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

What's your wingspan?

http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=255

A lesson plan for grades 3–5 Mathematics

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In this lesson, students learn to gather and analyze data, while reviewing measurement and graphing. Prior to this lesson, students should already be familiar with measurement and units of measurement, both standard and nonstandard. After students complete an online game about estimation and measurement, the teacher engages them in a discussion about what they learned. Then, students create a definition of wingspan and follow instructions from the student handout in order to measure their own wingspan in inches. The class data is recorded and students answer questions about the class data set. Finally, the teacher demonstrates how to graph the data and analyze the findings. Science NetLinks provides student handouts, a link to the measurement activity, and instructions necessary for completing the activity. This lesson plan also contains links to similar lessons from Science NetLinks and the Annenberg/CPB Math and Science Project.

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.

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.