Graph Type, Title, Color, Scale, Interpretation, Labels and Spelling

Extension:
Pool the data from each pair of students and make one graph for the whole class. What do students notice about this graph? How similar is it to the graphs they made with their partners?

Additional Information on The Graph Club 2.0:

Publisher: Tom Snyder Productions

Publisher Telephone: 1-800-342-0236

Internet Address: www.tomsnyder.com

Grade Levels: K-5

Review of The Graph Club software

Supplemental Materials:

Roll the Dice worksheet

Assessment Checklist for Bar Graphs

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