Describes research using a pedagogic strategy developed during an exploratory work called Active Graphing in which access to spreadsheets allows graphs to be used as analytic tools within practical experiments. Identifies aspects of student interaction with the experiment itself, the data collected and the graphs, and traces the emergence of…

The statistical properties of curriculum-based time-series data were investigated for 67 learning disabled students (grades 1-7). Results suggest that reading growth over time may be described by a negatively accelerated curve and that the statistical characteristics of time-series data are not necessarily independent in naturally occurring data.…

Glyphs, a way of representing data pictorially, are a new way for elementary students to collect, display, and interpret data. This book contains a number of glyph activities that can be used as creative educational tools for grades 1-3. Each glyph has three essential construction elements: the glyph survey (the questions that are asked), the…

In this activity, students design and create a LEGO (plastic building blocks) structure to house and protect a temperature sensor. The structure is left in a safe spot and the temperature is regularly checked and charted. This activity uses a time frame of 45 minutes. (Author/SOE)

Skillful, scientific observation of even one student having difficulty can give teachers ideas for helping all of their students. Discusses planning observation time, tools for observation, and how to observe students and interpret observations. Provides specific suggestions for five observed behaviors and sources of more information (two…

Explains how rubrics can be used to assess children's understanding of chance and data concepts. Encounters unexpected results besides assessing chance and data outcomes. (ASK)

Social studies instruction using a variety of data sources engages elementary school children in relatively autonomous collecting, organizing, and evaluating of data--processes necessary for exercising sound judgment and taking appropriate action. (RM)

Presents activities having to do with data generation, organization, interpretation, representation, drawing conclusions, and making predictions on the basis of data which students have collected. (ASK)

Describes activities focusing on reading, recording, and analyzing schedules. Provides objectives, directions, worksheets, extensions, and answers to each of the activities. (YP)

Presents activities using the theme of collecting and interpreting data from the students' own classroom. Stresses communication among students and between students and the teacher. Includes reproducible student worksheets. (MKR)

One aspect of children's daily lives--the school itself--is often ignored as a source of readily available data for student activities. School-based research activities that require students to collect, organize, and interpret data are described. For example, students conduct research on how students travel to and from school?

How museums have changed to accommodate young children is described, the importance of pre-visit preparations is discussed, and strategies and activities to enhance the concepts gained from museum experiences are presented. (RM)

Folktales as reflections of a culture provide many kinds of information for social studies that are unmatched in the elementary school. However, teachers must be alert to the potential of folktales to present unintended or erroneous information. (RM)

This book provides elementary and middle school teachers with practical ideas on the use and teaching of graphs. Five sections consist of: (1) "Graphs--What Are They and How Are They Used?"; (2) "Levels of Graph Comprehension"; (3) "Collecting, Organizing, and Analyzing Data"; (4) "Constructing, Interpreting, and Writing about Graphs"; and (5)…

Many of today's popular sports are based around the use of a ball yet none are alike. In fact, they are all designed with specific characteristics in mind. In this activity, students investigate different balls' ability to bounce and represent the data they collect graphically. This activity uses a time frame of 100 minutes. (Author/SOE)