Since students learn better when they are actively involved in the learning process, tonight's activity will involve active participation at each stage of the learning activity.
Teams of students will use GPS units to locate geocaches that Dr. Christie has hidden around the campus. Students will return to the classroom with the recovered geocaches, examine and discuss the contents of the geocaches, determine a number of possible ways to categorize the contents of each geocache, and then use Excel™ to create spreadsheets and graphs that represent the categorized data.
- Using Global Positioning System (GPS) Units
- Finding the Geocaches
- Gathering, Discussing and Categorizing the Data
- Find the Geocaches assigned to your team
- Return to the classroom with your geocaches
- Open each geocache separately
- Cache # 1
- Discuss what's in the cache
- Decide how to sort your data
- Sort and graph your data (see below for suggestions on graphing)
- Decide a second, third and/or fourth way to sort your data
- Sort and graph your data in these ways
- Repeat the process for Cache # 2 and Cache # 3
- Graphing Data
- Open Excel™
- Create a spreadsheet and record your data
- Be sure to use text appropriately so it will display well in your graph
- Graph your data using at least three different types of graphs
- Decide which graph displays your data in the most visually meaningful way
- Save your file using your first initial and last name
- Share your graph with classmates
- Contribute to the class-wide graph we will create together
- Email your file to Dr. Christie, who will then add all graphs to her Web site.
- Use this model in your classroom with your students!
- Final Treat for the Day!
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