Possible Writing Activity

Histograms

What if I change the scale?




What happens to the data if the scale intervals change? Does it matter?
How does this affect how you read and write?

Steps (Individuals or Teams)
Part 1: Playing with Intervals
Part 2: Reflection on Discussion
Part 3: Playing with Intervals/Wiki Work
Part 4: Peer Share
Part 5: Gist Statement and Application Comment

---

Part 1: Playing with Intervals:

Choose some of the data sets from this site--- play with the INTERVAL inputs.
http://shodor.org/interactivate/activities/Histogram/?version=1.5.0_19&browser=Mozilla&vendor=Apple_Inc.&flash=10.0.22

Change the interval inputs. Take notes on what you discovered in a table:

| Input | Result | Analysis—What I noticed|

What did you learn from this activity based on the data in your table of changes made?


Keep notes for Part 2.

---

Part 2: Reflection on Discussion

Read the discussion by students and their mentor here:
http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/discussions/ClassInterval/

What questions do you have?
Do you agree or disagree with the students? Explain with information from
what happened when you changed the intervals in the activity in Part 1.

Keep notes for Part 3.

---

Part 3: Playing with Intervals/Wiki Work

Choose one of the graphs from Part 1 that you would choose to display to explain the content data (College SAT Math Scores/ NBA Team Payrolls, etc.) you would want to share with others. Take a screenshot of your graph. Upload it to your math Wiki page.

Explain:
What data set did you choose?
What interval did you select?
What title would you give your graph? Why?
What do you think viewers would see in your graph?
Why do you want to show that data information – what is it presenting to the viewer?

Now change your graph with a different interval. Take a screenshot of your graph. Upload it to your math Wiki page.

Explain:
How does this graph differ from your first choice?
What interval did you select?
What title would you give your graph? Why?
What do you think viewers would see in your graph?
Why wouldn’t you choose this graph?

How does this information affect how you read and write when the information includes graphs/histograms?

---

Part 4: Peer Share

Read another group/individual’s wiki page. Analyze their work and learning. Comment on their wiki page:
What did you notice?
What did you like?
What do you wonder about?

---

Part 5: Gist Statement and Application

In the comments of this blog post:

Write a gist statement of your learning from this activity.

If you read a graph in your science book, a magazine, a newspaper, or online, what will you look for to understand possible intentions (persuasive strategy) of the data?

How does this information affect how you read and write when the information includes graphs/histograms?

---

NCTM Standards:

Grades 6-8

• Data Analysis and Probability
  • Formulate questions that can be addressed with data and collect, organize, and display relevant data to answer them
  • Select and use appropriate statistical methods to analyze data

MathScape Textbook:

Book 1

• [ What Does the Data Say? ] Lesson 6: Across the Ages

---