Activity Detail
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The Ordinary Man
 


Activity Overview

Students estimate the heights of people and compare the estimates to the actual heights in a scatter plot.

Before the Activity

  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 107 - 111 from the attached PDF file for your class

    		•

    		During the Activity

    		Distribute the pages to the class.

    Follow the activity procedures:
  • Write down the names of some famous people in the table
  • Estimate their heights and record the estimation
  • Note down the actual heights
  • Using the calculator, convert the estimated and actual heights into inches
  • Graph a scatter plot of estimated height versus actual height [both in inches]
  • Determine the number of people for which the estimate was correct
  • Determine the number of people for which the estimate was too high or too low
  • Understand that if all the estimates matched the actual heights, the line would represent y = x
  • Recognize the fact that if an estimate was high, the coordinates for that point would lie above the line y = x, and if the estimate was low, the point would lie below the line

    		After the Activity

    		Students complete the Student Activity pages.

  • 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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    Subject Area:
    Math : Middle Grades Math : Probability, Statistics and Data Analysis
    Math : PreAlgebra : Probability, Statistics and Data Analysis
    Math : PreAlgebra : Linear Functions

    Author:
    Texas Instruments

    Level:
    5-8

    Activity Time:
    60 Minutes

    Device:
    TI-30X IIB, TI-30X IIS, TI-34 II Explorer Plus™

    Apps:
     

    Software:
     

    Accessories:
     

    Other:
    This is Activity 11 from the EXPLORATIONS Book:
    Math Investigations with the TI-30X IIS and TI-34 II: Activities for the Middle Grades

    You will need the following materials for this activity:

  • Colored pencils
  • Graph paper


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