LEARN NC

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

Pitching cards

http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L188

A lesson plan for grades 3–5 Mathematics

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Students measure distances using standard and nonstandard units and record their measurement in various tables. Then use descriptive statistics to report the results. After the teacher demonstrates how to “pitch” cards from a set distance, students practice pitching the cards and measure the distance. Then students learn how to determine median and range.

Students will:

  • Measure distances in centimeters.
  • Record data in a chart format.
  • Rank order data and determine median and range.

NCTM Standards and Expectations covered in this lesson include:

  • Collecting data using observations, surveys, and experiments.
  • Designing investigations to address a question and consider how data-collection methods affect the nature of the data set.
  • Using measures of center, focusing on the median, and understanding what each does and does not indicate about the data set.
  • Selecting and applying appropriate standard units and tools to measure length, area, volume, weight, time, temperature, and the size of angles.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Mathematics (2004)

Grade 3

  • Goal 2: Measurement - The learner will recognize and use standard units of metric and customary measurement.
    • Objective 2.02: Estimate and measure using appropriate units.
      • Capacity (cups, pints, quarts, gallons, liters).
      • Length (miles, kilometers).
      • Mass (ounces, pounds, grams, kilograms).
      • Temperature (Fahrenheit, Celsius).
  • 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.

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 4.03: Solve problems by comparing two sets of related data.

Grade 5

  • Goal 4: Data Analysis and Probability - The learner will understand and use graphs and data analysis.
    • Objective 4.01: Collect, organize, analyze, and display data (including stem-and-leaf plots) to solve problems.
    • Objective 4.03: Solve problems with data from a single set or multiple sets of data using median, range, and mode.