Hollywood's Top Ten

Hollywood’s Top Ten

Introduction:
Students will gather data on the top 10 highest grossing movies, and make a bar graph and a pictogram.

Objective:
Upon successful completion of this lesson, students will have used a bar graph and a pictogram to display a set of data.

Evaluation:
Students will turn in the graphs upon completion, and will have answered questions regarding the graph.

Prior Knowledge:
Reading and constructing bar graphs and pictograms.

Learning Advice:
Students can work independently or with partners. One class period is sufficient. Students may be tempted to visit some of the movie sites. Remind them that their task is to gather data and they are to stay only on the one page with data.

Resources:
Web sites
MovieWeb - http://www.movieweb.com/movie/alltime.html
How to Make a Pictogram - http://www.rialto.k12.ca.us/frisbie/pictogram.html

Worksheets - Student Worksheet (HTML) or Student Worksheet (PDF)
Rulers, pencils, graph paper, colored pencils (optional), Internet access, electronic spreadsheet (optional)

Process:

Instruct students on how to obtain Internet access.
Have them go to Movieweb at the following address:
http://www.movieweb.com/movie/alltime.html
After obtaining data for the top 10 movies, have them set up a bar graph with the titles (and release years) along the horizontal axis and the receipts (in millions) along the vertical axis. (Discuss the scale that would be the best for the vertical axis=100s)
Have the students set up a pictogram with the same data.
If using an electronic spreadsheet program, directions for making a pictogram can be found at the following address:
http://www.rialto.k12.ca.us/frisbie/pictogram.html
When graph is completed, pass out worksheet.

Extensions:

Make a line graph with the years along the horizontal and the receipts along the vertical.
If your students use an electronic spreadsheet to create their pictogram, they may wish to use these small icons to add to their graphs.
Repeat this lesson in 2-3 months to see how much the receipts had gone up, and if any new movies had entered the top ten.

Conclusion:
Students are always interested in movies, and should enjoy up-to-date data regarding their favorite movies.

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California Academic Content Standards:

Grade 7:
Number Sense
1.0 Students know the properties of, and compute with, rational numbers expressed in a variety of forms:
1.2 Add, subtract, multiply, and divide rational numbers (integers, fractions, and terminating decimals) and take positive rational numbers to whole-number powers.

Statistics, Data Analysis, and Probability
1.0 Students collect, organize, and represent data sets that have one or more variables and identify relationships among variables within a data set by hand and through the use of an electronic spreadsheet software program:

1.1 Know various forms of display for data sets, including a stem-and-leaf plot or box-and-whisker plot; use the forms to display a single set of data or to compare two sets of data.
1.3 Understand the meaning of, and be able to compute, the minimum, the lower quartile, the median, the upper quartile, and the maximum of a data set.

Mathematical Reasoning
1.0 Students make decisions about how to approach problems:

1.1 Analyze problems by identifying relationships, discriminating relevant from irrelevant information, identifying missing information, sequencing and prioritizing information, and observing patterns.

2.0 Students use strategies, skills, and concepts in finding solutions:

2.1 Use estimation to verify the reasonableness of calculated results.
2.5 Use a variety of methods, such as words, numbers, symbols, charts, graphs, tables, diagrams, and models, to explain mathematical reasoning.
2.8 Make precise calculations and check the validity of the results from the context of the problem.

NCTM Standards:

Grades 5-8:
Standard 1: Mathematics as Problem Solving
Standard 2: Mathematics as Communication
Standard 3: Mathematics as Reasoning
Standard 4: Mathematical Connections
Standard 5: Number and Number Relationships
Standard 6: Number Systems and Number Theory
Standard 7: Computation and Estimation
Grades 9-12:
Standard 1: Mathematics as Problem Solving
Standard 2: Mathematics as Communication
Standard 3: Mathematics as Reasoning
Standard 4: Mathematical Connections
Standard 10: Statistics