Daily Data

As part of getting to know each other and thinking like mathematicians, we have been observing, sorting, and collecting data about each other.  Then we report our data findings in different graphs to help us analyze the information.  For instance, we wanted to know more about different eye colors in our room.  We sorted ourselves into blue eyes, brown eyes, and green eyes to make a human graph.  Next, each child made an eye and colored the eye to match their color.  Last, we organized the eyes onto a graph and discussed the results.  One thing we discovered is that most kids had blue eyes in our class.  So far, we collected data and made graphs for boys and girls, age, eye color, and number of letters in our names.

All these graphs were done as a whole group.  We also used the Sid the Science Kid, Science Fair app to practice these concepts independently.  Think statistics are boring? No, no, no. Not with May and her awesome “Chart It!” game. Players organize her miniature stuffed animals, balloon creatures, origami, silly faces, and other cool stuff on a graph by observing shared traits. These traits can include color, shape, orientation, and more. May has seven different collections, each of which has ten items and three graphs or charts.  This app provided lots of engaging practice with sorting, classifying, counting, and graphing.