Activities

1. Define variable in your own words. Give an example.
   
   
2. Draw an axis. Label the x-axis and the y-axis.
   
   
3. As scientists and mathematicians, we know the x-axis of a graph is your independent variable and the y-axis is the dependent variable. Imagine we are conducting a simple experiment and the title is: “The effect of study time on student’s test score.”
   
   1. Label the x-axis and y-axis appropriately.
   2. Title the graph.
   3. State appropriate units and ranges for this study.
      
      1. Study time
      2. Test score

4. Use the following data collected to create a line graph.  Please include:
   1. Title
   2. Labels on both x and y axis
   3. A key to distinguish between the 2 rooms

5. Using the data collected create 5 unique inference or fact statements.
   
   
6. Using the above data consider the following: If you had 5 questions to ask regarding the information in the table collected, what would they be? In other words, what information do you think is missing or unclear?
   
   
7. If we were to conduct a similar investigation in this classroom, how might our results differ? Make 3 prediction statements.
   
   
8. Do you think it is important to know the age or gender of the students? The topic tested? Explain your thinking.
   
   
9. Which of the following would be a fair test topic? Explain your thinking for each topic.
   1. State capitals
   2. Cooking and baking facts
   3. Sports trivia

For the following questions, you will be constructing your own investigation with your tablemates.

10. Choose from the following topics:
    
    1. School lunch
    2. Mode of transportation home
    3. Favorite subject area

Example: How many times a week do you eat school lunch? (0-2 times weekly, 3-4 times weekly, or 5 days a week)

11. When collecting information please note the respondent’s age and gender.
    
    
12. You must have at least 10 participants, but no more the 25.
    
    
13. After you have organized your collected data, graph the results.
    
    
14. Using all the information during the investigation, draw conclusions. Then prepare a 3 paragraph, summarizing report. The conclusions must be based on the data collected. The first paragraph will explain your topic, the second paragraph with detail your findings and the third paragraph will explain your interpretation of your findings.

Answer Key/Rubric

1. Variable- changes (i.e. amount of rain)
   
   
2. vertical line- Y    horizontal line- x

3. Title- “The effect of study time on student’s test score”
   x-axis labeled = scores (unit- percent)
   y-axis labeled = time (hours)

4. Student appropriately makes the line graph with title, labels, key and data points.
   
   
5. Examples- average/mean, students who study more than 2 hours get in the 90s
   
   
6. Examples- How do students score who study 1 and 2.5 hours score? What is the topic/subject/age/grade levels?
   
   
7. Student make accurate prediction statements, teacher will evaluate
   
   
8. Yes- may have background knowledge, No- people can lean
   
   
9. Any topic might be fair with the following thinking:
   
   1. Memorize
   2. You can follow procedures
   3. Background information and statistics
      
      
10. Topic must be from the given list
    
    
11. Student will gather appropriate information from the participants
    
    
12. Student will meet the requested requirements of participants numbers
    
    
13. Graphs will include title, labels, key, and data points
    
    
14. Reference the following rubric: