LEARN NC

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

How many hits?

http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L602

A lesson plan for Grades 6–8 Mathematics

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

About this resource

Appropriate grades
6–8
Subjects
mathematics (algebra, probability, statistics)
Provider
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

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Students will continue their investigation of the Paper Pool game by exploring more tables and organizing the results. Using the data that they collect, they will attempt to find a relationship between the size of the table, the number of hits that occur, and the pocket in which the ball lands. Illuminations provides a link to the paper pool interactive tool, an activity sheet and an Excel spreadsheet, as well as detailed instructions for completing the lesson.

Students will:

  • Use paper-based and computer-based tools to explore tables of various sizes.
  • Organize data using tables.
  • Look for patterns.
  • Discover a rule for the number of hits that occur.

NCTM Standards and Expectations:

  • Represent, analyze, and generalize a variety of patterns with tables, graphs, words, and, when possible, symbolic rules.
  • Model and solve contextualized problems using various representations, such as graphs, tables, and equations.
  • Select, create, and use appropriate graphical representations of data, including histograms, box plots, and scatterplots.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Mathematics (2004)

Grade 6

  • Goal 4: Data Analysis and Probability - The learner will understand and determine probabilities.
    • Objective 4.01: Develop fluency with counting strategies to determine the sample space for an event. Include lists, tree diagrams, frequency distribution tables, permutations, combinations, and the Fundamental Counting Principle.
    • Objective 4.05: Determine and compare experimental and theoretical probabilities for independent and dependent events.
    • Objective 4.06: Design and conduct experiments or surveys to solve problems; report and analyze results
  • Goal 5: Algebra - The learner will demonstrate an understanding of simple algebraic expressions.
    • Objective 5.02: Use and evaluate algebraic expressions.
    • Objective 5.04: Use graphs, tables, and symbols to model and solve problems involving rates of change and ratios.

Grade 7

  • 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 box plots and histograms) to solve problems.
    • Objective 4.05: Solve problems involving two or more sets of data using appropriate statistical measures.
  • Goal 5: Algebra - The learner will demonstrate an understanding of linear relations and fundamental algebraic concepts.
    • Objective 5.01: Identify, analyze, and create linear relations, sequences, and functions using symbols, graphs, tables, diagrams, and written descriptions.

Grade 8

  • 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 scatterplots) to solve problems.
  • Goal 5: Algebra - The learner will understand and use linear relations and functions.
    • Objective 5.03: Solve problems using linear equations and inequalities; justify symbolically and graphically.