- Updated Edition -
This material continues to build on the foundation laid down in the 6-9 Graphing curriculum. Students are introduced to graphing as the synthesis of algebra and geometry, and they are encouraged to apply higher level mathematical thinking to a wide range of topics. Real world data is provided giving teachers the ability to incorporate STEM concepts.
The teacher's notes include interactive lessons to introduce each new type of graph. There is also a strike the imagination lesson to introduce Renée Descartes and the merging of geometry and algebra.
Nomenclature is included for important vocabulary and main concepts, covering types of graphs, data trends, and mathematical interpretations of data.
Students are also introduced to the interpretation and creation of:
- bar graphs
- coordinate graphs
- line graphs
- mean, mode, median, range
- histograms and the derivation of a frequency polygon
- box plots
- scatter plots
- stem and leaf plots
- matching a story to a graph
Task cards allow students to experience practical interpretation of graphs and data while referencing real world information in colorful and varied graphs and charts. In addition, students are asked to collect, graph, and interpret data from their everyday lives to gain fluency in data graphing and interpretation. Meet STEM requirements and core standards for data analysis and interpretation.
As students organize and analyze data, they ask meaningful questions and dig deeper to solve problems. Moving beyond simply memorizing facts, students acquire the skills of reasoning, inquiry and communication. Building data literacy makes for a richer, more meaningful experience.
Teaching math really is about language, and teaching graphs and charts is not just an objective for math teachers. The skill appears in reading and language arts curriculum as well.
Comparing and analyzing information from graphs and charts are ways of thinking and processing which are skills necessary for reading.
We have designed the curriculum so that students can make connections in other subjects such as science, and cultural thus bringing higher level thinking skills in a multi-disciplinary fashion.
Graphing calculators are introduced and used to represent and solve problems. Students will have ample opportunities to explore specific websites for research and data collection. This allows students to use a wide variety of skills and resources when solving problems in the classroom and outside of it.
This material is available on card-stock, or printed on durable thick plastic.
Students who are data literate are better able to:
- Formulate questions,
- collect and organize data systematically to identify patterns and discover relationships
- represent data in different types of plots to yield different results
- develop conclusions and make recommendations based on data analysis
Credits:
Created with an image by Scanrail - "Color pie chart". Pictures by ETC Montessori