Brief Description

In this lesson students will survey the entire third grade about what items they recycle at home.  After collecting the data students will work in groups to create a bar graph in order to interpret the data.  Each student group will then express a solution to the problem in a Power Point Presentation which includes their graph.

Standards and Frameworks

Technology Standards

• 6T-F1.  Use technology resources for problem solving, self-directed learning and extended learning activities
• 3T-F2.  Use prescribed technology tools for data collection and basic analysis
• 3T-F3.  Use prescribed technology tools for publishing and presenting information.

• 2M-F1.  Collect and analyze data using the concepts of largest, smallest, most often, less often and middle.
• 2M-F2.  Construct, read and interpret displays of data to make valid decisions, inferences and predictions.

Academic

• Students will collect, create and interpret data.

• Students will solve a problem by analyzing data and creating a PowerPoint Presentation as a group.
• Student groups will create a graph in the PowerPoint Program.

Students will need to know basic keyboarding skills in order to type titles and enter data.  Students will need to have basic skills in creating a Power Point presentation (creating a new slide, saving, typing text, inserting pictures, changing font, changing colors).

Materials

• Classroom computer with PowerPoint and a TV connection
• Grading rubric posted in the room and 1 grading rubric for each group
• PowerPoint planning sheet (1 per group)
• Survey form (1 per student)
• Written steps for computer (Power Point)

• Gifted Students:  Gifted students will be challenged in this lesson because they will be able to use their knowledge base to edit work and create products for the group.  Gifted students could do Internet research on their recycling topic, which will add to the overall group project.
• Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Students:  SEI students will be able to succeed because they will be in a comfortable small group setting.  They will be able to help in all areas (collecting data, analyzing data, and creating solutions).  The group members will assist them when they need reading assistance.  The SEI students will also be able to contribute to the group Power Point presentation.  The group interaction will help build their language use and vocabulary.
• Special Education Students:  These students will benefit by helping in a group setting as well.  They will be able to discuss solutions based on the data and they can be an active part of the group by working with the data and creating the PowerPoint presentation.

Day 1: 20-30 mins.

1. Teacher will say, “We have been studying about our environment and endangered animals.  What could we do to help save the animals?”  (recycle)

2. Teacher will say, “What kinds of things can we recycle?” (Teacher will list all items on the chalkboard.)

3. Teacher will say, “Can we put these items into categories?”  Teacher will guide the students in creating the following categories: plastic, paper, glass, metal, cardboard and batteries.

4. Teacher will say, “I wonder how many third graders recycle these items at home.  I wonder how we could figure out how many students recycle.  Does anyone have any ideas?”  Discuss ideas and guide students to create a survey on the chalkboard and then ask the other classes.

5. Teacher will give each group of students (divided by assigned tables) a PowerPoint planning sheet.  The teacher will guide the students in making a title page (a title and names of group members) and in the second slide which will be their specific recycling question.  Teacher will allow groups to work together in planning these 2 slides.  Teacher will save the planning sheets.

6. During the day, the teacher will allow 2 students from each group to work on their first 2 slides on the classroom computers.
***Teacher will type up the survey with spaces between questions so that the questions can be cut apart for each group.
 

1. Teacher will say, “I gave each student this survey sheet and they filled it out.  Then I cut it apart so that each group can work on a question.  Does anyone have any ideas on how we should go through the data?”  Discuss and decide on making a tally sheet for yes and no.

2. Teacher will model how to make tallies and then will allow students to work in their groups to collect and organize the data.

3. Teacher will ask each group how many students recycle each item type.  Teacher will say, “Well, we have numbers, but it doesn’t tell me much.  What could we do that will make it easy for others to understand?”  Students should suggest making a graph.

4. Teacher will redistribute the planning forms to the groups.  Today students will be planning the next two slides (the slide of the graph and the slide of the information gained from the graph).  The students will do a very rough sketch of what the graph will look like in the third slide.  As a group, the students will need to write one or more sentences about what they learned from the graph in the fourth slide.  Teacher will collect the planning sheets for the next part.

1. Teacher will say, “Today, I will show you how to make a graph in the PowerPoint Presentation.  You will follow the steps in order to complete the graph.
a. Click on “New Slide” from the task bar.
b. Choose an auto layout by double clicking on one that has a graph included.
c. Erase all of the information in the sample data sheet.
d. Next to number 1 type yes.
e. Next to number 2 type no.
f. In cell A1 type the number of yes tallies.
g. In cell B2 type the number of no tallies.


2. Teacher will allow two students from each group to work on slides #3 and #4 throughout the day.  Slide #3 is the slide with a graph and Slide #4 is slide that states the information gained from the survey and graph.

1. Teacher will say, “Now that we have a graph, it helps me see things better.  What do the graphs tell us?”   (Most likely that not enough students recycle)

2. Teacher will say, “I wonder why so many students don’t recycle.”  The whole class will discuss ideas.  The students will then discuss why students don’t/ do recycle their item often.

3. Teacher will say, “I wonder how we can get the students to recycle more.” Have a whole class discussion and then have groups discuss the solutions specific to their item. (where to recycle, how to recycle, inform people, tell others).  Students will be able to do research from the books that I have provided at each table.

4. Teacher will redistribute the planning forms so that students can fill in the fifth and sixth slide with solutions to their recycling topic.  Teacher will have groups write down their ideas for the slides.

5. Teacher will have two students from each group work on the last two slides throughout the day.

Teacher will listen to discussions and will assist groups in the brainstorming stage as well as students create the PowerPoint Presentation.  The groups PowerPoint Presentation will be grading by using the attached grading rubric.  The graded rubric was explained before starting and was posted in the classroom.