Tenzi is one of my favorite games to use in the math classroom for data collection activities. I love Tenzi because the rules are super easy and fast to explain to students, and the sheer variety of ways to play keeps students (and me as the teacher) from getting bored! A few years ago when …
Data Collection Activities
After creating our own individual magnets, my statistics class used them to complete this dot plot of the day activity. For an entire week, we created a dot plot at the beginning of each class period. Then students practiced writing a short paragraph to describe the data’s distribution. I only see my students four days …
We are currently learning to create and describe dot plots in my statistics classes. To help increase student buy-in, I decided to have my students design their own “dot” for our dot plots. I’m calling these “design your own dot plot magnets.” I created a simple template with circles for students to create their own …
How many states have you visited? We’re getting into one my favorite part of teaching statistics – data collection! I created this free printable to help my statistics students figure out how many states they have visited since students don’t typically know that fact off the top of their heads. I know that I can’t …
This Candy Grab Lab is one of my favorite ways to introduce students to the process of linear regression. In this activity, students determine if there is a mathematical relationship between a person’s handspan and the amount of candy they can grab at one time. The first page of the Candy Grab Lab introduces students …
I created this tongue twister linear regression activity for my Algebra 2 students to use while collecting tongue twister data in their small groups. Students work in groups to collect data regarding the amount of time it takes various numbers of people to recite a tongue twister. Groups time how long one person, two people, …
I was so excited to discover this Speedy Squares Activity for practicing quadratic regression several years ago. I have used it successfully with my Algebra 2 classes in the past. Sadly, regression is one of the topics we did not get to fully explore in Algebra 2 this past year due to losing so much …
When I ran across this count the objects task last fall, I thought it would make a great classroom activity for anyone needing to collect one variable data to analyze. The task is from Stephen Barr’s Mathematical Brain Benders: 2nd Miscellany of Puzzles. I see so much potential for using this activity in a statistics class. You …
This starburst scatterplot activity ended up being one of my favorite activities of the year! This year, I switched up the order a bit in Algebra 1 and moved creating scatter plots and lines of best fit from our Data Analysis Unit (end of the year) to our Linear Graphs and Inequalities Unit (half way …
Today’s blog post was inspired by Cheryl Leung and Where’s Waldo? I loved this idea, but I had a problem. My Where’s Waldo? books from my childhood are long gone. I considered ordering a few from Amazon, but I needed them sooner rather than later for class. Now, it’s time for a fun fact. Did …
While looking through Don Steward’s blog for data collection ideas, I ran across the idea of a “blind stork test.” The idea is simple. Close your eyes and see how long you can stand on one leg. Don Steward claims that most people can’t last more than one minute. As with my Estimating 30 Seconds …
One of my favorite activities from the Steve Spangler workshop I attended was an inertia challenge involving a 1- or 2-liter bottle, a plastic ring, and a hex nut. Steve Spangler also sells a kit with all of the supplies for this activity. I attended his workshop in the hopes of finding ideas for …
This hula hoop scatterplot activity gets students moving in math class while learning about how to create a scatterplot and use that scatterplot and linear regression to make predictions. Five or so years ago before I ever started teaching, I purchased a hula hoop at a yard sale. I paid a whopping 10 cents for …
I created this mystery box probability activity to give my Algebra 1 students some hands-on experience with probability. When I dreamed up this probability activity, I envisioned myself using a box. Therefore, I typed up the notes as “Mystery Box Probability.” Then, my husband ended up borrowing the box I planned to use for an …
I love using the Blocko game to give students much needed practice with experimental and theoretical probability. This game also goes by the name “Beano.” I prefer to play it with linking cubes, so we call it Blocko. Algebra 1 is in the midst of our LAST unit of the year. With the stress and …
I used this estimating 30 seconds data collection activity with my Algebra 1 students, and it turned out to be a ton of fun. How well can you estimate 30 seconds? This is the question I posed to my Algebra 1 students a couple of weeks ago as part of our unit on data analysis. …
To wrap up my physical science students’ “I can take accurate measurements” skill, I decided to use the “Mini Metric Olympics” Activity from AIMS. The original activity was published in Math + Science: A Solution. This book is available to check out from the Internet Archive’s Online Lending Library for free for an hour at …
I learned about using twizzlers for linear regression from Tammy Ballard with Wake County Public Schools. I modified her activity to create my own twizzlers linear regression lab that met the needs of my specific group of Algebra 2 students. The idea is simple. Give students a twizzler to eat. Before students take a bite …
I want to share a linear regression activity I did with my Algebra 2 students to introduce the topic of regression. I combined linear regression with the True Colors Personality Test that I had originally wanted to do with my students at the beginning of the year. The summer after my first year of teaching, …
I want to share several fun and hands-on linear regression activities I worked through with my Algebra 2 students. Links to blog posts with more details and free downloads are provided. Linear Regression Activities Linear Regression with the True Colors Personality Test I had originally wanted to have my students complete the True Colors Personality …