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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

The soup spot

http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L520

A lesson plan for grades 3–4 Mathematics

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics


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In this lesson, students conduct a survey and create pictographs and line plots. After demonstrating how to read a bar graph, the teacher places students in small groups in order to complete the rest of the activities for the lesson. Students determine the different combinations of soup and salad using a sample menu, survey classmates about their choices, and graph the results using a pictograph. Illuminations provides a menu and a recording sheet for the activity.

Students will be able to do the following:

  • Construct a line plot.
  • Construct a pictograph where each symbol stands for more than one data point.
  • Compute the total number of combinations given two variables.
  • Determine the combinations possible from a given number of possibilities.

NCTM Standards and Expectations covered in this lesson include:

  • Representing data using tables and graphs such as line plots, bar graphs, and line graphs.
  • Designing investigations to address a question and consider how data-collection methods affect the nature of the data set.
  • Collecting data using observations, surveys, and experiments.
  • Comparing different representations of the same data and evaluating how well each representation shows important aspects of the data.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Mathematics (2004)

Grade 3

  • Goal 4: Data Analysis and Probability - The learner will understand and use data and simple probability concepts.
    • Objective 4.01: Collect, organize, analyze, and display data (including circle graphs and tables) to solve problems.
    • Objective 4.02: Determine the number of permutations and combinations of up to three items.

Grade 4

  • Goal 4: Data Analysis and Probability - The learner will understand and use graphs, probability, and data analysis.
    • Objective 4.01: Collect, organize, analyze, and display data (including line graphs and bar graphs) to solve problems.
    • Objective 4.02: Describe the distribution of data using median, range and mode.
    • Objective 4.04: Design experiments and list all possible outcomes and probabilities for an event.