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 …
Data Collection Activities
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 …