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What's the beat?

http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L176

A lesson plan for grades 3–5 Mathematics

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics


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This lesson emphasizes the connections between science and mathematics by using a performance, or authentic, assessment format. Students explore applications involving their own heart. In this activity, students use the average adult’s number of heartbeats per minute to predict how many times the heart would beat during various lengths of time. The students also draw conclusions on the basis of information about the human heart rate and that of other mammals. Illuminations provides an activity sheet and detailed instructions for completing the lesson.

Students will:

  • Determine how many times the heart beats during various lengths of time.
  • Predict how many times the heart would beat during various lengths of time.
  • Draw conclusions on the basis of information about the human heart rate and that of other animals.

NCTM Standards and Expectations:

  • Propose and justify conclusions and predictions that are based on data and design studies to further investigate the conclusions or predictions.

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.

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 4.03: Solve problems by comparing two sets of related data.
    • Objective 4.04: Design experiments and list all possible outcomes and probabilities for an event.

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 4.02: Compare and contrast different representations of the same data; discuss the effectiveness of each representation.