This investigation involves the use of data analysis and probability. Students as a class or in small groups work on comparing two sets of data from their investigation of how long each person in the group can hop on one foot. The collection should represent, describe and interpret the data based on several factors. These can include: what kind of shoes each person is wearing, how differences in height and weight affect the results, differences between boys and girls hopping and hopping on different surfaces. Students describe and predict the likelihood of differences based on the situations and compare predictions with the actual outcomes of the investigation. Outcomes should be expressed in fractions, decimals and percentages.
This investigation lets students do research on situations where the rate of change is a constant, such as in the age of children compared to their growth. Children's ages serve as the constant while they compare difference in growth patterns. Students will need examples of growth charts from a pediatrician's office, and if possible copies of their own growth charts. Then they will compare the information on the growth charts and use tables and graphs to represent the relationships between two or more variables within the growth charts. Collect data from each student in the group, with the help of parents, as to whether they were breast-fed or bottle fed, when they started solid food and when other developmental milestones happened like crawling, sitting up, walking, talking, etc.
This investigation is best done with an entire classroom to give more opportunities for data collection. The major focus of this project is an understanding of the relationships between decimals, fractions and percents. Divide the classroom into two teams and give each team a set of tasks to complete in a certain amount of time, like filling up a bucket of water using small paper cups, cleaning off desks with a toothbrush and picking up small pieces of paper off the floor that you have placed in an area of the classroom. Do each task with a different number of students and record how many students it took to do the tasks and the length of time for each group. Collect the data and compare the results using charts and graphs and expressing results in three forms: fractions, decimals and percents. Some examples include, using fractions to express how much of the bucket was filled in the time period as opposed to how many cups it takes to fill it completely and then converting these fractions into decimals and writing percentages to express how many students got through the tasks in the allotted amount of time.
For this investigation students will use different polygons to understand the attributes of two-dimensional shapes by examining the characteristics of triangles, quadrilaterals and other regular polygons. To do this, they will measure the sides and angles of the figures in standard units, and study how the perimeters and angle measurement effect the area and volume of the figures, including prisms. Use charts and graphs to express the data collected and compare the polygons based on height, side length, angle measurements and area.