Education Technology

How Do You Measure Up?

Subject Area
Math: PreAlgebra: Linear Functions
Math: Middle Grades Math: Measurement
Level
6-8
Activity Time
100 Minutes
TI Calculator
TI-84 series
Other Materials
    This is Activity 3 from the EXPLORATIONS Book:
    Graphing Calculator Activities for Enriching Middle School Mathematics

    The following material is required for this activity:
  • Meter stick or tape measure
Resource Types
Lessons

How Do You Measure Up?

Activity Overview

In this activity, students graph scatter plots to investigate possible relationships between two quantitative variables. They collect data and analyze several sets of data pairing the two quantities.

Before the Activity

  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 21 - 32 from the attached PDF file for your class
  • During the Activity

    Distribute the pages to the class.

    Follow the Activity procedures:

  • Measure the heights (cm) and the arm spans (cm) of class members
  • Enter the data as lists
  • Find the relationship between height and arm span
  • Graph the data as a scatter plot
  • Add the graph of line y = x on the scatter plot
  • Observe that the data points lie very close to the line y = x
  • Compute the ratio of arm span to height
  • Predict the arm span of a person of a given height, and guess the height of an individual with a given arm span


  • Repeat the activity with other quantitative variables
  • After the Activity

    Students complete the Questions sheet.

    Review student results:

  • As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary
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    Subject Area
    Math: PreAlgebra: Linear Functions
    Math: Middle Grades Math: Measurement
    Level
    6-8
    Activity Time
    100 Minutes
    TI Calculator
    TI-84 series
    Other Materials
      This is Activity 3 from the EXPLORATIONS Book:
      Graphing Calculator Activities for Enriching Middle School Mathematics

      The following material is required for this activity:
    • Meter stick or tape measure
    Resource Types
    Lessons
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