Using the provided data, students will analyze statistics from five states of their choice, develop specific research questions using the data, and create three graphs to compare and contrast the information. Students must deal with data to complete an organized chart and to transfer information to a graph or to generalize a rule. This lessons includes an individual activity for four different levels. As part of the interviewing process, each team must plan a multi-city trip for the firm's president and present a proposed travel schedule and budget. Competing Coasters - In this lesson, students look at attributes that vary from coaster to coaster, attributes that make each scream machine uniquely thrilling.
Students use a website to view photos of roller coasters from around the country.
Based on the pictures, students predict which coaster is faster, which is higher, which goes further, and which takes longer. They look up data on another website to check their predictions. Finally, students evaluate their estimates of speed, height, etc., to see whether their estimation skills improve with experience. Students use data analysis to seek answers to the types of questions often posed by consumer agencies and people who work in sales and marketing. In addition, children practice reading and writing large numbers and use estimation to arrive at appropriate answers.