Brief Description

In this lesson, students will investigate how much their backpacks actually weigh.  Using a spreadsheet, students will calculate the ratio of their backpack weight to their body weight.  Students will then look into the causes and possible solutions for their heavy backpacks.

Standards and Frameworks

Technology Standards

• 3T-E2. Use a variety of technology tools for data collection and analysis

• 2M-E1. Construct, read, analyze and interpret tables, charts, graphs and data plots (e.g., box-and-whisker, stem-and-leaf, and scatter plots)
• 2M-E2. Make valid inferences, predictions and arguments based on statistical analysis
• 2M-E3. Display and use measures of range and central tendency (i.e., mean, median and mode)

Academic

• Students will construct a spreadsheet to display information.
• Students will analyze data and draw a conclusion based on the data.

• Students will use a spreadsheet application to create a spreadsheet.
• Students will use a spreadsheet application to calculate a mean and percent.

Students should have a basic understanding of spreadsheets.

Materials

• At least one computer with a spreadsheet application such as Microsoft Excel.  Access to a computer lab or class set of laptops would be helpful.
• A scale for weighing backpacks.

This lesson involves very little reading.  Students who need some assistance creating the spreadsheet can work with another student or the teacher.  Students who need extra support writing the paragraph outlining suggestions for change can do any of the following: orally give the information to the teacher, word process the information, or dictate it to the teacher or another student.   Students needing help with the math concepts will be paired with a student who can help them.

Procedures

Our sixth grade students often complain about how heavy their backpacks are. Experts recommend that children’s backpacks should not weigh more than ten percent of their body weight. (see http://www.cnn.com/2002/fyi/teachers.ednews/06/05/student.backpacks.ap/)

In this lesson we will investigate just how heavy their backpacks are and what can be done about it.

1. Students should weigh their backpacks every day for a week.  They will record this information in a spreadsheet they have created (click here for an example).  Backpacks should be weighed either as the students are leaving for the day, or first thing in the morning.

a. Students should open Microsoft Excel, or similar application.
b. In cell A1, students will type their names.
c. In cell A4, students will type “backpack weight in pounds”
d. In cells B3-F3, students will type the days of the week.  Students will enter their backpack weights into this table daily.
e. In cell G3, students will type “Average weight”
f. In cell G4, students will type “=AVERAGE(B4:F4)”, where B4:F4 indicates the cells from B4 to F4.  This will automatically calculate the average of the backpack weights.

2. Students will weigh themselves (taking care to provide privacy for those who may want it).  Students will also record the data in the spreadsheet they have created.

a. In cell A6, students will type “body weight in pounds”
b. In cell B6, students will type their weight in pounds, rounded to the nearest pound.

3. Students will then calculate the ratio of backpack weight to body weight and determine the percent.  Students will determine if their backpack is too heavy for them, using the 10% guideline.

a. In cell A8, students will type “backpack to body weight percentage”
b. In cell B8, students will type “=G5/B6”.  This will calculate the percent of backpack weight to body weight.
c. To get the percent calculated above to display as a percent, click in cell B8 and click on the percent symbol on the toolbar.

4. Students will determine the class average of percent of backpack weight to body weight.

5. Students will discuss possible solutions to carrying heavy backpacks.  Students will also write a brief paragraph, detailing their own results and possible solutions.

1. The students’ spreadsheets will be assessed for completeness and accuracy.
2. The students’ paragraphs will be assessed based on feasibility of solution(s) and writing conventions.
 

Teacher Name: Liesl Mitchell
Site: Coronado K-8
Date Submitted: March 27, 2003