Activity Detail
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A Penny for Your Height
 


Activity Overview

In this activity, students study English to Metric conversions. They investigate the relationship between inches and centimeters by measuring their height in these units and converting the measurements.

Before the Activity

  • Divide students evenly according to their height into two groups
  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 35 - 40 from the attached PDF file for your class

    		•

    		During the Activity

    		Distribute the pages to the class.

    Follow the Activity procedures:
  • Use a ruler and compare the measure of an inch and a centimeter
  • Observe that 1 inch equals about 2.5 centimeters
  • Measure the height of one group in inches and the other in centimeters
  • Enter the data as lists
  • Calculate the mean height of the two groups
  • Observe that the mean of the centimeter list is larger than the mean of the inches list
  • Understand that the group which donates a penny for every centimeter, raises more money than the group which donates a penny for every inch
  • Convert the data in the inches list to centimeters, and store it in another list
  • Calculate the mean of this list, and compare it with the mean of the original centimeter list
  • Identify which group of students will donate more money

    		After the Activity

    		Students complete the Student Activity sheet.

    Review student results:
  • As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary

    		Other Downloads




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    view textbook alignment

    Subject Area:
    Math : Middle Grades Math : Measurement
    Math : PreAlgebra : Probability, Statistics and Data Analysis
    Math : PreAlgebra : Measurement
    Math : Middle Grades Math : Probability, Statistics and Data Analysis

    Author:
    Texas Instruments

    Level:
    5-8

    Activity Time:
    60 Minutes

    Device:
    TI-73 Explorer™

    Apps:
     

    Software:
     

    Accessories:
     

    Other:
    This is Activity 8 from the EXPLORATIONS Book:
    Discovering Mathematics with the TI-73: Activities for Grades 5 and 6

    The following materials are required for this activity:

  • Tape measures (inches and centimeters)
  • Pennies


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