Activity Overview
In this activity, students investigate the relationship between temperature and number of cricket chirps. They learn to find the other value of a function when given one value of a function. Students use linear regression and plot a set of ordered pairs.
Before the Activity
Set up the calculator for data collection using the procedure described in the attached Appendix PDF file
See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
Print pages 1 - 10 from the attached PDF file for your class
During the Activity
Distribute the pages to the class.
Follow the Activity procedures:
Listen to the chirping, for each temperature record the number of chirps heard in a 15-second time period
Enter the temperature and the chirps per minute data using lists
Set the X and Y extremes and create a scatter plot
Perform a linear regression and study its graph
Enter the number of chirps per minute for the unknown
Examine the graph and record the intersection point of the two lines
The X value of the point of intersection is the temperature of the habitat where the unknown cricket was chirping
After the Activity
Students will complete the Data Collection and Analysis page and answer questions.
Review student results:
As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
Re-teach concepts as necessary