Upon completion of this lesson, students will be able to explain the importance of
recording information and interpret a simple chart.
Hat and colored shapes cut out of paper
VOCABULARY
Vocabulary words are introduced in the Video Lesson and appear in the Illustrated
Glossary. These definitions are for your reference only.
data Information collected by observing, measuring or calculating, often in
the form of numbers. (Frame 48972)
chart Visual aid listing data in a table or tabular format. (Frame 48960)
ACTIVITY MATERIALS
Blackline master, pencils or crayons, paper
ACTIVITY PREPARATION
Copy blackline master.
Do you remember how many red rectangles [or whatever variable students were
making observations about during the class before] Carla the Clown pulled from
the hat the last time we saw her? [Allow students to guess and explain why they
guessed a particular number.] Even though you made good observations, it is
difficult to remember how many red rectangles she pulled out, isn't it? What do
you think you could have done so you would not forget? [Allow speculation.]
How do you remember things?
A very good way to remember things is to write them down. People often make a
grocery list before going shopping so they won't forget what they want to buy.
Let's have some fun and see how well you remember the shapes Carla pulled out
of the hat. [Distribute the activity sheet. When the lesson is completed, collect the
activity sheets. They will be needed for the next lesson's activity.] In the colunm
labeled "I remember," write the number of each shape you remember Carla
pulling from the hat. [Allow students sufficient time to complete this portion of
the activity.]
2
Let's see if I can pull the shapes from the hat again. I would like everyone to
count the color shape I ask you to. [Divide the class into five groups. Distribute a
blank paper and a pencil to each student. Students should use the blank paper to
record their observations using tally marks. (You may need to show them how to
make tally marks.) Assign each group one shape and color from the activity sheet
and have them count the number of times that shape appears in the movie.] Write
your observations on your piece of blank paper. Remember, make the best
observations you can.
[Students within each group should compare the number of shapes counted
individually, then agree on a final number to give to the other groups.] How many
red rectangles did group one count? [Three] Yellow squares? [Four] Green circles?
[Four] Blue squares? [Two] Orange triangles? [Five] [Allow all students to write
their collected data on the activity sheet under the colunm labeled "Data."] Are the
numbers similar to the numbers you remembered? [Probably not]
When you are making observations, it often is handy for you and others to write
down descriptions, such as words and numbers, about the things you observed.
This information is known as DATA. What did you do with the data you collected
about the number of shapes Carla pulled from the hat? [Wrote it down] Where did
you write your data? [On the activity sheet] Yes, you wrote your data very neatly
on your activity sheet. When you write down data so that it appears in a neat and
organized manner, you are creating what is known as a CHART. Writing data in a
chart makes it easy to read and understand. In your chart, you wrote down the
number of things you counted next to their descriptions. That makes it easier for
you to remember your observations. Imagine that you had a piece of paper with
numbers written all over it. How confusing it would be to remember what all the
numbers meant!
REFLECTION
What did you learn today? Can you tell me what data means? Where did you write your
data? How did the chart help in collecting data? Why is it important to write down data?