Connecting Central Tendency to Technology

Objectives:
The student will be able to:
Recognize and apply mathematics in contexts outside of mathematics
Define mean, median, and mode
Sequence story events according to where they are located in the literature read
Compare different representations of the same data
Evaluate how well representations show important aspects of the data
Represent data using tables
Create and use representations to organize, record, and communicate mathematical ideas
Work cooperatively in a group setting


Launch/Engaging Focus:
The teacher will go over the lesson objectives with the students.
The teacher will ask the students how data applies to their everyday lives. The teacher will use the Kagan strategy of “All-Write Round Robin” to focus discussion between students. The teacher will ask one person from each group to share one of their ideas/thoughts with the class.
The teacher will ask the students to apply their knowledge of their vocabulary to see if a mean, median, and mode throughout the activity.
The teacher will bring the students focus to the “Word Wave”.

Explore/Experience:
The teacher will read the book entitled “Flat Stanley” to the students and then discuss Stanley’s adventures. (Literacy Connection)
The teacher will provide a sequencing activity flipchart for the students on the Promethean board. (Visual and Auditory)
The students will come to the board to organize the events of the story.
The teacher will use a selector tool to choose students.

Independent Practice/Cooperative Grouping
The teacher will ask the students to select a state to travel to if he/she were flat.
The students will be asked to write a prediction in their math journal for the number of miles they would have to travel to get to the state they chose.
The teacher will review again with the students mean, median, and range.
The students will be divided into their Kagan Cooperative learning groups.
Each group will be given an atlas, the use of the internet, and a GPS system to calculate how many miles it would take to travel to their chosen state and what landmarks they would see while traveling.
Each student will be given a sheet of paper to write their information on.
The students will be encouraged to use their graphing calculators to convert the total miles to kilometers.
When the students have come up with their information they will write it on the board so student can begin to work on the next phase of this activity.
Once students have completed the atlas activity, they will go back to working independently on the next activity.
The students will work on an activity called “Our Travels”. (Tactile, Kinesthetic, Visual, and Auditory) *Music will be used for cooperative grouping to increase productivity and brain stimulation.*
The teacher will use the information on the Statistics and Data reproducible sheet to complete the activity
The teacher will pass out the Our Travels reproducible to the students.
The students will work on the activities independently.
The students will be encouraged to share their findings with a neighbor in class when both have completed the activity.
If time permits, the students will be asked to write in their math journals about the pros and cons of traveling through the mail. If time does not permit this activity, this will be for homework. *Music will be played for journal writing to increase productivity and brain stimulation.*


Closure:
The teacher will instruct one person from each group to get the “Wrap Up” cube. The students will take turns rolling the cube. Each student will read out the question and give the answer to their group. Each group member should praise each person as they finish. (Kinesthetic)
The teacher will take any questions or concerns about today’s lesson at this time. This time will also be given to address the yellow questions.

Assessment/Evaluation
The objectives for this lesson should be measured informally during the activities by monitoring, participation, and through discussion. The formal assessment will be the “Statistics and Data” activity as well as the “Our Travels” activity. The final assessment will be that they write in their math journal about the pros and cons of traveling through the mail. (either in class or for homework) All activities will be turned in.

Homework Assignment:
• Complete “Journal Activity” as well as use the word mean, median, and mode in a sentence. One sentence per word. Must portray the students knowledge of the vocabulary word.

Materials/Resources/Technology
Paper
Pencil
Computer
Projector
Internet
ActivStudio software
Promethean Board
Book entitled “Flat Stanley”
25 copies of Statistics and Data reproducbles
25 copies of Our Travels reproducible
Math journals
Atlases
GPS systems
Graphing Calculators
Wrap Up Cubes

Accommodations for Individual Differences
The Tactile, Visual, Kinesthetic, and Auditory learner will be targeted within this lesson through discussion, the flipchart, movement to explain the importance of the Our Travels activity, and journaling.

Classroom Management Concerns
Students who I feel will have a hard time during this activity due to behavior issues, will be given extra reinforcement for following the expectations of the teacher. Those lower level students will be given more assistance. All students will receive praise from the teacher.