1. Lesson Description 2. Classroom and Time Management 3. Materials and Teacher Preparation 4. Assessment 5. Technical Skills Guide  1. Lesson Description Period of time required for lesson: 9 days of 55 minute sessions per day. Overall goal of the lesson: Students will investigate the ethnic and cultural composition of their school. Based on their surveys or observations and use of statistical sampling methods, they will prepare a hypothesis for what they believe to be the composition of all schools in the country. (or all school age children in the U.S.) Students will then collect national statistics and use a spreadsheet to systematically organize, analyze, and graph this data. Using their predictions, students will prepare a composition stating their conclusions and arguing the benefits and disadvantages of statistical sampling. Rationale for the lesson: This lesson addresses the eighth grade mathematics and language arts standards. Eighth graders should be able to use and know the simple aspects of a logical argument by identifying a hypothesis and arriving at a conclusion through logical deduction. Language arts standards for writing require students to write clear, coherent, and focused essays that exhibit awareness of audience an purpose of contain formal introductions, bodies of supporting evidence, and conclusions. Student academic outcome objectives: Students will be able to: use surveys or observations to collect data about the ethnic and cultural composition of their class (or school). They will systematically record, analyze, and graph data prepare a hypothesis of U.S. schools and will compare these results their hypothesis calculate the standard deviation of their sets of data and the variance in the total population sample research national statistics on the composition of U.S. schools and compare these results with their hypothesis write a composition explaining the conclusions of their investigations arguing the benefits and disadvantages of statistical sampling methods Student social outcome objectives: Students will be able to: learn to listen to each other learn to divide up their work learn to support each other in working at a computer Student technical skills outcome objectives: Students will be able to: create a spreadsheet document enter text in a cell and select it when needed format text in a spreadsheet by changing fonts, size, and alignment within a cell copy, move, and delete data insert and delete cells, rows, and columns add borders patterns, and colors to cells and ranges change column widths enter formulas calculate formula results make a chart change chart options, specifically, labels, axis, and appearances by manipulating colors and patterns print a specific range of cells spreadsheet functions (standard deviation and variance) Prerequisite Academic Skills: Students should: know how to write and conduct surveys and organize data in a systemic manner be able to identify the appropriate graphical represtntiaons for the given data know how to explain standard deviations and variance in a set of data be able to write expository text using formal conventions Prerequisite Social Skills: Students should know how to: work in cooperative settings ask relevant questions Prerequisite Technical Skills: Students should know how to: enter text and direct the cursor use spell check navigate in a spreadsheet by using the keyboard input text, format and save it as well as printing a word document Back to Top  2. Classroom and Time Management Group Management: Students will work in pairs. Each will be responsible for competing the surveys/observations, the spreadsheet calculations, and the data analysis. Each individual will prepare a composition with his or her conclusions. Pairs will work together to edit and revise their compositions. Technology Management: Once students have the prerequisite skills, work with them in small expert groups, by which they will in turn instruct their peers. There should be experts in manipulation of data and the use of functions and formulas. There should also be experts in formatting and changing chart and worksheet appearance. Assign each member of the pair of area expertise. While instructing experts on the skill they will need, have the other students working on data collection and organization. Pairs of students will work on one computer inputting data and analyzing results. One student will input while the other student guides the input of the data. They will switch roles so that both have the opportunity to learn how to input data. Once data collection and analysis is complete, each student will write a composition with his or her own conclusions. Students will print drafts of their composition and edit them with their peers. Time Management: Day Event 1 Form student pairs, assign roles, and provide instructions and guideline for the project. Students prepare prepare observation instruments or survey questions to determine the cultural and ethnic compassion of their school. 2 Students gather data on their school and record it in an organized manner. Using this sample, they prepare a hypothesis on the composition of U.S. schools. 3-4 Students prepare a spreadsheet, input and analyze data, and create graphs. 5 Students research the ethnic and cultural compositions of schools in the U.S. 6-7 Students use the spreadsheet to analyze and graph their data on the composition of U.S. schools. They compare their data sets with their school data sets and determine standard deviation and variance. 8-9 Students write and edit their compositions with their conclusions. Back to Top  3. Materials and Teacher Preparation As included with the Technical Skills Guide. Teachers must have a scanner available for students to import graphics to slides. Back to Top  4. Assessment Students will be graded on both their individual and group work. The group quality and content of the project as well as the individuals work within the group should be assessed. Back to Top  5. Technical Skills Guide -StarOffice(zipped - 326 Kb) Back to Top