Download activities from the math and science archives from last year below, or visit TI's Activities Exchange for more middle grades activities.
Activity 26: Do You Measure Up?Added on 3/26/2008 |
Downloads: TI-73 PDF file |
|---|---|
| ACTIVITY OVERVIEW In this activity we will:
|
|
| You are going to collect data about the height of students in your room. In order to be efficient, there should be 3 stations with two meter sticks taped to the wall from the floor. Make sure on both rulers the numbers start from the bottom. | |
| Collect the student height data. If possible, have the same 3 people conduct the readings. Write the readings in centimeters, to the nearest tenth of a centimeter. Make sure the readers are looking straight at the sticks. | |
| Put all the height data on the board, so it is easily seen by all students. Have students enter the data into their TI-73 calculators. | |
Students should enter the data into List 1 (L1) of their calculator. Press the  key and enter the data into L1. If there is data in L1, arrow up to the top of the list( see on right), press the  key and press  . |
|
| As you enter each data point, use the down arrow or press to prepare to enter the next data point. | 
|
Once you have entered the data, set up the plot for the data. Press the  and [PLOT] keys. Press to select plot 1. |
|
| Set up the plot as seen on the right. Use the arrow keys to reach the highlighted areas and press b to highlight them. The third type on the second row is highlighted. | 
|
Press the 
key, Set up the Xmin 5 cm less than your
smallest measurement and Xmax 5 cm higher than the greatest measurement. Set the
Xscl to 10. Press  to
clear out any equations. Press  to
explore your plot. |
|
Press the 
key and use the left and right arrows to record the 5 number summary on the
right. |
|
| EXTENSION If half of the people are below the median, does that mean the median is the mean of the min and max? What would happen if you added someone who was 226cm to your readings? Would the graph change noticeably? |
|
TI EXPLORATIONS™ Series books are curricular materials using TI Technology that are written by classroom educators for classroom educators.
Click here to find Middle Grades Math EXPLORATIONS Books.
The TI Activities Exchange is an online, collaborative forum where you can find FREE activities aligned to your state standards as well as your textbook. Click here to find Middle Grades Math activities.