SCORE Mathematics

Standards Connections

State Internet Search
A Mathematical Introduction To State Reports

Laura Himmel

Grade Levels 4-7

Introduction:

As a mathematical beginning to their state reports students complete a 2 day assignment which involves critical thinking, reasoning, graphing, and locating information on Web sites.

Objectives:

As a mathematical beginning to their state reports students will locate the population and square mileage of at least one state. Using this information students will graph the population and the area of the 50 states individually and as a class, then analyze the information. (2 day activity).

Materials:

  1. Student Worksheets 1 & 2
  2. 2 large sheets of butcher paper. (Additional sheets as needed).
  3. Markers or Paint
  4. 2 pieces of graph paper for each student for them to make individual graphs.

Before You Start

  1. Pull 2 large pieces of butcher paper, white or a light color, it must be long enough to list all 50 states along the base of the paper. Using a yardstick form 2 graphs. Both will list the 50 states along the base and brackets along the height. Label 1 graph "Population." The brackets on this graph will be by the 100,000, the 100,000's represent # of people in the state. Label the other graph "Area." The brackets on this graph will be by the 100, the 100's represent square miles.
  2. Copy the student worksheets.
  3. Set aside the paint with brushes or the markers.
  4. Obtain graph paper for students. (2 per student).

Activity - Day 1:

  1. Each student should have:

Discuss the definitions of population and area. Overview the assignment, including Student Worksheet 1. Students are required to find the population and square mileage of their state. Because none of us (we hope) have 50 students in our class some students will be locating information on 2 states. All 50 states should be covered no 2 students should have the same states.

Students will need the following links for retrieving the information from the Internet:

The 50 U.S. States - will take them directly to a page with the area of their state on it.
U.S. Census Bureau - will take them to The Census Bureau's Home Page, from there they search for the population.

The Student Page will give them these links:

Student Page - will take you to the Student Page.

Students access web sites to obtain information to fill in their worksheets. After all information has been retrieved, the class meets to retrieve information for the class graphs. Each student gets up and paints or marks their state(s) on the graphs, noting on the graph the actual population & area in numbers. In this way 2 students can work on each class graph, (1 on each end).

As whole class graphs come together, individuals label and graph the class findings on their individual graphs. All 50 states should be graphed on class and individual graphs Day 1.

Discuss class findings. "We'll use our graphs to analyze the data we found tomorrow." Did they enjoy the activity? Hang graphs prominently.

 

Activity - Day 2:

  1. Each student should have:

     

Review graphs. Have students form small groups to answer questions on Worksheet 2. Read worksheet to the class and explain what they are to do.

Small groups answer the questions on Worksheet 2 to the best of their abilities. They come up with at least 2 questions to ask their classmates. When students have finished the whole class meets to compare answers to 1-10 and discuss. Then they exchange among the groups the questions they came up with and answer them. (#'s 11 & 12 on Worksheet 2). Class discussion follows.

Ask class for input on the lesson. Do they think there's more information on the Internet on their states than what we were looking for in this lesson? Provide sites &/or time for students to surf for information. Students will continue to explore the Internet to finish their state reports.

Additional Sources of Data:

More Sources!
CIA WORLD FACT BOOK!!

Resources:

weatherbtn.gif - Weather Button.
Yellow & Blue Button created by Laura Himmel on ClarisWorks.

Please Note:

This lesson can be adapted for 6th grade country reports by using the CIA World Fact Book to find population and area of student's countries.


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Curriculum Standards:

California Mathematics Academic Standards:

Grade 4:
Statistics, Data Analysis and Probability
1.0 Students organize, represent, and interpret numerical and categorical data and clearly communicate their findings.
1.3 interpret one- and two-variable data graphs to answer questions about a situation

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

1.1 analyze problems by identifying relationships, discriminating relevant from irrelevant 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
2.3 use a variety of methods, such as words, numbers, symbols, charts, graphs, tables, diagrams, and models, to explain mathematical reasoning

3.0 Students move beyond a particular problem by generalizing to other situations.

3.3 develop generalizations of the results obtained and apply them in other circumstances

Grade 5:
Algebra and Functions
1.0 Students use variables in simple expressions, compute the value of the expression for specific values of the variable, and plot and interpret the results.

1.1 use information taken from a graph or equation to answer questions about a problem situation

Statistics, Data Analysis and Probability
1.0 Students display, analyze, compare, and interpret different data sets, including data sets of different sizes.

1.4 identify ordered pairs of data from a graph and interpret the meaning of the data in terms of the situation depicted by the graph

Mathematical Reasoning
3.0 Students move beyond a particular problem by generalizing to other situations.

3.3 develop generalizations of the results obtained and apply them in other circumstances

Grade 6:
Statistics, Data Analysis and Probability
2.0 Students use data samples of a population and describe the characteristics and limitations of the samples.

2.1 compare different samples from a population with the data from the entire population and identify a situation in which it makes sense to use a sample
2.5 identify claims based on statistical data and, in simple cases, evaluate the validity of the claims

Mathematical Reasoning
2.0 Students use strategies, skills and concepts in finding solutions

2.1 use estimation to verify the reasonableness of calculated results

Grade 7:
Measurement and Geometry
1.0 Students choose appropriate units of measure and use ratios to convert within and between measurement systems to solve problems.

1.3 use measures expressed as rates (e.g., speed, density) and measures expressed as products (e.g., person-days) to solve problems; check the units of the solutions; and use dimensional analysis to check the reasonableness of the answer

Mathematical Reasoning
2.0 Students use strategies, skills, and concepts in finding solutions.

2.1 use estimation to verify the reasonableness of calculated results  

NCTM 5-8:

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Revised June 16, 2000
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